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Stretching question for sports massage....
I am starting to do more sports massage and this year I will start including more stretching in my massages. I have a couple questions:
- If you do extensive stretching during your massage, could you go into detail about how you do it and the type of stretching you utilize?
- when you do stretching, how do you keep from injurying cool muscles. Obviously if you are stretching athletes after an event their muscles are warm. But what about the client that comes to you on non-event day in the morning when the muscles are cool and has not done any type of warm up?
- do you do all of your stretching with the client on the table? If you are doing some with them off the table, then what do they wear for the massage and how do you make the transition from stretching off the table to the table then the massage?
I am working on totally revamping how I do a sports massage and want to make it more like it should be and need some advice. I of course will be getting training and ordering DVDs but I want to hear from those on this forum.
- If you do extensive stretching during your massage, could you go into detail about how you do it and the type of stretching you utilize?
- when you do stretching, how do you keep from injurying cool muscles. Obviously if you are stretching athletes after an event their muscles are warm. But what about the client that comes to you on non-event day in the morning when the muscles are cool and has not done any type of warm up?
- do you do all of your stretching with the client on the table? If you are doing some with them off the table, then what do they wear for the massage and how do you make the transition from stretching off the table to the table then the massage?
I am working on totally revamping how I do a sports massage and want to make it more like it should be and need some advice. I of course will be getting training and ordering DVDs but I want to hear from those on this forum.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Heidi Krenzke on
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Hi Donna:
I incorporate a many stretches into my massages, I recommend the book, "Anatomy of Stretching"! It explains the best way to stretch, how long to hold them and much, much more. It is quite lengthy to type everything I do, get the book, it explains it all and the illustrations are AWESOME,you'll love it!
It is best to warm up the muscles prior to stretching, I massage the muscles prior to the stretches. I do all mine on the table but then I also recommend some other stretches to them depending on what I find is an issue for them. Hope this helps you!
Heidi -
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Permalink Reply by Rick Johnson on
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Hi Donna,
I use two types of stretches; Active Isolated Stretching, popularized by Aaron Mattes, and Resisted Stretching by Bob Cooley and made popular by Dara Torres. All stretches are done on the table. If I'm working an event .warm ups are not an issue but most stretches will follow massage just to be sure.
For regular massage( vs sports massage) I use gentle passive stretches. I do believe that from a client wellness standpoint, stretching is as important as the massage. -
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Permalink Reply by Donna C. Agrinsonis, LMT on
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Wow some excellent advice! Gives me some direction with the training I will seek after and for knowing how to put it all together. Thanks. I am sure the info is also helpful for other MT's who come along and read these posts.
Rick Johnson said:Hi Donna,
I use two types of stretches; Active Isolated Stretching, popularized by Aaron Mattes, and Resisted Stretching by Bob Cooley and made popular by Dara Torres. All stretches are done on the table. If I'm working an event .warm ups are not an issue but most stretches will follow massage just to be sure.
For regular massage( vs sports massage) I use gentle passive stretches. I do believe that from a client wellness standpoint, stretching is as important as the massage. -
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Permalink Reply by Earl Wenk on
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Hi Donna,
Like Henry & Rick, I also employ AIS stretching in my practice, as well as MET/PNF. I will first use massage to release & warm the muscles before using the stretching techniques. As Heidi recommended, the Anatomy of Stretching book is a fantastic resource. We have a copy in our waiting room for clients to read.
For my massage sessions, I instruct clients coming in for a sports massage to bring shorts, to make stretching much easier to perform. When working with runners, they will wear shorts & a t-shirt & I do not use a top-sheet or blanket when performing sports massage. I do most of the stretching on the table, but I will have them sit in a chair to stretch their shoulders. -
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Oh this is great info! I will be attending a sports massage seminar in March but it is very helpful when other therapists share exactly what they do because usually when people tell you things they leave out pertinent details. I had already decided to have sports massage clients bring some shorts so stretching would be easier and would not necessitate draping. So when you massage the muscles prior to stretching do you do a full body massage then stretching or do you massage one group then stretch that same group?
Earl Wenk said:Hi Donna,
Like Henry & Rick, I also employ AIS stretching in my practice, as well as MET/PNF. I will first use massage to release & warm the muscles before using the stretching techniques. As Heidi recommended, the Anatomy of Stretching book is a fantastic resource. We have a copy in our waiting room for clients to read.
For my massage sessions, I instruct clients coming in for a sports massage to bring shorts, to make stretching much easier to perform. When working with runners, they will wear shorts & a t-shirt & I do not use a top-sheet or blanket when performing sports massage. I do most of the stretching on the table, but I will have them sit in a chair to stretch their shoulders. -
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I will usually finish the massage session with stretching. But I also employ movement-based massage techniques, that incorporate massage with stretching/motion, so they will receive some light stretching during the massage itself.
Donna C. Agrinsonis, LMT said:Oh this is great info! I will be attending a sports massage seminar in March but it is very helpful when other therapists share exactly what they do because usually when people tell you things they leave out pertinent details. I had already decided to have sports massage clients bring some shorts so stretching would be easier and would not necessitate draping. So when you massage the muscles prior to stretching do you do a full body massage then stretching or do you massage one group then stretch that same group?
Earl Wenk said:Hi Donna,
Like Henry & Rick, I also employ AIS stretching in my practice, as well as MET/PNF. I will first use massage to release & warm the muscles before using the stretching techniques. As Heidi recommended, the Anatomy of Stretching book is a fantastic resource. We have a copy in our waiting room for clients to read.
For my massage sessions, I instruct clients coming in for a sports massage to bring shorts, to make stretching much easier to perform. When working with runners, they will wear shorts & a t-shirt & I do not use a top-sheet or blanket when performing sports massage. I do most of the stretching on the table, but I will have them sit in a chair to stretch their shoulders. -
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Awesome!
Earl Wenk said:I will usually finish the massage session with stretching. But I also employ movement-based massage techniques, that incorporate massage with stretching/motion, so they will receive some light stretching during the massage itself.
Donna C. Agrinsonis, LMT said:Oh this is great info! I will be attending a sports massage seminar in March but it is very helpful when other therapists share exactly what they do because usually when people tell you things they leave out pertinent details. I had already decided to have sports massage clients bring some shorts so stretching would be easier and would not necessitate draping. So when you massage the muscles prior to stretching do you do a full body massage then stretching or do you massage one group then stretch that same group?
Earl Wenk said:Hi Donna,
Like Henry & Rick, I also employ AIS stretching in my practice, as well as MET/PNF. I will first use massage to release & warm the muscles before using the stretching techniques. As Heidi recommended, the Anatomy of Stretching book is a fantastic resource. We have a copy in our waiting room for clients to read.
For my massage sessions, I instruct clients coming in for a sports massage to bring shorts, to make stretching much easier to perform. When working with runners, they will wear shorts & a t-shirt & I do not use a top-sheet or blanket when performing sports massage. I do most of the stretching on the table, but I will have them sit in a chair to stretch their shoulders. -
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