I grew up playing softball from the time I was 5 years old. When I was about 12, I decided I wanted to be a pitcher – which puts enormous strain on the muscles of the shoulder. By 17, I had 2 minor tears in my rotator cuff. Although it ended my pitching career, it began my career as a massage therapist after I began treating with one to help rehab my shoulder.
Over 19 years of massage, I have spent much of that time working with athletes. In fact, my first massage job was working in conjunction with the physical therapists for the University of Utah football team. I have developed my own techniques that allow me to help not only with injuries but with performance.
Types of sports massage
There are two aspects to working with athletes. 1- Reactive and 2- Proactive.
Reactive is the more obvious type meant for injury recovery and rehabilitation. After a big competition, game, or event it can help to restore proper muscle function and improve healing. If there is an injury, massage can help with recovery to help get the athlete back to their passion.
Proactive is meant for injury prevention, athletic improvement and performance optimization. This is much less utilized in student athletes. In the case of this amazingly talented dancer and athletes case, we are working on range of motion in her shoulders so she can reach full extension in her moves.
For a baseball pitcher, it may be working on scapular and shoulder stabilization which can not only help prevent an injury but can also help with strength in the joint. Take it from me, pitching is a game of recovery. Doing it quickly and properly gives the athlete an amazing competitive edge.
A soccer player may need work on the muscles of the low back and legs. It can help keep them loose to prevent muscle tears (which can sideline them for an entire season) but can also help them increase their speed to improve their performance.
These young athletes put their bodies through A LOT, sometimes their youth means they don’t realize the limits their body has. Massage can help prevent major injuries, recover from the stress they put their bodies through, and maybe give them that extra advantage to excel in their sport of choice.
I offer a discount for student athlete massages and would love to consult with you about a program for your student athlete. Let’s protect them and help them and give them the edge they need to reach their goals!
Elaine Lewis, LMT 