How to find the right sports massage therapist for you?
What to look for in a sports massage therapist
New York City can be an intense and high-energy place. It attracts similar sorts of people.
Everyday you see thousands of runners and cyclists making their way up and down the West Side highway training for races. There are thousands of professional dancers performing in the various musical theatre venues in the city each day as well. Physically active types are a big part of the NYC population. Even the folks you see putting in long hours at their desks during working hours often leave to go workout right after work. They swing kettlebells at their Crossfit gym or do handstands at their yoga studio. With all the athletes in the city, it’s no surprise that working with a top notch sports massage therapist is what many of our clients are searching for.
But what should you look for in a sports massage therapist?
What is sports massage and how can it benefit you?
Before looking for specific qualities in a sports massage therapist, it’s helpful to understand what to expect from a session. Sports massage can comprise any of the manual techniques that a licensed massage therapist is trained in. These techniques are performed with the intention of addressing your specific concerns around your active and/or physically demanding lifestyle.
Often, our athlete clients will come in with an acute injury they sustained while practicing their activity. Such as an ankle sprain or a torn rotator cuff. The therapist will then work to help alleviate pain. Sports massage can decrease inflammation, assist with proper scar tissue formation, and increase range of motion or stability at the injured joint.
Other times the concern is minimizing delayed onset muscle soreness during peak training times for a specific event. Or promoting recovery after an event like a race or competition. Frequently, an active person is simply in pain or is having trouble performing at their desired level. And is looking for someone to help them determine the root cause of the dysfunction. These are all issues that our staff at Bodyworks DW can help you tackle.
What to consider when choosing the right LMT
All licensed massage therapists are proficient in basic techniques that can benefit athletes. For best results, look for a massage therapist who has experience working with clients who have physical demands similar to yours.
For example if you do yoga as your main exercise, look for a massage therapist with yoga teacher credentials. They will immediately understand what you mean when you complain of the side of your hip hurting in Warrior 2. A sports massage therapist who has personal training certifications has no doubt seen other clients who’ve had the same shoulder stiffness as yours. You know, the one that makes it difficult to get the barbell overhead
Equally important, why worry about a therapist shrugging off your fears of not being able to compete? Or telling you that they can’t help you unless you just stop running 50 miles a week? Or that you’ll only be okay if you stop dancing in pointe shoes? Taking a short break from these activities may be medically advisable to recover from an injury. But you want someone on your team who is committed to helping you get back to doing them at your peak again.
You want a sports massage therapist who has a personal experience with your lifestyle. Or who has a proven track record working with folks like you. They will be far more likely to relate to your priorities and values. Finding a therapist that genuinely understands what makes you tick matters just as much as finding one who sees a lot of sports injuries.
Finding the best therapist for you at Bodyworks DW
At Bodyworks DW, all of our therapists on staff are trained in sports massage for both pain or injury management. And have regular trainings with owner David Weintraub to help keep you feeling your best for your active lifestyle. The majority of our therapists are movement professionals or avid athletes themselves. Whether you’re looking for a massage therapist who is also a black belt or a Pilates teacher who helps rehabilitate triathletes.
Read through our bios for information about our backgrounds or specialty areas. Or better yet, call the front desk and let them know about your specific concerns. Our front desk staff are not only our colleagues but also our clients. Most of them are also semiprofessional dancers �� So they can tell you firsthand about the sort of work we do and how we’ve helped them.
Whether you are looking for a sports massage in midtown or downtown in the Financial District, know that you have access to a diverse group of therapists. Ones that are experienced working with active people just like you!
Would you like to schedule a professional sports massage to help keep you feeling, training, and performing your best with one of our highly trained massage therapists? Contact Bodyworks DW today or click on the button to book online at either of our locations!