Sports massage - Oakwell Health - Cheltenham and Cotswolds

Sports Massage is the efficient and controlled manipulation of the body’s muscles and connective tissues. It is one of the oldest forms of therapy that is highly effective in treating both acute and chronic conditions of the body’s soft tissues. Differing from Swedish massage, Sports massage movements are applied at a deeper and firmer level inducing greater stimulation of the body’s major systems. It can be used as a tool to help relax tired and sore muscles, or can be used to break down scar tissue, muscle adhesions and knots, to re-educate posture or promote recovery from injury. The treatment also provides a thorough assessment of joint and muscle movements and a comprehensive range of stretching and strength exercises. This can aid in the rehabilitation of affected problem areas between treatments and for your long-term health and well-being.

Despite its name, Sports Massage can benefit everyone. It doesn’t matter whether you sit at a desk all day, play with the children at home, work in the garden or at the building site; or whether you play sport competitively or at any level , Sports Massage is for you. We’ve all suffered at some point from headaches, stress, sore muscles, sports and general injuries (old and new). All of these can be attributed to the condition and state of our muscles and Sports Massage can help.

So what can sports massage do for you? The many benefits can include; improved circulation and a more relaxed general well-being, which in turn can help to reduce your heart rate and blood pressure. These combined can promote a better mental state, reducing stress and anxiety.

Skin can benefit from an increase in its elasticity and improved general condition, along with improved muscle tone. Sports Massage promotes the removal of waste products (including swelling) from the body and provides the skin and muscles with increased levels of oxygen and nutrients to promote a healthy condition.

Massage also helps to relieve the effects of muscle spasms and tension. It aids in breaking down scar tissue and adhesions, relieving pain. Reduced muscle tension promotes an increase in the range of movement of the body’s joints, improving posture and flexibility and therefore reducing the risk of further injury

Sports specific treatments and benefits include; all of the above, but you can benefit further from the timing of a treatment. This includes:

Pre-competition Massages which aid in warming and mobilising the muscles to enhance your performance.
Post-competition/training Massages will help to minimise the after-effects of a hard session/competition. Toxins can be removed, reducing the effects of stiffness and fatigue, maintaining muscle mobilisation and speeding-up your recovery period.
Maintenance Massages throughout the training season help to maintain or enhance performance and reduces the risk of injury, or re-injury.
Rehabilitation Massages promote recovery during and after an injury. A treatment will also include stretching and strengthening exercises specific to your sport.

“Sports massage is just one of many treatments which positively affect the muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nervous system of the body, which are collectively known as Soft Tissue Therapy. Some of the other therapies include Myo-Fascial Release, Fascial Manipulation, Trigger Point Therapy, Active Soft Tissue Release.”

Prices
60 mins – £45.00
30 mins – £30.00

For further prices see individual therapists pages.

Fascial Manipulation

A manual therapy method that has been developed over the last 40 years in collaboration with the Anatomy Faculties of the René Descartes University, Paris, France and the University of Padova in Italy. Chris is one of only a handful of therapists in the UK to offer this treatment, after attending one of only a few courses to be run in the UK.
This manual therapy technique identifies a limited or painful movement with a specific localised area of the fascia. Once a limited or painful movement is identified, then a specific point on the fascia is implicated and, through the appropriate manipulation of this precise part of the fascia, pain can be reduced and movement can be restored.

Myofascial Release

A specialised physical and manual therapy used for the effective treatment and rehabilitation of soft tissue and fascial tension and restrictions. The MFR technique is very different to that of massaging muscles, tendons and the ligaments of the body. The MFR therapist not only takes in to consideration what they see in the assessment but works directly with what they feel and sense from palpating and treating the body. Therapists are taught to feel and stretch slowly into the fascial network. The fascia cannot be forced as it will naturally resist that force in return. Therefore the MFR therapist provides a sustained, gentle, pressure for several minutes allowing the fascia to elongate naturally and return to its normal resting length, restoring health and providing results that are functional and long lasting

Active Soft Tissue Release

A soft tissue therapy technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves, by combining precisely directed pressure & tension with very specific patient movements. Every ASTR session is actually a combination of examination and treatment. The ART provider uses his or her hands to evaluate the texture, tightness and movement of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Abnormal tissues are treated by the therapist with the application of precisely directed pressure and tension in the affected area, while the patient is directed to perform an equally precise movement. This combination applies a very strong and localised stretch to the affected area, reducing the excessive muscular tension and freeing up the scar tissue. The end result is restored and unlimited movement and a reduction of the pain.

Kinesio Taping®

A definitive rehabilitative taping technique that is designed to facilitate the body’s natural healing process, providing long-term support and stability to muscles and joints without restricting the body’s natural range of movement, prolonging the benefits of manual therapy treatments. Kinesio Tex Tape has been proven to have positive physiological effects on the skin, lymphatic and circulatory system, fascia, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints. Kinesio Taping has been shown to increase the strength and improve the timing of underactive muscles, reduce the tension of over active muscles, and take the stress of over loaded muscles. It can be used in conjunction with a multitude of other treatments and modalities and is effective during the rehabilitative and chronic phases on an injury as well as being used as a preventative measure. Latex-free and wearable for days at a time, Kinesio® Tex Tape is safe and effective for everybody and can contribute to the successful treatment of a variety of conditions, including sports injuries and pain from occupational and postural problems.

Trigger Point Therapy

When stressed or injured, muscles often form trigger points, which are areas of muscle locked into a contraction, which cause pain and tightness. When our muscles develop trigger points, we experience pain, stiffness and tension, limited movement and a general loss of normal function, even pins & needles. As a trigger point is an area of muscle which is locked into a contraction, the treatment is simply to unlock the area of excessive contraction. This can be achieved by applying pressure to the trigger point and increasing the pressure as the trigger point “releases” and softens, accompanied by a slow, controlled movement of the affected area by the patient which imparts a strong local stretch to the Trigger Point.