1. The Right Therapist
Use a therapist who knows you and your style of running or competing. Make sure that she has special training in sports massage if it will be the first time you receive intra-event massage, since there are special techniques to use that are very different than regular massage therapy. The therapist also should be familiar with the sport you are competing in and its various physical challenges. You must feel comfortable with your massage therapist and trust her competency. If you have any misgivings about the person who is about to touch you in the middle of a competition, then ask for another therapist or refuse the bodywork. A poor intra-event massage, or one that frazzles you and disrupts your rhythm, is worse than no massage at all.
2. Use a Light Touch
Intra-event massage, given in the midst of a competition, will help the athlete retain flexibility while working out the kinks and knots that have developed during the race or game. It is often given during breaks in the action or between various activities. The massage should help the athlete to calm down and refocus her attention on the competition and what is needed to continue. Tight muscles injure easily and massage is a great tool to help prevent pulled muscles and twisted joints. The massage may last only 10 minutes and works the areas most used by the athlete. It also can help increase circulation with light, vigorous strokes. It pushes the blood through the veins more effectively making healing and repair quicker. Intra-event massage should never probe deep into the muscle tissue, but remain on the surface. Be careful of sensitive spots that may be worsened with any kind of massage. Quickly check for breaks or muscle tears that could turn ugly if left untreated.
3. Speak Up During Massage
Tell the therapist what you need, where you might hurt or where you feel tight. If you want to increase flexibility, the therapist can raise your joints and lightly massage the areas while gently moving them around. While a sports massage therapist is not a psychologist, the genre does require a therapist to listen to an athlete's concerns and ease mental tension and nervous frustration. Talk to your therapist about your fear of losing or regret in your performance so far. It is the job of the intra-event sports massage therapist to calm you down through both physical bodywork and soothing, encouraging words.
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