Focused soft tissue treatment that bridges the gap between therapeutic massage and physiotherapy — and despite the name, it isn’t just for athletes.
Massage is recognised as one of the earliest forms of therapy. It was used over 3,000 years ago in China, India and Greece. Its popular use in the Western world is credited to Per Henrik Ling (1776–1839), who developed a form of massage known as Swedish massage. Ling developed his own style of massage and exercise to help athletes, and gained a following for doing so. Many of his principles form the foundations of modern sports massage, which has been widely used in the UK since the 1990s.
Sports massage is designed to assist in correcting problems and imbalances in soft tissue — muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and the skin — that are caused by repetitive and strenuous physical activity or trauma.
Despite its name, sports massage is not just for athletes who partake in sport. It is a style of treatment which bridges the gap between therapeutic massage and physiotherapy, and is often used alongside physiotherapy.
Used before and after exercise, or simply as regular maintenance, sports massage has a range of benefits.
Used before exercise, sports massage helps prepare the muscles and can support how you perform.
Used after exercise or competition, it helps the body recover and ease post-training soreness.
Regular treatment provides preventive maintenance, allowing problem areas to be dealt with before they become injuries.
Effective for muscle pain from poor posture, fatigue and imbalance, and for managing chronic pain and discomfort.
Sports massage is very effective in treating general muscle pain brought about by a number of everyday problems, such as poor posture and muscle fatigue or imbalances, and can be used in effectively managing and dealing with chronic pain and discomfort. Regular sports massage can significantly reduce the risk of injury by providing preventive maintenance for your muscles, allowing any potentially problematic areas within a muscle to be dealt with effectively before they result in an injury.
Sports massage at the clinic is led by Neil Sampayo, with over twenty years of hands-on experience in soft tissue treatment.
Neil qualified as a Sports Masseur in 2005 after studying at the North London School of Sports Massage (NLSSM), and brings over 20 years of experience to his work.
Throughout his career Neil has gained extensive experience treating a wide range of soft tissue injuries and muscular problems. He works with people of all ages and activity levels — from those recovering from injury or struggling with everyday aches and pains, through to regular gym-goers and people looking to maintain their physical performance.
Neil has a particular interest in postural correction, and enjoys looking beyond the immediate area of discomfort to identify the muscular imbalances, tightness and movement patterns that may be contributing to a problem. His treatments are tailored to the individual, with the aim of reducing pain and tension, improving mobility and helping prevent problems from recurring.
Alongside his clinical experience, Neil has extensive experience in the gym and a wealth of knowledge in strength training. This gives him a strong understanding of the physical demands of resistance training, and enables him to offer practical advice to those looking to recover from injury, train effectively and maintain strength and mobility.
Outside of work, Neil enjoys training in the gym and watching football.
NLSSM qualified · Sports Masseur since 2005If you would prefer a female therapist, please mention it when you book. Anna Bespaloviene, one of our physiotherapists, has undertaken additional training in sports and deep tissue massage and offers soft tissue treatment alongside her physiotherapy work. As a physiotherapist, her sessions are charged at the physiotherapy rate. Read Anna’s profile →
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