Are your muscles screaming after a hard day of skiing? Do you regularly push your body to the limit when you run, cycle, or visit the gym? Do you have a job that involves a lot of repetitive motions or heavy lifting?
If so, you’re an ideal candidate for therapeutic massage. This broad term includes elements of sports massage and deep tissue massage, based on your individual needs.
What can therapeutic massage do for your body? And where can you find the best massage in Vail, whether you’re a visitor or a local?
Keep reading to find out more!
Who Needs Therapeutic Massage?
It’s true that every type of massage is “therapeutic” in some way, even a gentle and relaxing Swedish massage. However, as mentioned above, therapeutic massage usually involves deeper pressure aimed at treating specific issues.
For example, skiers rely heavily on their quads, glutes, and hips to get them down the mountain. Snowboarding stresses different areas of the body, such as the lower back, abdominals, and calves. Depending on which snow sports you participate in, you’ll need a massage that targets those specific areas.
Even if you’re not a serious athlete, your secular work or daily tasks may place repeated stress on certain parts of your body. A gardener or a farrier who spends hours bent over every day could benefit from a therapeutic massage on the back, neck, and shoulders. The same is true of a mother who spends her days picking up and carrying her children.
What Should I Expect With a Deep Tissue or Sports Massage?
When you arrive for your session, your therapist will ask questions to help them understand what type of massage will be most beneficial for you. They may ask what you do for work, what types of sports you play, and whether you’ve had any recent injuries or surgeries.
Using this information, your therapist will use a variety of techniques to address your body’s needs. This might include:
- Deep Swedish techniques (long flowing strokes, kneading, and tapotement)
- Trigger point therapy (sustained pressure on specific trouble spots)
- Cross-fiber friction across muscles, joints, and soft tissues
- Rhythmic compression to increase blood flow
- Active and passive stretching to improve flexibility
To release tightness in the muscles and joints, your therapist needs to work deep into the tissue. They’ll use whichever therapeutic techniques that are most effective for the condition.
Will I Feel Pain During the Massage?
There’s a common misconception that for a massage to be “therapeutic,” it must be extremely painful. This is not the case.
It’s true that you may feel some discomfort during a deep tissue or sports massage, especially if you have chronic tension or a recent injury. However, a massage should never feel excruciating or intolerable. The goal is always to make you feel better, not worse.
Communication with your therapist during the session is key to finding the right amount of pressure for your body. This ensures you’ll get the relief you need so you can get back to doing the things you love most!
Book a Massage in Vail Today
Has all this talk of therapeutic massage made you eager to experience it for yourself?
Apres Massage is the newest boutique day spa in Vail, conveniently located inside the Highline Doubletree hotel in West Vail. We proudly offer deep tissue massage, relaxing Swedish massage, and many other treatments tailored to your needs.
Give us a call at 970-445-2114 or use our online booking form to schedule your appointment. We look forward to seeing you soon!