Sports massage
The niggle before
it costs you six weeks
You already know which side it is. You have been training on it for a month and calling it nothing.
Three different jobs
Not one
appointment
Before an event
Short, brisk, stimulating. You leave loose and switched on, not relaxed. This is not the day for the deep stuff.
After an event
Slower and flushing, so you move again sooner. Best a day or two out, not while everything is still angry.
Maintenance
The one that actually matters. Regular work through the tissue your sport loads hardest, so a small restriction never becomes the injury.
Who books it
You do not have
to be fast
Runners, cyclists, footballers, golfers, swimmers, and the very large group of people who would never call themselves athletes but train four times a week anyway. If your sport asks the same thing of the same tissue over and over, this is for you.
And if something has actually gone — a strain, a sharp catch on one movement, a restriction that has not budged in a fortnight — the assessment is what tells you whether you are dealing with tight tissue or an injury with a plan attached.
What we treat
The six we
see most
Neck & shoulders
The one that starts at 3pm and is still there at bedtime.
Low back
Fine until you bend to put your shoes on.
Headaches
Starting at the base of the skull, not behind the eyes.
Tennis & golfer’s elbow
Six months of “it’ll settle”. It has not settled.
Desk and screen pain
Eight hours a day in one shape has consequences.
Sports injuries
The niggle you are still training on.
Practical
Before you call
Health funds
Claim it
on the spot
- Medibank
- Bupa
- HCF
- nib
- HBF
- Australian Unity
- ahm
HICAPS is on the desk, and it is connected to every private health insurer in Australia — not just the ones listed. Tap your card after the appointment, the rebate comes off on the spot, and you pay the gap rather than the lot.
What comes back depends on your level of extras cover, and myotherapy is not on every policy. The terminal tells you the exact number before you leave the room, so there is no invoice to chase and nothing to find out later.
FAQ
Questions people actually ask
How close to an event can I have one?
Light pre-event work is fine on the day. Anything deep wants at least three to five days' clearance.
Do I need to be an athlete?
No. Most people booking this train recreationally.
Will it improve my performance?
It helps you recover and keep moving well, which lets you train more consistently. Consistency is what improves performance.
How often?
That depends on your training load, and it is a conversation rather than a formula. More during a heavy block, less in the off season.
Book the hands-on work
Forty minutes, most of it spent on the thing you came in about.