There is no minimum age to receive sports massage but anyone under the age of 18 must have an adult present. This is to protect both the client and therapist. Furthermore, they will need to provide written consent from their parent or guardian. A consent form can be found here (hyperlink).

Before your initial consultation you will be asked to fill out an online client consultation form. At your appointment we will then discuss this form and the issues you are experiencing. I may also ask you to perform certain movements to evaluate range of motion and pain levels. We will then discuss my findings and the expected treatment plan before moving onto treatment.

Please remember that it is important to provide details of all health conditions and medications so that I can adapt the session to your specific needs as required.

Loose comfortable clothing is best, some people bring shorts to change into, but this is not compulsory. If you wear a bra, one which unfastens at the back is preferable. During the treatment you may be asked to partially undress, depending on the areas of the body to be worked on, but draping with towels will be used so that only the area being treated is exposed. You will never be asked to undress completely.

As Sports Massage is a deep and specific treatment there may be some discomfort but this should be more in the range of mild discomfort rather than the 'ouch, stop it' range! Pain can be an indication that the muscle is injured or inflamed and I will ask questions throughout the treatment to check what you are feeling and whether the pressure is ok for you.

It is a myth that Sports Massage always must be painful, pain can cause your muscles to tighten up and negate the beneficial effects of the massage, so the aim is to work with your body's natural response, not against it. If at any time you feel something is too painful it is up to you to inform me. This will make your experience of the treatment more enjoyable and beneficial.

Compared to no treatment, massage reduced pain and improves function in some musculoskeletal conditions, but these benefits are short-lived (ref 1). Some people feel achy or sore in the areas treated, much like after a workout at the gym, is perfectly normal and usually passes within 24-48 hours. A hot shower, or a soak in the bath can help ease this soreness.

References: 1. Diederik C Bervoets, Pim AJ Luijsterburg, Jeroen JN Alessie, Martijn J Buijs, Arianne P Verhagen, Massage therapy has short-term benefits for people with common musculoskeletal disorders compared to no treatment: a systematic review, Journal of Physiotherapy, Volume 61, Issue 3, 2015, Pages 106-116, ISSN 1836-9553, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphys.2015.05.018. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1836955315000582)

This really varies from person to person and depends on the nature of the issue you are experiencing and your goals in seeking treatment. For a sports injury you may require shorter more frequent appointments during the recovery phase whereas someone requiring maintenance of a chronic condition might have a longer massage on a more infrequent basis. Alternatively, you may use massage regularly as part of your training programme, in which case consideration should be given to the timing of massage around events etc. I will discuss this with you at your initial consultation and as treatment progresses.

Sports Massage is not suitable if you have a fever, cold/flu, or a contagious skin infection. If you're booked in and you come down with something don't worry, just let me know as soon as you can before the appointment and we can rearrange for when you're feeling better. For some conditions I may need to adapt my techniques (e.g. arthritis or osteoporosis) or avoid an area completely (e.g. cuts or recent scars). With certain conditions I may need to seek approval from your doctor or other medical practitioner before you receive massage, particularly if you are undergoing other treatment. If this is the case, then I will discuss with you and ask for your permission to contact your practitioners to discuss your treatment.

Below is a list of total contraindications of Sports Massage:

• Acute injury (first 24-48 hours)

• Fever

• First trimester of pregnancy

• Suspected DVT

• Hyperthermia

• Infectious diseases

• Under influence alcohol/ drugs

• Cancer*

• Without consent (an initial assessment is required, and a basic consent form on follow up visits).
  

What conditions require onward referral?

• Pregnancy - It is generally advised to avoid treatment in your first trimester, until after you have had your first scan. You will need to contact a specialist Antenatal massage practitioner for massage during your second or third trimester.

• *Cancer - You will need to contact a specialist oncology massage practitioner able to advise on risk factors associated with your condition and to discuss your current stage of health.