Sports Massage Therapy (SMT)

Confusion abounds about what exactly Sports Massage Therapy (SMT) is, and for good reason. Ultra marathoners and weekend joggers alike ask what, exactly, it is. This is because the term encompasses a wide range of different types of “massage,” and different massage therapists practicing under the banner of this catch-all phrase possess a wide array of different skills and levels of experience. But a professional practitioner of sports massage is an ideal choice to treat injuries as well as a source of information about how to maintain the overall health of muscle and connective tissue.

Generally, sports massage is a preventive therapy that addresses muscle symmetry, tone, and balance, as well as range of motion. SMT manipulate soft tissue to reduce pain and tension and improve muscle condition and range of motion. These improvements are achieved via a range of techniques. When analyzing and treating a person’s injury or symptoms, a Sport Massage Therapist studies root causes carefully, as an injury to one part of the body may be connected to another. This therapy often pairs massage with complimentary stretching and movement.