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Massage Those
Aches Away ... |
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06-Aug-04:
Kaleidoscope guest
David Rawlings will be on site at the Crucible for the Mamut English Open, offering free
sports massages to
the players in the main draw as they strive to win the first title of the
new season. Here he explains the benefits of Sports Massages for squash
players ...
The Demands Of Squash
& The Role Of Sports Massage
Many of us would naturally think of a marathon
runner as being extremely fit. But their defining quality, endurance, is
just one aspect of an individual’s overall fitness level. In Squash too
skill and tactics must exist alongside a high level of fitness, which
includes many elements.
The demands of a squash game are so that the intensity and duration of a
match are never the same.
The energy for a game will by and large be made aerobically (with oxygen),
but some rallies will require supramaximal bursts which are anaerobic and
will cause a temporary oxygen debt. This eventually results in fatigue, down
to the build up of lactic acid in the muscles.
Strength and power, normally associated with bodybuilders and weightlifters,
are equally important on the squash court. The leg and shoulder muscles are
involved in lots of concentric and eccentric contractions (acceleration and
deceleration of movement).
The back and abdominal muscles must be sufficiently conditioned to create
and control the dynamic rotatory movements involved in the game. Explosive
power is essential for getting to shots and recovering the T which deprive
your opponent of time and apply the necessary pressure needed to win. Speed
around the court relies on developing the correct neuro-muscular patterns so
that the feet are able to move quickly and effectively.
Potentially the least considered, yet most vital, elements are mobility and
flexibility. As well as for prevention of injury and recovery after matches
this element if developed sufficiently will improve efficiency of movement
and overall performance on court.
Hopefully the above illustrates that, as with any sport played at a high
level, squash places huge demands on the athlete both physically and
mentally.
As we have seen from the English national Football and Rugby teams recently,
sports massage is quickly becoming an essential part of any athletes
training programme.
The management, manipulation and rehabilitation of the soft tissues of the
body are where the sports massage practitioner has an important role to
play.
It is envisaged that both now and increasingly in the future massage
practitioners will work closely alongside Doctors and Physiotherapists. By
regularly moving and manipulating the soft tissues (muscles, tendons,
nerves, fascia etc.) we may improve circulation, reduce adhesions, re-align
scar tissue and potentially make the tissues function with more efficiency
overall.
However, sports massage is still open to criticism due to the lack of solid
research, and rightly so. If the discipline is to sit alongside trusted
medical practices then the evidence base must increase. Thankfully the work
of the Sports Massage Association and others is continually improving its
credibility.
The anecdotal evidence is abundant and its use by top athletes suggests that
it definitely has a role to play.
Sports massage will be available to the players at the English Open with the
clear aims of improving recovery from match play and preparing the players
for optimal performance.
Dave Rawlings
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John White
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Mamut
English Open
2004 Draw
Nicol v Tuominen
Ricketts v Qualifier
Chaloner v Qualifier
Matthew v Beng Hee
White v Garner (B)
Willstrop v Qualifier
Grant v Qualifier
Beachill v Zaman
FULL DRAW
Details & TICKETS
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Amr Shabana
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I will be providing complimentary Sports Massage sessions at this year's
English Open, this service will be open to all players.
I will be available from the Thursday until the end of the tournament.
Ideally I would aim to see every player each day of the event (from Thursday
onwards).
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