2 tips to keep in mind if you plan to have a massage to help your sports injury

Many people seek out the assistance of massage therapists when they sustain sports injuries. If you have been injured in this manner and have decided to have massage therapy to help you recover, here are some tips that you should keep in mind when you go to your appointment.

1. Tell the massage therapist immediately if you experience any sharp pain

If you feel any type of sharp, intense pain whilst the massage therapist is touching you, you should alert them to this issue immediately. The reason for this is that whilst you should expect to feel some physical discomfort when the massage therapist begins treating your injured body part (as an unhealed injury will, of course, be very tender), you should not be in severe pain at any point during the massage process. If you are, this may mean that the current massage technique that the therapist is using is a bit too intense for that particular area of your body and that they need to use a different technique instead.

For example, if they are using a kneading technique that feels slightly too forceful on your injured calf muscle, and you tell them that you are in pain, they may decide to either use less pressure when performing this movement or to switch to a gentler technique, such as longitudinal gliding. However, they will only become aware of your pain and be able to alter their approach to massaging this area if you speak up about it. As such, make sure that you inform them immediately if you feel anything more than mild physical discomfort.

2. Expect to remove most of your clothing

If the pain you are experiencing as a result of your sports-related injury is in your leg, you might think that you will only have to remove the clothing on the lower half of your body during your massage appointment. However, it's worth bearing in mind that the massage therapist may still end up asking you to remove most of your clothing (aside from your undergarments).

The reason for this is that whilst the pain you feel may be in your leg, it is possible that the source of the problem may be located elsewhere in your body. Because of this, the massage therapist may need to be able to access areas other than your leg. For example, in this situation, the pain in your leg may actually be caused by the compression of your sciatic nerve, which stretches from the lower back to the lower leg.

If this is the case, the massage therapist might need you to remove your top, as well as your trousers or skirt so that they can physically access your lower back and try to relieve the compression of this nerve.