Sports Massage

Nicola and Gemma are our full time Sports Therapists and have worked with footballers and other athletes both amateur and professional.
What is Sports Massage?

Sports Massage is a deep tissue type massage treatment aimed specifically at athletes. Many techniques are the same as used in remedial massage but are employed in the context of training support and recuperation. A national level athlete will require and can cope with much more intense work than most non athletes or recreational sportsmen and women. Sports massage is designed to help the body recover from the higher levels of ‘abuse’ and punishment that an athlete puts themselves through. This enhanced recuperation helps keep performance at an optimum but also helps an athletes career last longer. Sportsmen and women are having longer and longer careers and must keep themselves as free from strain and injury as possible over the course of a career. The same applies to recreational sports, the bar has been raised, more of us are out there doing more and more extreme things with our bodies and for longer.

Benefits of Our Sports Massage

Many of the benefits of Sports Massage are the same as remedial massage.

• Warms the tissue through friction
• Pumps circulation and increases supply of oxygenated blood to the muscles, helps pump by products or respiration out of the muscle tissue such as C02 and lactic acid etc
• Reduces excessive scar tissue build up
• Break down adhesions in the muscle tissue
• Releases myofascial restrictions
• Release muscles spasms and relieve muscle pain, relaxes muscle form shortened or excessively tense state
• Opens microcirculation
• Improved tissue elasticity
• Enzyme release and help balance the autonomic nervous system

What should I expect in a Sports Massage ?

You will be taken though a consultation with the therapist to ensure you have no contra-indications to a Sports treatment, or if you have any particular problem areas you wish to bring to the therapists attention. It is also important that the therapist understands your sport and knows what imbalances you may have. e.g. If you are a hurdler they will know why one side’s lateral rotators are twice as tight and stronger than the other side! You will be asked to undress to your underwear (or bring loose running shorts) and lie on the treatment table facing downwards. Any areas not being worked on will be draped appropriately by the therapist to ensure modesty and that you do not get cold. The treatment will last for the alloted time (40 mins – 90 mins).

Techniques used in Sports Massage

Usually the therapist will start working in the area using strong swedish strokes while palpating for muscle tension, adhesions etc
Deep tissue strokes such as myofascial stripping
A range of techniques some of which derived from Swedish and some from European NMT: Kneading, Friction, Transverse Stroking, longitudinal muscle fibre strokes, Compressive effleurage, Compressions, Tapotement
Nerve Stroke
Sports massage treatments available

40 minutes half body
60 minute treatment – Full body
90 minute treatment – Full body overhaul
Pre Event sequence – tailored to the athlete and the event – often done at the event
About Embody Sports Massage Therapists

Our Sports Therapists have studied for a minimum of  2 years including advanced musculo-skeletal anatomy, physiology and health to gain their Diploma. Embody Sports Therapists have experience working with high level athletes including Footballer, Hockey players, World Cup cyclists in the XC and Downhill series. Our therapists also have to undergo continuing education during a year to maintain the minimum number of CPD points required to keep their insurance.

How To Book An Appointment For Sports Massage
Call us : 0141 551 9678
Email us: guy@glasgowsportandspine.co.uk
Visit Us: Greenhead Street, Glasgow Green, Glasgow, G40 1ES – There’s loads of free parking available right outside.