10. Myofascial release techniques and connective tissue massage Connective tissue (Fig. 10.1) is one of the most abundant tissue forms in the human body. It serves to connect, support, bind,…
11. Myofascial pain syndrome—myofascial trigger points Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is one of the most common causes of pain stemming from soft tissue dysfunction (Alvarez & Rockwell 2002), and can…
15. Self-massage and myofascial release techniques for the athlete Self-massage techniques are beneficial for the athlete since this modality can be administered whenever the need arises, independent of the presence…
6. Soft tissue stretching in sports massage Therapeutic muscle stretching can be described as a voluntary lengthening of muscle and connective tissue with the overall goal of increasing general flexibility…
5. Sports massage applications for different sports Event-based sports massage is utilized in a wide range of sports scenarios. Even though the execution of pre-, post-, and interevent massage may…
12. Sports injuries Dr. Kristjan Oddsson Introduction Regular physical activity can improve health in numerous ways. Several scientific studies indicate that it may reduce the risk of developing many diseases….
13. Taping for sports injuries Dr. Kristjan Oddsson Introduction Taping is used to treat and prevent different musculoskeletal conditions, for example ankle sprains (Thacker et al. 1999), patellofemoral pain (Gigante…
9. Acupressure and Tui Na in sports massage According to Asian philosophy, Qi (literally “air, breath”) is the circulating life force without which all living things cannot exist. It pervades…
8. Positional release techniques applied in sports massage Positional release techniques (PRT) are a group of noninvasive effective manual techniques utilizing fine-tuned positions of optimal soft tissue relaxation and pain…
3. Sports massage applications Massage is considered to assist athletes to achieve enhanced performance levels and possibly reduce the risk of injury (Weerapong et al. 2005). Massage strokes generating mechanical…
