Sports Massage – Healing On and Off the Field

By Aurora Buschkamp, ATC, LAT, LMT, Licensed Massage Therapist and Certified Athletic Trainer.

What is Sports Massage?

Sports massage concentrates on muscles pertinent to an athlete’s sport or event. For an athlete who trains year round, the goal is to increase endurance, lessen injuries and shorten the recovery time needed between events or workouts. The massage therapist may use a variety of techniques including, but not limited to, Swedish massage, active and passive stretching, and trigger point release. Prior to an athletic event, sports massage is used to loosen and warm up an athlete’s muscles to improve their endurance and performance. Sports massage is also used after an athletic event for pain relief and to reduce DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness).

Benefits of regular sports massage:

• Increased blood flow
• Increased flexibility
• Increased elimination of metabolic waste (lactic acid)
• Increased sense of well-being
• Decreased muscle tension and muscle spasms
• Decreased neurological excitability (nerves more relaxed)
• Decreased risk of injury
• Decreased time needed between events or workouts

It’s not just for athletes.

While it is commonly seen in athletics, sports massage can also be used for any injury rehabilitation. From professional athletes, to weekend warriors, to an employee hurt on the job, anyone can take advantage of the healing benefits of sports massage.

For example, a hard-working, mother of three has chronic low back pain from constantly bending over to pick up her children. Sports massage can alleviate the pain by relaxing the muscles using specific stretching and trigger point release to the muscles of her back and her legs. With the increased flexibility and decreased muscle spasms, the pain would diminish and the mother would be at ease when she bent down to scoop up her child.

Treating yourself to the deep relaxation and muscle tension release of a monthly massage will keep your body and mind at ease to life’s daily stressors. Call today to book your appointment (608-342-4748), and start your journey to a healthier and happier you!