FAQs
How often should I get a sports massage?
1.
As a general guide:
Once a week suits people in high training loads: runners building mileage, athletes in-season, or gym-goers training four or more times a week.
Every two to three weeks works well for people training moderately, or those using massage as part of ongoing maintenance alongside other recovery habits.
Monthly is a good baseline for general wellbeing, stress reduction, and keeping the body moving freely even at lower activity levels.
The honest answer is that frequency depends on your training volume, your goals, and how your body responds. The best starting point is a consultation, from there we can agree on a schedule that actually fits your life and your training.
How do I book an appointment?
2.
Booking your appointment is a few short steps away.
1. Choose the appointment type that works best for you.
2. This with automatically take you to a scheduling option where you can choose an appointment time/date that works best.
3. You will then be taken to the payment page to confirm your booking. Appointments can be rescheduled once paid for. Please allow as much time as possible to reschedule if the appointment time no longer works for you.
If there is no slot that works for you, please reach out using the contact form, as I may be able to see you outside of my normal hours.
What conditions can cupping help with?
3.
Cupping has a growing body of research supporting its use for a range of musculoskeletal conditions. The strongest evidence exists for chronic low back pain, neck pain, and shoulder tension, with several systematic reviews finding meaningful reductions in pain intensity.
For athletes and active people, cupping has been shown to reduce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and markers of muscle damage when applied after training. It is also widely used for myofascial trigger points and general muscle tightness, working through a decompressive lifting action on the tissue rather than direct pressure. It is particularly useful for areas that don't respond well to traditional massage alone.
Research also supports its use for knee osteoarthritis and other forms of persistent joint-related pain.
It's worth noting that while the evidence is promising, research in this area is still developing. Cupping is a low-risk treatment, and the best way to find out whether it's right for your specific needs is to book a consultation.
Should I get a sports massage before or after a race/event?
4.
Both have value, but they serve very different purposes.
Pre-event massage uses lighter techniques: effleurage, faster strokes, and tapotement work best to enhance blood flow, warm up muscles, and improve flexibility. It's about readiness, not deep tissue work. Most practitioners recommend it 1 day before an event (on the day of the event is also reccomended) . The primary benefit tends to be physical preparation and reduced pre-race anxiety.
Post-event massage is where the evidence is stronger. A 2018 meta-analysis published in Frontiers in Physiology found that sports massage is the most effective method for reducing DOMS, while research in the Journal of Athletic Training found massage reduced soreness by approximately 30%.
The short answer: pre-event to prepare, post-event to recover and ideally, both.