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]]>Here are some common injuries to look out for, and pickleball recovery strategies, including a sports massage for pickleball players that will help keep you out of a pickle.
Common Injuries from Pickleball
Playing pickleball works out your entire body, with a focus on your core, shoulders, and legs. From reaching to lunging and twisting yourself in unique ways, the agility can take a toll on your body. These are five common injuries to look out for:
Sprains
Sprains can occur from quick twists, turns, or pivots while playing pickleball. It is an injury to a ligament that is stretched or even torn due to these quick moves.
Fractures
Fractures occur when there is a crack or split in the bone when too much force is applied to it. Too much force could be you taking a fall on the pickleball court’s hard surface, attempting to catch the fall with your arm, and ending up with a wrist fracture.
Rotator Cuff Injuries
Your shoulders can bear the brunt of the repetitive motions of swinging a paddle in pickleball. When the shoulder is overused, a rotator cuff can tear, which causes pain and some difficulty limiting your arm’s range of motion.
Tendonitis
Tendonitis occurs when a tendon is inflamed, which can cause it to swell and be painful. This can limit your range of motion due to the pain and swelling from the impacted area.
“Pickleball Elbow”
While many have heard of tennis elbow, pickleball elbow is the same phenomenon called lateral epicondylitis, which is a focused type of tendonitis in the elbow.
As with any injury, you want to take care of yourself, listen to your medical team, listen to your body, and only take on physical movements that are approved by that team during your recovery time. You’ll be back on the court in no time!
Mitigating Pickleball Injuries
Everyone’s routine may look different for mitigating injury based on your lifestyle, history of injuries, and overall health. If you’re recovering from an injury related to pickleball, you could be off the court for a while. When in doubt, contact your physician to ensure you are taking the optimal steps to mitigate common injuries faced in pickleball.
Here are some pickleball preparation and recovery steps you can take before and after you spend time on the court.
Hydration
Our body releases sweat as a way of regulating body temperature during physical activity. Drinking water regularly can help your body stay hydrated and in balance for peak performance. Electrolytes or other vitamin supplementation can help mitigate dehydration so you can continue playing without negative side effects.
High-Quality Equipment
The investment into what shoes you wear, to the paddle you hold during a pickleball match can help you to mitigate injuries on the court. Investing the time into proper technique and the right tools for the sport will pay off in dividends when it comes to your health.
Stretching
Before, during, and after a match are all great opportunities to stretch your limbs out. The two benefits of stretching include increased flexibility and mobility. Pickleball’s multiplanar movements mean that you should spend up to ten minutes prioritizing stretches around the common injury areas, such as the shoulder, leg, and back muscles.
Steam Rooms and Saunas
As a form of heat therapy, steam rooms, and saunas can play a part in one’s pickleball recovery by relaxing the muscles. This reduces the impact of muscle contraction after intense movement.
Foam Rollers/Percussive Sports Massage Tools
Rolling out your sore muscles with a foam roller or percussive sports massage tool is a great way to release tension in your muscles after a match. This is a way to promote self-myofascial release (SMR). A roller allows you to apply pressure to targeted sore areas, such as the iliotibial (IT) band, hamstrings, or glutes.
Sports Massage
A massage after sports exertion is a great form of aftercare that you can set up in advance. Mobile sports massages offer targeted relief personalized to what you need at that moment.
No matter what your pickleball recovery routine looks like, consistency is key to maintaining your physiological health. Feel free to try the above options, or add them in one session at a time to see what impact it has on your ability to crush it on the court.
Benefits of a Sports Massage for Pickleball Players
A sports massage targets muscle groups strained from overuse or repetitive motion, and can bring great relief to those who partake in physical activity such as pickleball. The main benefits of a sports massage for pickleball players include accelerated injury recovery, reduced muscle soreness, and enhanced performance.
Through deep kneading and stretching techniques, a sports massage helps release muscle tension to make movements more fluid. Additionally, by improving circulation, this type of massage helps muscles receive a greater supply of oxygen and nutrients crucial for healing and recovery.
Soothe’s network of skilled sports massage therapists are dedicated to helping you prevent future injuries. Each treatment is tailored specifically to your needs, moving beyond generic approaches to offer a truly personalized experience.
Getting a sports massage near you is convenient and easy with Soothe. Book with licensed massage therapists who can come directly to your location on your schedule, whether it’s your home, office, or hotel room.
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]]>A licensed professional comes directly to you when you book with Soothe. Select your appointment type below for a quick guide on how to prepare for for your appointment.
Massage Appointments
Whether you’re targeting tense muscles with a Deep Tissue Massage or relaxing peacefully with a Swedish Massage, your therapist is equipped to provide a massage that fits your needs.
Plan to shower or bathe before your massage therapist arrives. Clear a 5ft x 12ft space for your therapist’s massage table (or a 10ft x 12ft space for a couples massage), preferably near a sink. Before you begin, make sure your therapist is aware of any injuries, allergies, and preferences you have.
After your therapist sets up, they will leave the room so you can dress down to your comfort level, under a sheet. For this reason, you may want to wear clothing that is easy to remove and put back on.
During your massage, feel free to communicate about what pressure you’d like and problem areas you’d like to avoid or target- remember, your appointment is always in your hands.
Love your Provider? Be sure to add them to your Favorites in your Soothe app and leave a tip and rating to spread those good vibes.
Facial appointments
Facials are a great way to moisturize, cleanse pores, and get a glowy, youthful appearance. Depending on your skin type and needs, you can choose between a Hydrate, Acne, Age-defy, Anti-stress, or Men’s facial. After a licensed professional accepts your appointment, use the Soothe app to chat about your skin and what you hope to achieve.
Before your appointment, you should wash your face and skip the makeup. Avoid facial waxing and laser treatments within 1 and 2 weeks of your appointment, respectively. Exfoliation within 48 hours of your appointment should also be avoided, along with recent botox or fillers. If you’re on Accutane, please consult a doctor before booking.
Your Provider will bring all the products needed for your facial appointment. Feel free to ask questions and get their recommendation for ongoing treatment to best achieve the results you want. If you’d like to continue a regularly scheduled regimen with your Provider, be sure to add them to your Favorites in the Soothe app for future bookings. And don’t forget to leave a tip and rating to show your appreciation.
Nail appointments
Mani-pedis are perfect for those who like to dazzle with color, nourish their nails, or just want some soothing me-time. If you have gel polish on your nails, make sure to add a gel soak-off to your appointment so your Provider is prepared to remove your old polish before a new coat is applied. After your appointment is confirmed, chat with your Provider through the Soothe app to let them know what color, shape, or design you’d prefer.
Your Provider will bring everything, including nail polish colors, top coats, bottom coats, cuticle oil, cuticle nipper, cuticle softener, nail file, clippers, pedicure and hand bowls, nail polish remover, buffer, cotton pads, lotion, scrub, and cleaning supplies.
Prior to your appointment, make sure there’s enough space to sit in a comfortable position for both you and your Provider. If you’re receiving a pedicure, we recommend non-carpeted spaces, or you may want to place a towel under your feet to soak up any excess water from the pedicure bowl.
If you’re receiving a Classic Nail treatment, remember that you can’t dry right away, so relax for 15-20 minutes. Results can last up to 2 weeks. After a Gel treatment, there’s no time required to dry. You can get going right away, including wearing socks and shoes. Results can last up to 3 weeks.
Keep your nails dazzling all year round by scheduling ahead in the Soothe app. Add your Provider to your Favorites to book with them again in the future, and don’t forget to leave a tip for your tips.
Hair appointments
Haircare and hairstyling are fundamental to looking and feeling great. Select from four different hair services: Haircut, Blowout, Updo, and Braids. If you have facial hair, you can also add on a special grooming service when you book your appointment.
Don’t worry about equipment. For all hair treatments, your Provider will bring professional haircare and styling products, including a cape, blow-dryer, handheld mirror, hairbrushes, sanitation and cleaning supplies, and even hot tools like a straightener and a curling iron.
Before any appointment, make sure your hair is clean and you’ve cleared a space near an outlet. Remember- communication is key! Use the Soothe app to chat with your stylist and share any allergies to ingredients or products, and let them know what look you’d like to achieve.
If you love your look and want to book the same stylist in the future, head to the Soothe app and add them to your Favorites. Show some love by leaving a tip and a kind rating.
Makeup appointments
When you book a treatment with a licensed Provider, you get a professional cosmetologist who’s there to make you look and feel beautiful for any event or special occasion.
Best of all, your Provider will bring all the supplies: foundation, concealer, primer, lip colors, eye shadow, setting powder, mascara, spoolies, blush, bronzer, setting spray, brow pencil, tissue, mirror, and even an airbrush machine for airbrush services.
Before your appointment, wash your face and apply your skincare routine before your Provider arrives. Chat with your Provider through the Soothe app to discuss skin tone and preferred colors.
Love your look? Be sure to leave a tip for your Provider and rate your experience. Add them to your Favorites to easily rebook for your next glamworthy celebration.
Lash appointments
Whether you’re going for a natural, sultry, or dramatic look, nothing makes a statement quite like a good lash game. Booking a treatment with a licensed professional can help you accentuate your look with gorgeous eyelash extensions.
To ensure a relaxing experience, refrain from consuming caffeine at least 2-3 hours before your appointment. To prepare, wash your face and skip the makeup. Remove your contacts and get into comfortable clothes. Go to the Soothe app to chat with your Provider about what kind of look you’d like to achieve and what to expect.
During your appointment, avoid talking and feel free to take a nap. We recommend listening to music or tuning in to your favorite podcast while your Provider goes to work.
After your appointment, remember to avoid getting your lashes wet for at least 24 hours. Brush them twice a day with a clean mascara wand and wash in oil-free soap, preferably foam soap. Ask your Provider for recommendations! To make them last, avoid picking or pulling and don’t apply mascara.
Want to keep your eyelashes flawless year round? Add your Provider to your Favorites in the Soothe app for easily rebook with them in the future.
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]]>The post Sports Massage: What It Is, Benefits, And What To Expect appeared first on Soothe.
]]>Massage therapy is practiced in many distinct ways throughout the world. If you’ve had a massage before, you’ve most likely already experienced one or more techniques used in sports massage.
Here at Soothe, this is another featured massage we offer. We love offering sports massage for our Soothe clients because it includes two of our favorite massages: Swedish massage and Deep Tissue massage. If you wish, a sports massage can also include percussive instruments as well.
A sports massage can serve a handful of different purposes, from relaxing the entire body and improving mobility to pain relief caused by injuries. Through Soothe, you can book an appointment with a licensed massage therapist specializing in this type of massage.
What Is Sports Massage?
Sports massage is one of the most popular and frequently utilized massage types worldwide. If you’re ready for your first massage, sports massage can be a great place to start. The sports massage treatment combines various massages into a single session to relieve pain, ease tension, and promote healing. In some scenarios, a full-body massage may be appropriate for this massage type.
Sports massages benefit athletes, bodybuilders, and anyone who lives an active lifestyle. For example, if you’re an athlete, sports massages are recommended during training. Getting a regular massage can help prevent injury and promote faster recovery. Massage treatment is a long-term solution for muscular performance and injury rehabilitation and prevention.
If you’re having pain in your neck or back, a sports massage may be a great way to begin reviving your body and mind. Since this massage is well known for relieving pain and improving injury, sports massage therapy can be relieving.
Sports Massage Techniques
Massage therapists may use a variety of methods to give a sports massage. What methods they choose will depend on your unique situation. Here are the some of the most common sports massage techniques:
- Effleurage – These are simple strokes done with the palms of the hands in a push away from the heart to promote blood flow. Effleurage is used to start your massage, as it helps the muscles warm up. It’s also used to soothe your muscles at the end of your massage.
- Petrissage – Kneading movements are common in this method. Petrissage helps in muscle recovery. The massage therapist will usually compress your soft tissues in a rhythmic fashion. The most common ways of performing petrissage include kneading, wringing, rolling, and lifting. This will help the muscles stretch and loosen.
- Tapotement – For stimulation, tapping and cupping muscles are used. This is typically done in pre-event massages. Drumming or tapping is what tapotement refers to. The massage therapist will use rhythmic tapping to stimulate blood flow across the body.
- Friction – Sports massages often use friction movements, and it’s an effective technique for repairing injuries because it targets the muscle tissues. Effleurage should be used before a friction massage to warm up the muscles. This technique involves rubbing on the massage area using the thumbs or fingers. The massage therapist may apply pressure in a circular area or linear. This rubbing can soften and realign your muscles. This technique is great for those of you who may have joint pain or struggle to move your joints.
- Vibration – The fast vibrations relax and soothe the muscles. This technique involves rhythmic shaking of the area being massaged. This will loosen up your body and help your muscles relax.
Ensure you communicate with your therapist and tell them exactly how you feel. This will help them choose the best techniques for you.
What Happens During A Sports Massage?
The first thing to understand is that you can get one at any time, but they can be especially useful before or after you go through an active event with your body, such as a 5-mile run, sports game, MMA match, weight lifting, etc. While deep-tissue massage and sports massage techniques appear similar, the two have different focuses, so knowing which one can help you the most is important.
For example, if you were offered a sports massage vs. a deep tissue massage, the sports massage would probably take your physical activities into account, and the therapist would likely try to tailor the massage treatment to fit both the time and kind of activities you’re doing whereas a deep-tissue massage would be more about pressure and your overall lifestyle.
Each massage therapist has their own preferred techniques for providing a massage. However, there are several standard procedures that you may expect during a sports massage. We’ll cover those now.
Firstly, the massage therapist will lubricate your skin with massage oil or lotion to make it smoother and more pleasant. If you don’t want lotion, just let them know. Your practitioner will use different massage strokes and techniques depending on why you’re getting a sports massage.
These movements help your muscle tissues warm up, which helps to release tension and breaks up muscle “knots,” also known as adhesions.
Soothe always encourages excellent client-therapist communication to obtain the greatest massage treatment. Before the treatment, the therapist will most likely inquire about any injuries or other issues he or she should be aware of. Let the massage therapist know how you’re feeling. You should tell them exactly what is hurting, painful, or tense so they can adjust their technique accordingly. If you have allergies or are pregnant, make sure to let them know.
You should also tell the massage therapist your preference for pressure, which may be light, moderate, or firm. The therapist will likely ask a series of questions to ensure you have the best experience possible. That’s why communication is so important. Soothe wants to make sure to meet all of your expectations. If you let your massage therapist know exactly what you want, he or she can make sure they deliver on that promise.
Origins Of The Sports Massage
Massage originated in Greece and Rome and has a long history (Cenacle Treatment Centre) as one of the world’s oldest healing techniques. Galen (AD 30-200), a renowned Roman physician, “recommended massage for gladiators both before and after training.” This is one of the first known instances of sports massage.
The modern history of sports massage can be traced back to the Paris Olympic Games in 1924 (Crist Chiropractic & Wellness, 2011). Finland’s Paavo Nurmi won five gold medals in the Olympic track event, receiving much credit for his victory from his regular personal massage therapist. Here in the United States, many people credit Jack Meagher as the one who introduced sports massage to the country.
Health Benefits
The physiological and psychological benefits of massage therapy are enormous. Massage is used to treat various ailments, including muscular imbalances, soft tissue damage, fluid buildup, high heart rate, blood pressure, restricted range of motion, pain, tiredness, anxiety, and injury prevention. It may also help with promoting blood flow and warming up muscles. Research studies have shown that subjects felt less fatigued and felt like they recovered faster after sports massage. Decreased anxiety, improved mood, better sleep, and enhanced feelings of well-being were also noted in the study.
This massage can also ease tension and anxiety, allowing the body to relax and recover from the strain of sports activity. It also aids in the removal of toxins and waste products during post-event periods by “calming the nervous system.” This massage also helps athletes get back into their workouts faster by reducing recovery time.
Massage therapy is shown to relax the body and release and reduce muscle tension during high-intensity exercise. It can also help to relax the body by relaxing the mind.
Personal Benefits
A sports massage is excellent for relieving pain and strains, but it may also aid in the relief of everyday stress. It’s no secret that stress can harm your health. Many people stress over work, relationships, children, parents, taxes, politics, inflation, etc. The more we stress, the more our muscles become tense, which can cause a number of issues down the road if left unaddressed.
The pressure utilized in sports massage therapy can help the muscles and relieve tension that has built up. Some people have said that skin contact relaxes them and aids in clearing their thoughts. Consider booking a deep tissue service if you like firm pressure during a massage.
Another advantage we’d like to mention is getting better sleep. Sleep is extremely crucial to one’s health; it helps the body and mind rest and recover. Getting adequate, good-quality sleep is beneficial to one’s overall well-being.
Since a sports massage can use Swedish massage techniques, it can help to relax your body. This relaxation can help promote better sleep; when performed in the evening, it may also help you fall asleep faster.
How to Book a Sports Massage Near You
If you’re interested in booking a sports massage, Soothe makes it easy to find a certified massage therapist in your area. Book online or download the app to find a licensed sports massage professional near you.
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]]>What Massage Type Is Best?
With so many options, choosing the right massage type can sometimes be difficult. Whether you’re stressed, sore, or run down, choose from one of our several massage types! Not sure which one to choose? Take a look at this helpful guide:
Swedish
The most common form of massage, Swedish uses a gentle technique, with long strokes, kneading, and deep circular movements to relax and energize you. This is a great option for new-comers or someone just looking to unwind.
Deep Tissue
For those looking for a stronger touch, deep tissue uses slower, more forceful strokes to target deeper muscle layers and connective tissue. This technique is ideal for those that suffer from chronic stress, regular muscle tension, or headaches.
Sports
A style that caters to athletes of all kinds, this modality targets muscle-tendon junctions to promote flexibility, reduce muscle fatigue, improve endurance, and prevent injuries. This modality is suited for anyone with an active lifestyle. Integrating sports massage into any fitness routine will do wonders for your body.
Prenatal
This modality helps lessen pregnancy discomfort and works to alleviate backaches, stiff neck, leg cramps, headaches, and swelling. Prenatal massage is safe for women in their second or third trimester. This massage is administered while the client lies on their side to prevent any discomfort.
Couples
Any of our modalities can be performed as a couples massage. Order two massage therapists to massage you and your partner simultaneously, or enjoy back to back massage with one massage therapist. A couples massage is perfect for a birthday, anniversary, or night in.
No matter which modality you choose, you’ll feel good from the inside out after a Soothe massage. Interested in learning more about these massage types? Click on the hyperlinks throughout this articles for a more comprehensive guide to each massage type.
If you’re ready to get started, book a massage here!
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