Sports Massage Vs. Swedish Massage - Which Is Right For Me?
This is confusing right???
Truthfully, I HATE going to get massages generally.
It’s too hard, or too soft. They seem to just do the same thing with everyone. They don’t notice me squirming around and making faces that are generally not the face people make if they are ENJOYING something…
And if you’re like me, you’ll spend the entire time waiting for it to be over… or for them to get to the “good part”.
Well that to me kinda sums up a traditional or “Swedish” massage. But I’m going to go into a more “objective” description of the differences.
SWEDISH MASSAGE
So, the goal of Swedish massages is to promote whole body relaxation through working across superficial soft tissues. Lighter strokes are used to “promote blood and lymphatic flow and stimulate nerve endings.”
There are three main techniques used in a Swedish massage that include:
Effleurage: long, gliding strokes
Petrissage: cross, kneading strokes
Tapotement: percussive or vibrating motions
Individuals may benefit from a Swedish massage to relieve stress and some superficial muscle tension. These are generally not targeted to certain stiff areas and the receiver does not have much of an active role in the treatment session.
SPORTS MASSAGE
Sports massage therapy is targeted mobilization of aggravated or shortened soft tissue around the site of injury or aggravation.
The goal of a sports massage is to reduce muscle tension and improve mobility and joint range of motion.
One of the biggest and MOST important differences between a sports massage and swedish massage is that a sports massage therapist will work together with their clients by asking targeted questions and assessing movement to design a treatment with the client’s goals in mind. The treatment is then specific to those goals and findings.
A sports massage may borrow some of the techniques of Swedish massage, but additional methods used include sustained pressure, tack and stretch, and MWM (movement with mobilization). In other words, sports massages may include the client moving during the treatment sessions.
How to know if a sports massage would be helpful for you:
If you feel restricted in your movement by tight muscles
If you have a recent muscle strain
If you have tissue tenderness around the site of an injury that is contributing to your symptoms
Some tips in order to get the most out of your sports massage:
Identify the areas that feel the most aggravated or tight
Identify any movements that feel restricted, difficult, or painful
Pair the massage with deep belly breathing. Diaphragmatic breathing with help facilitate muscle relaxation and reduce tenderness to the affected areas
Get moving! Follow up your sports massage with movement through newly acquired or better tolerated ranges of motion in order to maximize the effects