FAQ’S

What is sports massage?

Sports massage is an in-depth, bespoke treatment that uses a variety of
diagnostic assessment techniques to not only establish the cause of the
symptoms but to then provide the suitable treatment for the given condition.
Sports massage is a form of deep tissue bodywork which when used in
conjunction with additional techniques can help to improve
range of movement, improve the suppleness and flexibility of muscles, aid in the prevention of further injury, ease pain and discomfort of overly tense muscles, improve muscular efficiency and response, helps to reduce spasms and keeps muscles nice and healthy.
The main difference between a sports massage and a standard deep tissue massage is the practitioner. Sports massage therapist’s have a wider understanding and training of anatomy and physiology as well as being able to perform a wide range of techniques.
There are three levels of sports massage therapy qualifications- Level 3, level 4 and level 5.
( 5 being the highest, which is more closely linked to physiotherapy).

Does sports massage hurt?

Sports massage is not like a relaxing spa type massage (and those are great).
It is a form of deep tissue massage and at times there can be discomfort felt when working on the deeper muscles. I will always communicate regarding the pressure but I can reassure you that I will never go beyond a client’s pain threshold limit as that is not the aim.
A sports massage should never be so painful that the client anticipates the
therapist’s next movement. This could create an inflammatory response and cause the muscles to tense up which is a counter productive response and is
exactly the opposite of what we want to achieve.
There are also other factors to consider too. Sometimes the body can feel more sensitive to treatment than at other times. Stress, hormones and lifestyle all play their part in how we perceive pain. When we are stressed our natural painkilling hormones can get suppressed, therefore treatment may feel more sensitive during those times.

Do I need to undress for the treatment and do I need to bring anything?

There will be some level of undress. You will be given clear instructions of what items of clothing will need to be removed and given your own time and space within which to do so.
The most important thing is client modesty. Correct towel management
ensures that we only ever expose the area being worked on at any one time. Most client’s choose to wear their underwear or you may wish to bring shorts with you to change into as well as a bottle of water. Also, sports bras can be a bit restrictive so it is advisable to wear a ‘normal bra’ which can be un-hooked to allow access to the back.

What can I expect from the treatment?

At the beginning of the initial treatment you will be asked to fill out a
consultation form including relevant medical history etc. During the consultation we will discuss the area of concern, symptoms, and the treatment process will be
explained. An assessment will then be carried out and special tests performed to establish the root cause of the symptoms. From information gathered from these tests a treatment plan can then be devised. During the treatment additional soft tissue techniques will be applied throughout and specialist stretching techniques at the end or during the treatment. Also, it’s worth noting that I more than likely will be working on other muscle groups too, as where the symptom is coming from the cause is usually due to other muscles contributing.

Professional Boundaries

LFB Sports Massage Therapy reserves the right to decline or discontinue the treatment if it is considered inappropriate or unethical behaviour.

Is sports massage just for sporty people?

Sports massage is for absolutely anyone and everyone. If you have an ache, pain, injury or niggle, then a sports massage is for you.
Sports massage originally acquired it’s name through it’s widespread use in the sports world being essential to athletes in preventing and treating injuries.
Nowadays sports massage is not solely reserved for athletes but anyone who is suffering from soft tissue related aches and pains.

Will you be able to fix my issue?

Improving symptoms is certainly the goal and prevention is key.
Treatment sessions will depend on the severity of the condition/injury.
Sports massage has an accumulative effect meaning that it may take a
few sessions to get an improvement in symptoms. Also once the desired result has been achieved regular maintenance treatments play a crucial part in
managing symptoms and keeping them at bay as with any soft tissue
dysfunction, if left the symptoms have a habit of returning.
Just like maintaining a car, our bodies need maintenance too.

How many treatment will I need?

The frequency of treatments will vary in each individual depending on the injury/problem area.
Sports massage has an accumulative effect, meaning that it may take a few sessions in close proximity in order to see an improvement of symptoms. For chronic symptoms, Ideally, one session per week for 3-4 sessions is usually all that is required, again depending on the problem area. Once the symptoms are under control, we can then reduce the frequency to maintenance treatments.
Everyone’s need is very different. I treat some client’s weekly, other’s I treat every two weeks. The bare minimum recommendation is one treatment per month in order to keep everything ticking over nicely.