One of the best things I’ve done to improve my results is to employ movement and re-assessment during my sports massage sessions. In a typical relaxation massage, the client simply lies on the table, unmoving until the time is up. At this point, it is too late to discover you didn’t quite release the problem area.
If an athlete comes to me with a specific complaint, the first thing I do is identify a movement that causes discomfort to that body part. Then, as I work through the tissues I believe are involved in the injury, I ask the client to periodically perform the initial movement again, giving me valuable feedback on changes in pain or tightness.
For example, I recently had a runner with hip and proximal hamstring tightness. During the 30-minute session, I repeatedly had her stand and perform a straight-leg forward bend (a movement we identified that causes discomfort). Each time, she gave me additional feedback and we were able to pinpoint and release the exact structures. At the end of the session, she was able to perform this movement without discomfort…Success!
Besides improving the efficiency of the massage, this technique also provides sense of comfort to your client and encourages them to become active participants in their healing. They get to feel the changes you’re making to their bodies as you work, helping them to become more body-aware. Plus, the next time they come in to see you, they will already be thinking of what movements are causing them pain.
