Sports massage is a type of massage that is specifically tailored to sporting injuries or ailments. It is not meant to be a relaxing massage and, indeed, can become quite vigorous at times. Contrary to its name, sports massage is not only utilised by professional sportspeople or people that exercise heavily. It is of benefit to anyone that exercises, even if it is only mild exercise such as regular walking.
Sports massage is designed to prevent and relieve injuries and conditions that are associated with exercise. It can often be quite strenuous and is meant to relieve and reduce the stress and tension that can build up within the body’s soft tissues while exercising. It can be carried out before, during, or after playing sport or exercising and uses techniques that are designed to increase endurance and performance, to minimise the chances of injury and, if there is an injury, to reduce the recovery time.
Sports massage can treat a variety of ailments and injuries that may occur as a result of exercise. It also has other benefits that allow you to train or exercise more efficiently. Some benefits that sports massage has include:
Draining away fatigue - relieving swelling - reducing muscle tension - promoting flexibility - injuries that occur as a result of overexertion or overuse - relieving pain - preventing injuries- improving heart rate and blood pressure - increasing blood circulation and lymph flow- treating injuries such as shin splints, tennis elbows, sprains and strains,corked thighs etc.
Remedial massage uses a combination of techniques to treat the causes of musculoskeletal dysfunction, rather than just focusing solely on pain relief.
Remedial massage is designed to balance muscle/soft tissue length, tension, tone which will in turn promote the return to normal joint/capsular/bone position; increase the flow of blood and lymph, particularly in the injured areas, thus removing blockages, damaged cells, scar tissue and adhesions resulting from injury.
Some common conditions that remedial massage can help with include: achilles tendon pathologies, tendonitis, shin splints, groin strain, tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, hamstring injuries, plantar fasciitis, adhesions, whiplash, chronic back pain, sciatica, arthritis, swimmer's shoulder, bursitis, rotator cuff injuries, neck injuries, headaches, and sore muscles.
Remedial Massage can be used to treat anyone and is a deep tissue treatment. A remedial therapist must have knowledge of anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology to determine where and how to treat patients.
Dry needling utilises a solid, filament needle, as is used in the practice of acupuncture, and relies on the stimulation of specific reactions in the target tissue for its therapeutic effect.
The term dry needling is also used to differentiate the use of needling in a western physiological paradigm from the use of needling in an oriental paradigm which is referred to as acupuncture.
Dry needling is an invasive procedure in which a thin filament needle is inserted into the skin and muscle directly at a myofascial trigger point. A myofascial trigger point is a focus of small muscle fibre contraction knots, which are related to the production and maintenance of the pain cycle. They often occur as a result of neuromuscular dysfunction and in areas of musculoskeletal stress.
Dry needling relaxes contracted muscles. Since the presence of the needle in a tense muscle may be painful, the nervous system sends the appropriate feedback to the muscle to inhibit or stop its spasm. This spasm is often the cause of the pain or dysfunction experienced by the patient. So by achieving an inhibition or ceasing of spasm, dry needling can take away the cause of pain and dysfunction.
Kinesiology tape is a thin, stretchy, elastic cotton strip with an acrylic adhesive. Therapeutic kinesiology tape that can benefit a wide variety of musculoskeletal and sports injuries, plus inflammatory conditions.
Kinesiology tape is almost identical to human skin in both thickness and elasticity, which allows kinesio tape to be worn without binding, constricting or restriction of your movement. This is an taping method that is used for treating athletic injuries and a variety of physical disorders and is great as an injury prevention tool as well as a recovery tool.
You would have noticed that more and more professional athletes are using coloured kinesiology taping to assist and improve their sporting performance, prevent injury and allow them to return to sport quicker.
I am a qualified Sports Soft Tissue Therapist and Remedial Massage Therapist registered with the Australian Natural Therapies Association (ANTA).
Qualifications
Bsc hons Sports Science
Diploma of Sports Massage UK
Diploma of Remedial Massage Australia
Diploma Sport Science
Dry Needling
K-Taping / Rigid Taping
Health-care provider numbers including medibank and also have the necessary Insurances in place.
Experience
Previously to working within this industry I have worked on Super-yachts, been a ski / snowboard instructor and have also played sport to a state level. I have also worked within the corporate sector.
In June 2015 I had a life changing accident whilst training for a triathlon in the USA. I was left with life changing injuries and I have gone through extensive surgeries and recovery since that time.
I embarked on this career due to my interactions with sports therapists, physiotherapists, Massage Therapists, and doctors throughout my sporting life and also my accident recovery. Understanding the importance of quality care when dealing with performance, injury and rehabilitation gives me a point of difference and is the reason partly for my success within the industry to date.
I currently offer a Mobile service on the Goldcoast. I come to you to help with any ailments or specific injuries you may have and offer assistance with management, treatment, long term well being and functional goals.
I have worked with sport from Grass Routes to Elite / Professional level and am well placed to assist people with their performance goals and needs
I am proud to be a member of ANTA
Mobile Service covers the whole of the Goldcoast.
Further questions please contact me on
0437 774 972 or rawperformancetherapy@gmail.com
