All Systems Go

Sports Massage / Soft Tissue Therapy

There are many terms that you may hear when trying to decide which massage treatment is right for you, but what is the difference?

SPORTS MASSAGE, DEEP TISSUE, SOFT TISSUE THERAPY – what’s the DIFFERENCE

The term ‘sports massage’ was introduced in the 80’s to differentiate the industry from the massage parlour trade who’s image deterred people from going for a massage treatment. However this label sometimes serves to deter people that do not participate in sports from seeking out the treatments that they require.

In simple terms a Sports Massage and Deep Tissue Massage are very similar and in both instances a detailed assessment for posture and movement should be carried out to determine the cause of any symptoms or injury no matter how obvious it may appear

Somebody that is qualified in Soft Tissue Therapy will provide similar treatments to sports/deep tissue massage but will be trained in more advanced techniques akin to those of Physiotherapists and Osteopaths which will give faster and more effective results.

Sports Massage

This type of massage targets muscles and connective tissue with an aim to improve function – which can help joint-related issues, increase muscle performance, and accelerate tissue repair.

Focussing on larger and older knots that have built up over longer periods of time due to high training volume, trauma, muscle imbalance or poor biomechanics, the objective with sports massage is either to aid recovery from injury, prevent injury, or to assist performance by improving the range of motion.

Sports massage can be an appropriate form of massage therapy for anyone, even if you aren’t undertaking any form of consistent exercise – it might just be that you spend a lot of time sitting at a desk all day.

Soft Tissue Therapy

Soft tissue therapy does the same thing as a sports massage, but uses further techniques to manage, manipulate and rehabilitate the soft tissues of the body including muscles, ligaments and tendons – all of which can have a strong influence on our bodies’ systems, including the nervous system, immune system, lymphatic system and fascial system.

This is also accessible to everyone, with a number of reasons why someone might want or need this particular type of massage therapy, such as helping relieve muscular tension, reducing stress, breaking down knots, reducing the build up of toxins and increase blood flow to the muscles.

This type of treatment tends not to focus on one particular area of the body or site of pain, but instead looks at the whole fascial network to assess other areas of tension and dysfunction that may be contributing to the symptoms present.

why might I need sports massage / soft tissue therapy?

Occupational tightness, imbalances, stress or pain caused by long hours sitting or at a desk/computer / standing for long periods of time / many hours spent bent over in one position caused by your occupation
To promote effective physical and mental recovery from exercise or work
To prevent risk of injury
As part of a rehabilitation programme to return to daily active lifestyle or sport
Preparation for an important race / challenge
Post-operative scar work to improve soft tissue mobility and function