What is the difference between sports and deep tissue massage?

Deep tissue is a very descriptive name and is self-explanatory.  The confusion comes when it is compared to sports massage.  The big difference is the focus.

Sports massage is dedicated to

  • improving sports performance
  • prevention of and treating sports injuries

The reasons for booking a sports massage are:

  • You work out religiously, but aren’t as relgious about stretching
  • You cycle or run to work and don’t think to stretch
  • You play sports but don’t cross train so have specific trouble spots
  • Your performance (in a particular sport) has dropped
  • You have a history of injuries and want to reduce the likely hood of further injuries

Deep Tissue massage is a problem solving massage for everyone.

The reasons for booking a deep tissue massage are:

  • You work at a computer all day and your neck, shoulders & back are chronically sore
  • You are so tense your back feels like concrete
  • You have tired achy legs
  • You are in pain
  • You are stiff (or are unable to move your neck/arm/leg freely)
  • You are stressed or anxious
  • You have a knot or a muscle spasm

To book a treatment click here.

 

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  • So how does massage help “tired” muscles?

    Many clients come to our clinics a few days after vigorous work outs or competing in sporting competition because their legs feel tried or heavy.  These clients often book a sports massage, but is their any scientific evidence to explain what is happening in the body during the treatment? Massage dilates superficial blood vessels and increases the rate of blood flow.  In addition if a deeper pressure is used like in sports or deep tissue massage on a healthy adult it improves the venous return.  Both of these changes to the blood flow represent a potent means to accelerate healing.  For example, it suggests that massage should improve the performance of fatigued muscles.  In addition, Goats asserts that massaged muscle fibres display less spasm, an increased force of contraction and enhanced endurance compared with muscles simply rested.  Which suggests that massage will assist in the improvement of sporting performance where it has been compromised. References Scull CD (1945) Massage - Physiologic Basis.  Archive of Physical Medicine 26: 159-67 Wilkins RW, Halperin MH, Litter J. (1950)  The effects of various physical procedures on circulation in human limbs.  Ann Intern Med 33: 1232-45 Goats GC (1994) Massage - the scientific basis of an ancient art: part 2.  Physiological and therapeutic effects Br J Sp Med 28(3)