Calling on athletic directors, coaches, and parents...

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​YOUTH SPORTS MASSAGE

We offer Youth Sports Massage for ages 8 to 17 years old (18 still receives the reduced rate if still in high school). We have 15m, 30m, 45m, and 60m sessions for youth. 

Often times, in many sports, coaches over train which leads to overuse, increased injury, they also do not allow for proper warm up or cool down and rarely give homework in the form of self-care. We can not only care for your athlete if an injury or overuse condition occurs but we can assess individuals and offer personalized warm up, cool down and maintenance routines that compliment what they are already doing.

IMPORTANT: Myths die hard; we all know that. After over 28 years of massage therapy experience with athletes this is what we've learned! (This is not and never should be considered medical advice. Although we are licensed by the Board of Nursing in Virginia, and we can make assumptions on your injury, we cannot diagnose anyone with anything).

• LACTIC ACID: One big myth is that massage can remove lactic acid. This is not true AND lactic acid is NOT a bad word. It is supposed to happen and is a normal response. Massage CANNOT remove lactic acid. However receiving a massage within 2 hours of a vigorous workout has been shown to reduce inflammation; measuring less NFkB, and increase the gene, PGC-1 Alpha, that helps muscle cells build mitochondria. This matters because mitochondria turn a cell's food into energy.
• ICE: Another myth is that we should ice injuries. There is absolutely NO SCIENTIFIC proof that ice helps an injury. Inflammation is needed to heal any injury, if the area is iced and the inflammation process is halted or slowed down then things take much longer to heal. RICE was redacted by the man who actually coined the phrase many, many years ago along with an apology because he knows it further injured people.
• IMMOBILIZATION: Another myth is to stop moving. You're hurt! Wear a brace, boot, etc. Immobilization is NOT your friend for low grade strains and sprains. Come see us in the first 24 hours so we can resolve it super fast! 
• NSAIDS: Take an NSAID as soon as you hurt! Not true! Using NSAIDS can slow healing. The doses are often wrong and have their own implications as well!
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The following are some reasons why you may seek a Sports Massage:

• advanced performance
• reducing incidence of injury
• rehabilitation of an acute injury 

• increase range of motion
• increase flexibility
• reduce pain
• recovery
• increased relaxation
• increased focus

We not only reduce injury but also to try to help reduce burnout. If your athlete is experiencing a few of the following they could be experiencing burnout:

• chronic pain
• multiple injuries
• no love for their sport anymore
• trouble focusing
• behavioral changes
• puts too much pressure on themselves
•  self esteem is attached to their performance
• withdrawn
• always exhausted
• depression
• gets ill or cold on a regular basis
  
  
  If you believe your athlete is experiencing burnout then book today! We can offer many ways for them to still progress with a new perspective and kick start their enthusiasm, love and commitment to their sport. We also offer Visualization Training.