Sports massage for teen?

whoopsadoodles

Hey guys,

Would you recommend sports massage for a 13 year old?

She thinks her hamstrings are quite tight and feels a rub out would be of benefit but I just wanted some advice on it as more of a long term thing.

She trains (or plays) 7/7 days in basketball and hockey and up until recently would have had football (soccer) three days as well.

Should I talk her into yoga or other mobility class perhaps? Would strength training be of any use to her?

Would be grateful of your insights and advice.

Thank you

caviardreams

You could try a foam roller and something like the Limber 11 if you think it is a mobility issue, and see if it improves/has any impact https://www.defrancostraining.com/joe-ds-qlimber-11q-flexibility-routine/

kal7

No real harm in it, for any age.

Her growth would make it hard to keep hamstrings loose.

But would think about maybe a physiotherapist or osteopath, who could advise on self help stretches or exercises as well as assess and treat.

wouldn't imagine a 13 yrs old would need a sports massage but tons of good stretching should be the way to go. I just don't see someone that young needing it, unless you've a maniacal russian gymnastic coach screaming at you!

omb0wyn5ehpij9

kal7 wrote: »

But would think about maybe a physiotherapist or osteopath, who could advise on self help stretches or exercises as well as assess and treat.

My first thought would be a trip to a good physio to have a chat about the level of activity she does and the best way to go about keeping injury free. While it may just be a case of needing to foam roll and do some mobility work, I think I would prefer to ensure I got the right advice from the outset from a physio IMO. I played rugby from the age of 6 until I was about 29, and I played fairly seriously in my teens. I really wish I would have been sent down the correct path at the young age and shown how to look after my body properly, as its had an awful effect on me in the last five years and I've had multiple leg operations

whoopsadoodles

Thanks lads.

It might be no harm to take her to a physio. She had no injuries and nor does she feel like there's an injury about to happen. Just that her hamstrings are tighter than she'd like and I'm concerned that will lead to injury eventually.

She's a serious basketball player playing for a few teams and training with a number of coaches. She'll be taking on extra training in the mornings from next week so I'm very keen for her to keep her body in good condition. She'll be heading to the states to play during the summer and it's pretty intense training so I'd like to have her in good habits well before she goes.

She does foam roll and stretch but like many of us, it's the thing she pays least amount of attention to because....well...It's boring isn't It!

Thanks for the advice and the link to the mobility programme too

Alf Veedersane

Def worth going to a good physio who can see what the problem is. 'Tightness' may not necessarily be lack of flexibility in the muscle.

Good video on it here:

pconn062

Great to have an athlete in the family. If she has just gone through a growth spurt her bone growth can outpace her muscle growth temporarily so that could be factor in that feeling of "tightness".

I run a sports therapy clinic, and I get teenagers in quite often (mostly kids who are very good athletes). In most cases I advise on injury prevention protocols to the kid and the parent and highlight any potential issues I see that could cause issues in the future.

Worth going to see a physio/sports therapist once just to get some good info, even if she is not injured.

kal7

What profession is a sport therapist?

TommyKnocker

@ woopsadoodles: f you are in or near Dublin then the Physios at the Sports Surgery Clinic in Santry are top notch. They are used to dealing with high caliber sports people and their issues and keeping them in top condition as opposed to a typical Physio who would just deal with the general public. From my experience with them the treatments were mostly based on self help where you are given stretches, mobility work and exercises for other supportive muscles. Some of the costs can be claimed back through medical insurance if you have it.

Alf Veedersane

TommyKnocker wrote: »

@ woopsadoodles: f you are in or near Dublin then the Physios at the Sports Surgery Clinic in Santry are top notch. They are used to dealing with high caliber sports people and their issues and keeping them in top condition as opposed to a typical Physio who would just deal with the general public. From my experience with them the treatments were mostly based on self help where you are given stretches, mobility work and exercises for other supportive muscles. Some of the costs can be claimed back through medical insurance if you have it.

Found the same with Aidan Woods in Pearse St Physio also.

RacoonQueen

kal7 wrote: »

What profession is a sport therapist?

What does it sound like?
https://gradireland.com/careers-advice/job-descriptions/sports-therapist

UK universities also run actual Sports Therapy degrees.