MBody Sports Massage Southampton

What is Sports Massage?

Sports Massage is a hands-on treatment modality which uses similar techniques to Swedish Massage treating musculoskeletal pains and discomforts, working deeply on the muscles. The benefits are similar to a traditional massage, and at the same time working more purposely on the muscles, soft tissue, assessing the posture and more efficient movement.

Many other techniques can be used alongside Sports Massage such as Myofascial Release Techniques, Stone Therapy, tools, cupping, kinesiology taping, etc., it all varies depending on the clients, needs and the treatment itself. Here at MBody we offer all of these.

What Sports Massage Isn't

Sports Massage isn't a quick fix, it takes time, sometimes even months to achieve the desired results. It isn't a substitute to medical guidance, it is always best to seek medical advice if you feel unsure. It isn't just for hardcore sadists who enjoy pain or just for those that spend hours in the gym! Sports massage shouldn't be painful, on the contrary it helps to ease the pain in the areas treated. Nor is it a spa treatment or totally relaxing, the muscles are treated deeper than a relaxing massage so it can be uncomfortable at times.

Who is Sports Massage For?

Sports Massage is suitable and in fact recommended for anyone!
We all have muscles, haven't we?
We use our muscles subconsciously most of the time, without having to think about when to and for how long to engage each muscle we need to use at any given time.

In order to bring those muscles and joints to their desired level of performance and reduce any future discomfort having a Deep Tissue, Remedial or Sports Massage is the best course of action.

Just to give you an idea of who can benefit from receiving a Sports Massage here is an illustrative list:

• Office workers - with tight forearms, neck pain, lower back pain, headaches and migraines
• Gym goers - with aches and pains everywhere and poor posture too
• Walkers - for their glutes, hamstrings, quads, calves, feet
• Runners - for their calves, hamstrings, quads and more
• Lorry drivers, taxi drivers, delivery drivers - sat on their bum for hours on end in a not- so-comfortable seat, lifting heavy boxes and suffering poor posture too
• Hairdresser and barbers - their hands, arms and legs and indeed backs
• Teachers, professors - lecturers, on their feet all day
• Doctors and medics - on their feet or at a desk, and high levels of stress
• Massage therapists, beauty therapists - we are the worst for not making the time to receive a good sports massage and look after our own bodies and wellness
• Dog groomers - you walk a lot
• Personal trainers - your livelihood relies on your health and wellness and if you are not looking after yourself the consequences are important
• Receptionists - you are sat down a lot of the day and if you do not have an emphasis on good posture then long terms problems happen
• Students - hours poured over your books and computer screens - and exam stress
• Gardeners - a very physically demanding job that takes its toll on your body
• Accountants - like many professions these days spending lots of time office-based at a computer screen while not thinking about your posture
• Parents, yes parents running around after their kids, doing housework and on the go at all times - you need to look after yourself too

We live in a very busy and fast-paced society in which we have increasingly high levels of stress, we are more inactive than we used to be and ignore our own well-being, prioritising work, and other activities which make demands on our body and ultimately, we put ourselves in the back burner, and only act when it is sometimes too late.

The key element to remember here is that maintenance and prevention are better than the cure.

Benefits of Sports Massage? Physical/Psychological

During a massage, the benefits to you are often many more than just working on the area you've come to have treated. In fact, whenever we have a Sports Massage, it is often a multidimensional treatment because we aren't just working on the physical body, but also on the mind/psychological element. Ultimately every area and aspect of the well-being is restored and balanced.

Physiological Benefits

• Improves skin texture via use of medium
• Aids arterial and venous circulation
• Assists exfoliation (shedding of skin)
• Improves lymphatic drainage to remove waste products
• Stimulates nerve endings
• Balances nervous system
• Prevents hardened nodules forming due to tension
• Improves joint mobility by encouraging absorption of fluid
• Increases deep muscular circulation improving removal of lactic acid
• Helps to soften scar tissue
• Improves elasticity of the skin
• Improves muscle tone
• Improves muscle fatigue
• Improves sleep
• Aids digestion
• Produces local rise in skin temperature (Erythema)

Psychological Benefits

• Relaxes, calms and soothes
• Removes feelings of fatigue
• Provides a sense of well-being
• Increases energy levels

Sports Massage Can Help with these Common Issues/Ailments

Sports Massage is such a versatile form of therapy that when used accordingly and at the right time (before it's too late!) it can be a great intervention to prevent further injuries, to treat current injuries or for maintenance (which we all need in our busy and stressful lives).

Here is a short but not limited list of common "issues" treated with Sports Massage:

What to Expect During a Sports Massage Treatment?

On your first visit a consultation takes place where we evaluate the range of motion, and areas to be treated. The rest of the session is treating the areas that are agreed.

Second and subsequent visits are either for maintenance or revisiting previously treated areas.

Depending on your needs or as agreed, different techniques can be used to ensure you get the best and most optimal results. It really is that simple and straight forward.

Postural Analysis/Correction (ROM)

A postural analysis is one of the first things we do during our initial consultation to help us identify muscle imbalances and range of movement so we can design the most effective treatment for you and correct them accordingly.

Tailored Maintenance Routine

Maintenance is the best course of action for anyone whose lifestyle is active and wants to invest in the quality of their future lives.

Depending on the initial consultation a plan of action will be agreed between the Sports Massage Therapist and the client on the frequency and duration of the maintenance massages and what techniques will be used and what advice to follow.