Sports Massage

Effleurage consists of a variety of stroking movements, usually carried out with the whole palm of the hand and fingers, which may be used with varying pressure according to the purpose and stage reached during the massage. Effleurage is always used at the start of massage.

Myofascial releases are kneading-style strokes that are meant to stretch, loosen, soften and lengthen muscle tissues. The strokes are applied with gentle pressure, and held for approximately 2-mintues in order for the stretch to have its full effect on the muscle. Typically the same stretch is performed more than once, until the muscle is totally relaxed and a release is felt. This technique always applies massage in the direction of the muscle fibers to encourage the full range of motion of the muscle.

Deep muscle therapy aims to relieve the chronic tension throughout the muscles and fiberous tissues within the body. It’s known to greatly increase flexibility and range of motion, and is also known to greatly improve posture and restore the body’s natural harmony.

Trigger point therapy techniques is based around focused compressed on hyper-irritable spots usually within a taut band of skeletal muscle or its fascia that gives rise to referred pain and tenderness. The purpose of trigger point therapy is to eliminate pain and to re-educate the muscles into pain-free habits. After several treatments, the swelling and stiffness of neuromuscular pain is reduced, range of motion is increased, tension is relieved, and circulation, flexibility and coordination are improved. While the application of pressure on this spot causes the discomfort to become very clearly recognisable, it has the dual and counter-intuitive effect of feeling good at the same time.

Muscle energy techniques lengthen shortened or spastic muscles, helps improves weakened ligament and muscle strength, and increases range of motion. This technique is performed by contracting a muscle for approximately 5-seconds against the force of the therapist. The muscle contraction is performed 2 or 3 times in a row in the hopes to stretch the muscle further each time.