Ace your game with sports massage

The time of strawberries and cream, spellbinding rallies and exhilarating power plays is almost upon us.

Few sporting events stir the emotions quite like the Wimbledon Championships. The prestige the tournament carries is unmatched given its status as the oldest tennis tournament in the world.

Wimbledon never fails to inspire new (and older) generations of players, with many picking up a racquet to test their own prowess on the court at social or club level.

As a high-intensity sport, tennis-related injuries are not uncommon.

At one point or another, players of all skill levels are bound to suffer one or more of the following: tennis elbow, rotator cuff tendinitis/ shoulder impingement, lower back strains, calf strains and Achilles tendinitis, hamstring or quadriceps strains, wrist strains/tendinitis, or knee pain.

One of the most effective ways for treating these injuries is sports massage, says Ultra Sports Clinic Sports Massage Therapist Marta Michalek.

“Sports massage is specifically designed for athletes to prevent or treat injuries and improve performance,” she explains.

“During intense training or competition season, one- to two sessions are recommended per week. These help to prevent injuries, reduce muscle fatigue and improve flexibility.”

The ideal time for treatment is 24-48 hours after a training session when muscle soreness is not as intense.

Sports massage therapists like Marta focus on different muscle groups when treating tennis injuries.

The shoulders (deltoids and rotator cuff muscles) are put under immense pressure due to the action of serving or playing overhead shots.

A lot of attention is also paid to the forearms (flexors and extensors) as gripping a racquet can lead to tightness and tennis elbow.

“We also focus on the upper back and neck (trapezius, rhomboids, Levator scapulae). Supporting arm movements and stabilising the shoulder blades can create tightness here,” Marta says.

“Quick directional changes, lunges and explosive movements engage the hip complex which is why the hips and glutes (gluteus maximus/Medius, piriformis, hip flexors) are often treated as well.”

With so much running, stopping and jumping, it stands to reason that a player’s legs (hamstrings, quadriceps, calves) are just as susceptible to injury and require a targeted rehabilitation plan.

Marta says there are always signs that all is not well with a player.

These include:

• Muscle tightness or stiffness that lingers beyond a day or two;

• Limited range of motion;

• Muscle soreness that stretches more than 72 hours after activity;

• Difficulty in generating power or speed or feeling “off” physically;

• Discomfort or minor pain when serving, swinging, running or changing direction.

• Repetitive-use discomfort;

• Poor recovery between sessions; and

• Feeling mentally drained/anxious due to accumulated physical stress.

Marta emphasises that sports massage aids both mental relaxation and nervous system recovery.

#sportsmassage #Wimbledon #Tennis #UltraSportsClinic #Streches #Physio #London #Excersise