Sports Massage in Blackheath, Lewisham, Greenwich

Book an appointment with Dr Christoph Datler, PhD, MSc, MOst (GOsC 9006), LSSM using Setmore

What is Remedial Massage and Sports Massage at Blackheath Clinic?

Sports Massage at Blackheath Sports Injury Clinic helps to treat acute and chronic back pain and muscle pain

The experienced therapists at Blackheath Clinic use advanced massage techniques to ease any tension and muscular stiffness

Your expert sports massage and deep tissue massage therapists for Blackheath, Lewisham and Greenwich (London) relieve sore muscles, tightness and stiffness fast: Our massage techniques effectively address imbalances (such as painful scar tissues, stiffness, tightness, tension, adhesions, waste products) in your soft tissues (muscles, tendons, fascia, connective tissue) and produces overwhelming benefits by physical, physiological and psychological effects. It should play an important part in the life of any sportsman/woman and anyone taking care of their body and is recommended for people of all levels of fitness and activity - irrespective of age or training ambition (inactive people, movement enthusiasts, recreational or competitive athletes).

Reduces Muscle Tension and Stiffness
Decreases Pain and Discomfort
Breaks Down Scar Tissue and Aids Recovery
Reduces Stress and Promotes Healthy Sleep
Improves Range of Motion and Flexibility
Helps Recovery and Boosts Performance

Who can Benefit from a Massage at Blackheath Clinic?

Sports Massage at Blackheath Clinic with osteopath Dr Christoph Datler will treat tight muscles, joint stiffness and discomfort

You do not need to be an athlete to benefit from soft tissue manipulation - it helps maintain the body in good condition, and addresses the tension all of us hold in our musculature and fascia due to our stressful lifestyles and disadvantageous habitual postures, e.g. shoulder and neck tightness and stiffness in those involved in computer based office work, hip and lower back tension from periods of prolonged sitting/standing, or repetitive strain injuries from monotonous manual work. It is a great way to reduce stress and anxiety, relieve tension and tightness and find lasting relaxation in our hectic lives.

For active athletes, soft tissue therapy is designed to address muscular imbalances by releasing hypertonic muscles and prepare them for their best performance. Regular maintenance treatment reduces work-out fatigue (delayed onset muscle soreness), aid recovery, and in the long term prevent injury before they happen. For injured sportsmen, sports massage is an integral part of a speedy recovery, preventing loss of mobility, breaking down scar tissue and reducing pain.

What Soft Tissue Techniques do our experienced Massage Therapists use?

Our practitioners always tailor the massage techniques to your needs and wishes. These include Soft Tissue Release (STR), Trigger Point Therapy, Muscle Energy Technique (MET - Postisometric Relaxation and Reciprocal Inhibition), Neuromuscular Technique (NMT), Deep Friction and Deep Tissue Massage, Myofascial Release and other massage techniques inspired by osteopathic techniques.

What are the Specific Benefits of Remedial Massage at Blackheath Clinic?

Our practitioners hold the highest UK qualifications in Sports Massage and the widest range of soft tissue therapy techniques including Soft Tissue Release (STR), Muscle Engergy Technique (MET - reciprocal inhibition and post-isometric relaxation), Neuromuscular Technique (NMT), Deep Tissue and Friction Massage and Myofascial Release techniques.

Decrease of Muscle Tone and Deep Relaxation

The stimulation of mechano-receptors deep in your muscles, tendons as well as fascia and all layers of skin will result in neurological and physiological feedback that will decrease muscle tension and thereby relief tightness and stiffness to achieve deep muscular relaxation.

Increasing Blood Supply and Lymph Flow

The mechanical stroking movements of massage increases the pressure in front of the stroke, while a sucking vacuum is created behind. This results in a pumping action in the blood and lymph vessels, which supplies vital nutrients to and flushes out metabolic waste products from the local muscle tissue.

Break Down of Scar Tissue

Scar tissue and adhesions are the result of previous injuries, trauma or periods of immobilisation or limited movement. These result in the tissues being inflexible, restricted in their movement, poorly supplied by blood and very prone to injury and pain. Our skilled therapists will find and start to resolve scar tissues using various methods including deep friction which will trigger a controlled healing response to restructure fibrosed tissue.

Improved Tissue Elasticity - Specific Stretching

Therapeutic massage can stretch soft tissues and parts of muscles that cannot be reached by the client using conventional stretching. This is achieved by longitudinal as well as cross-fibre techniques targeted to specific bundles of muscle fibres, tendon sheaths and fascia in the muscle. Muscles naturally shorten after intense training or when held in the same position over long periods (e.g. sitting), resulting in poor tissue elasticity and mobility. Deep tissue massage will reverse this effect and increase range of motion and fibre flexibility.

Increased Tissue Permeability & Opening Microcirculation

Deep therapeutic massage opens up the pores in the tissue membranes, thereby enabling a better flow of fluids and nutrients between tissues. This further helps to remove waste products, improve oxygen supply and speed up recovery. Massage dilates (opens) the blood vessels and encourages venous blood flow back to the heart and thus enables better nutrient supply and drainage/detoxification by improving circulation.

Pain Relief, Reduction of Stress Hormones and Relaxation

Tense tissues have a poor blood supply and are prone to causing pain. Massage restores the nutrient supply and activates your body's own analgesic system by increasing the secretion of neurotransmitters and endorphin (endogenous pain killers). Therapeutic touch balances your autonomic nervous system. Activation of the parasympathetics reduces harmful levels of stress hormones (e.g. cortisol) and promotes relaxation.

Soft Tissue Therapy Aids Recovery and Improve Performance

All these physical, physiological and psychological effects combine to help your body to perform at its best, recover fast from high level training (muscle soreness) and encourage the fast healing of soft tissue should sport injuries occur (muscle strains, ligament sprains, etc.). This will help to achieve a speedy recovery to full function.

When to Schedule a Massage at Blackheath Clinic?

Osteopath Dr Christoph Datler using soft tissue release techniques and muscle energy stretching to decrease tension of the quadratus lumborum muscle in the lower back during a sports massage treatment at Blackheath Sports Clinic

Soft tissue therapy should be part of an efficient regular maintenance programme to reduce stiffness, aches and pains as well as to maintain or improve range of motion and soft tissue flexibility. This will help you enjoy the activities you love doing and to reach optimal performance while training injury free. We would suggest sessions once or twice a month, increasing to weekly during times when your body is put through strenuous or high intensity activities. It is also a great way to relieve stress and reduce harmful stress hormone levels during busy times (e.g. stressful job, hectic lifestyle, etc.). Deep tissue massage also plays an important part in speeding up healing during injury rehabilitation, with weekly session recommended until you return to your normal activities and regular maintenance thereafter to prevent re-injury.

Pre-Event Massage is recommended within 72 hours preceding an event to reduce excess muscle tension from training and general stress levels prior any sports competition. This will get your ready to perform at your personal best.

Post-Event Massage is given within the 72 hours after a competition and is focused on recovery and kickstarting tissue repair after the strains placed on your muscles and tendons during a sports competition.