Sports Massage
When the body moves properly, an athlete can perform more efficiently, with greater ease and strength. Sports massages integrate a combination of swedish tecniques, deep tissue, myofascial release, SMRT, acupressure, and passive stretching to release muscle tension, decrease pain, and increase mobility. Each massage is customized and designed specifically for the individual, based on your goals and needs.
Pain management. Are you suffering from chronic pain or pain from a recent injury? If you have a condition like sciatica or osteoarthritis Swedish massage can be an effective method for managing that pain in a natural way. Research has found that massage reduced the production of compounds called cytokines, which play a critical role in inflammation. Massage also stimulated mitochondria, the tiny powerhouses inside cells that convert glucose into the energy essential for cell function and repair. Dr. Tarnopolsky, a professor of pediatrics and medicine at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, said that massage works quite differently from Nsaids and other anti-inflammatory drugs, which reduce inflammation and pain but may actually retard healing. “With massage, you can have your cake and eat it too—massage can suppress inflammation and actually enhance cell recovery.”
One of my favorite techniques to use in either a sports or relaxation massage is SMRT.
Spontaneous Muscle Release Technique (SMRT) SMRT is a positional release modality. The principles of SMRT are similar to Strain Counterstrain and PRT. When we use SMRT, we move the tissue or body part into a position of ease or comfort. In other words, if tissue is shortened, we shorten it further. What we believe is happening when we do passively move tissue into its existing pattern is described in a theory called Proprioceptive Theory.
Proprioceptive Theory states, in simple terms, that when tissue is in a dysfunctional pattern there is an imbalance in activity between the golgi tendon organs and the muscle spindle cells that leaves the muscle spindle cells more sensitive. This sensitivity leads to increased restriction and sustained contraction. SMRT positions decrease muscle spindle cell activity and restore length to shortened tissues.
What is the benefit of SMRT for clients?