Sports massage can be considered to be the specific application of massage techniques to achieve a specific goal when treating an athlete. There are three key principles which are applied to understand which type of sports massage is to be given to the athlete. The principles are Timing, Technique and Intent.
Timing, in the case of sports massage, refers to whether the massage is given pre-event, port event, during recovery, during maintenance period or during rehabilitation. Therefore a sports massage may be given to a fighter before a tournament in order to help them stretch their muscles. It can be given after an event to help the athlete relax. It may be given during a break as a ‘quick fix’ to a minor problem or it may be given to help heal a long term injury.
Technique refers to the particular type of application or method utilized in the sports massage. Some of the techniques are effleurage, friction, pettrisage, vibration, shaking, compression, broadening strokes, direct pressure, cross-fiber friction, range of motion and stretching. Most massage therapists practicing sports massage become specialists in this field and focus solely on sports massages.
The Intent of the massage refers to the desired goal of the sports massage. Therefore intent is the reason for the massage. It can be to warm up, to increase the blood flow, to stimulate neurological pathways, to aid recovery from exertion, to increase flexibility, to improve strength or to improve posture.
Taking examples from the above, if a sports masseur is to provide a pre-event massage in order to warm up the body and increase the blood flow, then techniques which are commonly
used are friction, compression, shaking and stretching. In the case of a post-event massage with the intent being to aid in recovery from exertion, effleurage, pettrisage, compression, broadening strokes and range of motion. Lets say if the sports massage was to assist the proper formation of scar tissue to an athlete, then effleurage, compression and cross-fiber friction which will be followed by ice treatment and movement.
Most deep tissue massages are conducted only be certified masseurs and experienced professionals. Sports masseurs are probably the most highly paid amongst the masseurs and this is clearly because of the importance of their work. The right application of a massage at the right time can prevent a lifetime injury. They are usually available in the locker room before and after the event and on the grounds during the event. They will come to practices and provide regular sessions to each athlete of the team according to that athletes specific physical structure and body requirement.
It is quite clear that understanding and applying a sports massage is not as simple and this is the reason that even masseurs need to become specialists in this kind of massage. Mastering the art of sports massage takes years of education and experience not to mention a passion for sports. There is no single modality, technique or approach that will work every single time.