Helen Kate McGovern

What is sports therapy?

I also offer my Sports Therapy services. I have an advanced diploma in Sports Therapy. Sports Therapy is the prevention of injury and the rehabilitation of the patient back to optimum levels of functional, occupational and sports specific fitness, regardless of age and injury.

A Sports Therapist is a practitioner who:

* Provides first aid and attend to injuries in a recreational, training and competitive environment.

* Can assess and, where appropriate, refer on for specialist advice and intervention.

* Provides sports massage pre and post activity.

* Implements appropriate rehabilitation programmes.

* Utilises sports and exercise principles to optimise preparation and injury prevention programmes.

Sports massage is ideal to treat injuries and as well as a preventative treatment dealing with the health of muscle and connective tissue, range of movement, tone, symmetry, balance of muscle and quality of posture. It is the manipulation of soft tissue to release tension, reduce pain, restore range of movement and to promote good condition.

I have worked with a wide range of clients and have over 10 years experience. These include various sports teams including rugby, basketball, and elite athletes and I currently have my own client base, work at a ladies ex-military run boot camp and work with a wide variety of musicians.

What techniques does a sports massage practitioner use?

Tolerance levels of clients can vary enormously - this can be due to techniques and of course the shape and size of each client. The techniques used can include the standard 'massage' techniques, stroking through muscles groups or picking specific muscles out and creating movement within them in different directions or at varying depths and strengths. It could also be the isolation of a muscle or muscle groups and stretching them in any number of ways with client participation, passive/subtle movements along the muscle body or indeed deep into specific areas as deemed appropriate. Working into specific areas concentrating efforts to break down tensions or 'adhesions' may be required or separating the layers of connective tissue may be the key to remedy the situation in hand. When looking at and treating the injury or symptoms, root causes are also carefully considered and this may lead the treatment into other areas around the body. All my treatment is explained to the client in a simplistic way and I ask for feedback on the depth of the massage to find out what is best for the particular client I am treating. My goal is to provide the very best treatment that I possibly can.

For more details on Sports Therapy Sports Massage please contact me today.