Shape Singapore – August 2019

Clothing: If you’re not comfortable

being in your underwear, bring

along a pair of loose shorts and

T-shirt, and try to avoid wearing a

crossback bra which will impinge

the therapist’s movement.

What to expect: Unlike an

aromatherapy massage where the

goal is to relax, a sports massage

is more geared towards healing

old injuries or preventing the

onset of one. It’s best to be aware

of the sports you do, frequency,

areas where you feel tightness or

pain, as well as former injuries. The

more information you can supply

your therapist, the better he/she

will work at relaxing those tense

muscles.

The pain factor: It is a common

misconception that sports

massages always hurt. However,

this is not necessarily true. If there

is too much pain, your muscles

will tense up to fight against the

pressure, causing the massage

to be counterproductive. A good

therapist will know only to work

the pressure to your comfort level.

Always feedback to your therapist

if you find the pressure too much,

or if you’re feeling intense pain.

When to go: Many opt for a sports

massage either pre- or post-race,

to prepare the body for a sporting

event or relieve post-workout

muscle soreness. As a guide,

schedule a sports massage two or

three days before a race so you

have sufficient time to recover

from the soreness, and one or two

days after a race – so you wouldn’t

be overly sore.

Props: Sports massage props

are simple, usually consisting

of towels, pillows and baby or

avocado oil.

Post-massage: To prolong the

effects of the massage, try self-

massage techniques at home

using foam rollers and trigger

balls – ask your physiotherapist

or sports massage therapist

to teach you if you aren’t sure.

Stretch frequently to maintain

flexibility and keep your muscles

lengthened. Taking hot showers or

baths also helps to improve blood

flow and relax tight muscles.

PhysioActive
Treatment Sports Massage
Best for Sportspeople and regular exercisers looking to speed up muscle recovery and
optimise their training
Review Before the massage, my therapist Jia Zhi spent a few minutes chatting with me to find
out about my current condition and the areas I wanted her to work on. We decided to focus
on my upper back, shoulders, neck and triceps, which were pretty achy from a high-intensity
strength training workout I did the day before. With a few gentle prods, she could tell which
areas were tight and required attention. Her massage strokes were on point and delivered
just enough pressure to release the knots without causing sharp pain. She made sure that my
pain level was manageable throughout, and that the right areas were targeted, by constantly
asking for my feedback. The session was overall stress-free and beginner-friendly, but could
be more comfortable if the hard clinic bed was replaced with a softer one with cushions or
pillows to support my face in prone position. After lying face down and slightly reclined for
half an hour, I got up with nasal blockage and soreness in my forehead, cheeks and chin.
Note to self: Ask for props next time.
Where Five PhysioActive clinics in Orchard, Raffles, East Coast, Jurong and Novena
Price $70 for 30 minutes; $90 for 45 minutes; $110 for 60 minutes
More info http://www.physioactive.sg

• Estelle

Sports Massage Smarts

Different from an aromatherapy or even a deep tissue massage,

sports massages differ not just in technique but in delivery as well.

Here’s what to expect.

SHAPE AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2019 | NOW TRENDING | 49