How Often Should I See A Sports Injury Massage Therapist?
Massage is often written off as a luxury (mostly because of the damage that can be done to your wallet), but the pros know that bodywork can make a difference in performance.
A sports massage is not just when an athlete gets a massage, though. There are a lot of different styles of massage, and it’s important to understand the nuances, so you know exactly what you’re signing up for. Sports massage is defined as manual manipulation of muscle and soft tissue by a qualified professional with the aim of improving the performance or recovery of sport.
How often should I get a massage?
All of this depends on your body’s demands and how your body responds to those demands. When Robert worked for the Brisbane Lions AFL team, the players had two massages a week during the season. Most elite athletes have at least one massage per week. For most amateur athletes who are still taking their sport and training seriously or for regular gym-goers, it is recommended once a week or once a fortnight. For most people who exercise light regularly once every two weeks, three or four weeks is usually sufficient.
If you recover from injury, a more frequent regular sports/remedial massage targeting the wounded area is recommended until the injury has healed and you are back to a pain-free full range of movement. This is particularly the case if you are going to continue your training and compete and will not be able to give your injury enough time to recover.
Some of the factors that may depend on how often you have a massage include:
Your General Health
- If you’re a fairly healthy person with no injuries or chronic conditions, you can get a massage as often as you want.
- If you have an injury or chronic condition and have been advised to have a massage, you may be in for a block of regular treatment until the problem is resolved.
What to Know Before You Go
Completely new to massage, huh? Book your first appointment well before the race—at least a few weeks out—or wait until the next day. Just like you’re not going to test new socks or shoes on race day, you’re not supposed to experiment with any pre-race bodywork.
You should vet your therapist before you book an appointment. Ask questions about the therapist’s education and experience, such as, “What is your training? “Have you got a specialty? “How many years have you been practicing? “And “Do you work with runners a lot? ”. If possible, seek referrals and ensure that he/she is a licensed massage therapist.
It is recommended that a massage therapist trained specifically for orthopedic treatment and assessment should, if you experience chronic pain and discomfort, not be fixed with a massage, if he knows how to refer you to other health professionals. You can find a renowned practitioner at www.orthomassage.net or at www.NeuroMuscular-Reprogramming.com.
Keep your pre-appointment meal light on the day. Aside from the obvious discomfort of lying face down with a full belly, massage naturally slows down your body’s systems—including the digestive process—which means overeating premassage is likely to make you feel “real crappy” on the table.
It is recommended that a massage therapist trained specifically for orthopedic treatment and assessment should, if you experience chronic pain and discomfort, not be fixed with a massage, if he knows how to refer you to another health professionals. You can find a renowned practitioner at www.orthomassage.net or at www.NeuroMuscular-Reprogramming.com.
Keep your pre-appointment meal light on the day. Aside from the obvious discomfort of lying face down with a full belly, massage naturally slows down your body’s systems—including the digestive process—which means overeating premassage is likely to make you feel “real crappy” on the table.
