Sports Massage – Pre-Event

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Title: Sports Massage – Pre-Event

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Author: Lane

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Sports Massage – Pre-Event

Copyright 2005 Lane

Massage before an event can be an integral component of the

pre-event preparation for many athletes. Pre-event massage

can create a state of readiness in the muscles and tissues

so that the athlete’s performance can be optimized. Whilst

some therapists consider that a pre-event massage can take

place up to 48 hours before an event, most Sports Massage

therapists judge that, strictly speaking a pre-event

massage is one given just before the time an athlete is

scheduled to compete (ideally 15-45 minutes before the

event). This article will concentrate on massage

immediately prior to the event.

A question that is often posed is should the pre-event

massage happen before or after the athlete warms up. To

answer this one needs to understand the physiological

effects of a warm-up: to increase heart rate, body

temperature and respiratory rate; and to prepare the body’s

nervous system. Hence a pre-event massage done after the

warm-up would defeat it’s purpose and you would not want

the athlete’s heart rate, body temperature and respiratory

rate to drop during the massage.

In general a pre-event massage should assist in increasing

the circulation of blood to the muscles to allow the

muscles to be flushed and oxygenated. Tight muscles may be

relaxed so that joints can be moved through their range of

motion. Emphasis should be placed on the muscles used

during the activity so improve performance and also reduce

the chance of injuries. The athlete can use the time to

focus on their event, to relax or complete their mental

preparation. At the end of the massage, the athlete should

feel great!

More specifically before giving a pre-event massage, the

therapist should ask several key questions which relate

back to the article “Sports Massage – An Introduction”(1)

namely what techniques should be used and what is the

intent. These question include

- what type of event is the athlete competing in? Are

lightening quick reactions required as a pre-event massage

given too close to the event may dull reaction times?

- does the athlete’s sports permit the use of oils or

lotions during the pre-event massage?

- is the athlete required to be “loose” prior to the event

(eg boxing) or relaxed (bowling)?

The massage should generally be done at a moderate pace,

non-specific, relatively light, warming and short in

duration (no more than around 15-20 minutes). It certainly

does not have to be a complete routine. As with most

massage treatments, it is preferable to be conservative –

too little is better than too much. The massage must not

be painful or include high impact techniques such as deep

cross-fibre frictions or deep muscle therapy. The

techniques most commonly used are general Swedish

techniques (petrissage, vibration or percussion),

compression, jostling, broadening strokes and general

frictions.

It is important to note that no two individuals respond to

massage in quite the same way and this can present a

problem to the therapist seeing an athlete for the first

time for a pre-event massage or in the last couple of days

before an event. For example, two days before an event the

massage can be deep so that the athlete can obtain the

maximum recuperative benefit from the pre-event taper.

However the depth required to address specific problem

areas will vary considerably between athletes. An athlete

should see how they respond to a massage in the last 48

hours/pre-event at a competition (or simulated training

session) that is non-critical. So please don’t leave it

until the day before the City to Surf or your big event to

have your first massage!

(1) “Sports Massage – An Introduction”. Lane.

www.innerwestmassage.com.au/sports_massage_introduction.php

About the Author:

Lane is a qualified remedial and sports massage

therapist, with a mobile massage practice in Sydney's Inner

West (www.innerwestmassage.com.au). Health fund rebates.

ATMS 13020. Phone 0421 410057