Sports massage is typically administered to athletes that play and suffer from sports injuries and chronic pain, as well as to warm up the muscles before training or a game. It is a form of a Swedish massage designed to focus in on a specific area that has been injured or is causing the athlete problems. This type of massage stimulates the circulation of blood, breaks down knots, increases range of motion and prevents further injury or strain. Athlete’s bodies are required to be in peak physical condition at all times in order to perform at their very best. A tender knee, sore shoulders, a cramp in the leg, or a pulled hamstring could prevent an athlete from performing at an optimal performance level and could increase the chance of further injury if not properly taken care of.
Getting older can be physically painful. Many elderly people suffer from arthritis, loss of feeling in their hands and feet, poor circulation, muscular stiffness, inflammation in the joints, skin discoloration, bursitis, and deterioration in the muscles and bones. Massage therapy can be extremely soothing and beneficial to elderly individuals who are experiencing the aches and pains of growing older. Massage therapy for the elderly is often called geriatric massage or senior massage. Geriatric Massage techniques do not usually differ from the techniques used on younger people; however, the main difference is in how an elderly body is positioned on a massage table and the amount of pressure used while massaging.