What Is a Sports Massage — and Do You Need to Be Sporty?

The name sports massage makes it sound as though it is reserved for runners, footballers and people training for events. It is not.

What sports massage involves

Sports massage is focused soft-tissue work. Pressure and technique are adjusted to the person and the area being worked on. Some people book because training has left a muscle group feeling tight; others book because everyday work, driving or gardening has done much the same thing.

We start with a short conversation about what you have been doing, where you feel tight and anything in your health history that is relevant. You remain in control of the pressure throughout.

When massage is not the right first step

Massage is not the right first step for every painful problem. A new injury, unexplained persistent pain, progressive weakness, spreading numbness or pins and needles should be assessed rather than simply massaged. Sudden severe pain after trauma may need medical assessment first.

How often should you book?

There is no single massage schedule everybody needs. The aim is not to create dependency on treatment. If a recurring tight area is being driven by training load, technique, sleep, recovery or strength, those factors matter too.

Sports massage at Taylor Osteopathy

At Taylor Osteopathy, sports massage is a 60-minute appointment costing £80 at 1 School Lane, Kettering.