Massage Therapy
Loosen tight muscles, support recovery, and get back to the activities you love.
What Is Therapeutic Massage?
A hands-on approach to muscle tightness, soreness, and recovery.
Therapeutic massage is commonly used for athletes whose muscles have experienced extended periods of overuse. Preparing for a marathon, competition, recital, or big game requires extensive training, which can lead to pain and soreness. Massage helps loosen tight areas and can make recovery quicker and easier, helping you get back on track toward your goal.
Your Soft Tissues and You
Muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia work together to help you move.
Muscles contract to mobilize your body, tendons connect muscles to bones, ligaments provide stability, and fascia covers these connective tissues. Repeated athletic stresses can damage soft tissues; a tendon tear may cause swelling and inflammation, while a ligament stretched too far can result in a sprain. Muscles that are too tight before a workout may also contribute to injury. Therapeutic massage can loosen muscles and may help prevent some of these injuries.
Massage Techniques That May Support Your Plan
Your physical therapist may recommend massage alongside physical therapy treatment.
Deep Tissue Massage
This type of massage loosens up your muscles and their connective tissues.
Myofascial Release
This type of massage creates room for tissues that may be trapped by distortions or fascial adhesions, freeing them from constriction.
Swedish Massage
This type of massage relaxes stiff or tense muscles, allowing for increased blood flow and fluid drainage from swollen areas.
Prepare, Recover, and Perform
Massage can be beneficial before and after training.
Therapeutic massage promotes tissue healing so you can return to your sport as quickly as possible. Before rigorous exercise, sports massage can target the muscles and tissues used most in your sport. Mobilizing, loosening, and relaxing these areas before training can help keep them limber and may decrease the risk of strains, sprains, and ruptures. Knox Physical Therapy can discuss how massage may benefit your physical performance.