Sports Massage

Sports massage uses similar deep-pressure techniques to deep tissue massage but is tailored specifically to your sport and training demands. It takes into account your training programme, competition schedule, and the specific muscles and movement patterns used in your discipline. A deep tissue massage is broader in focus and addresses general tension, chronic pain, and postural issues. In practice, many sessions combine elements of both depending on your needs.

No, sports massage benefits anyone who is physically active, not just professional athletes. While Fiona has worked with professional teams including Colchester United FC, the Bristol Rugby team, and the British Army Bobsleigh team, weekend runners, gym-goers, cyclists, swimmers, and recreational sports players all benefit enormously from sports massage to prevent injury, speed up recovery, and improve performance. If you exercise regularly and want to look after your body, sports massage is for you.

Yes, sports massage is one of the most effective ways to ease delayed onset muscle soreness. Targeted work on the affected muscle groups improves circulation, reduces stiffness, and can noticeably shorten recovery time after an intense training session or race. Many clients book a session in the day or two following a hard event specifically for this reason.

Competitive athletes in heavy training often benefit from weekly or fortnightly sessions. If you are preparing for a specific event like a marathon, increasing frequency in the weeks before and after is advisable. Recreational athletes typically do well with fortnightly or monthly sessions, adjusted around their training calendar and any niggles that come up.

It can feel firm on already-tender muscle, but Fiona works within your tolerance and communicates throughout. Sports massage is known for being deep and thorough, and there can be some discomfort when working on tight or fatigued muscle, but this should always feel like productive pressure rather than pain. If you need a lighter touch on a particularly sore area, just say so and the pressure will be adjusted.

Yes, regular sports massage is widely used as a preventative measure by athletes and active people. By identifying and releasing tight or restricted areas before they become a problem, and by improving overall flexibility and movement quality, sports massage reduces the likelihood of the kind of overuse injuries that come from repetitive training loads.

Fiona has worked with football, rugby and bobsleigh at a professional level, alongside a wide range of recreational sports and fitness activities. Her client history includes Colchester United FC, the Bristol Rugby team, and the British Army Bobsleigh team, as well as hundreds of weekend athletes, gym-goers, runners and cyclists across Colchester and Essex.

Both can help, but they serve different purposes and are typically approached differently. A pre-event session tends to be lighter and focused on activation and mobility, while a post-event session is more about recovery and easing the muscle damage from exertion. Fiona will tailor the approach depending on how close you are to your event.

Fiona holds qualifications in Sports Therapy, Massage and Rehabilitation and is a member of the Federation of Holistic Therapies (FHT). With over 25 years in the health and wellness industry, she has worked with professional sports teams and military athletes, alongside hundreds of recreational clients across Colchester and Essex.

Sports massage is priced the same as deep tissue massage, from £45 for 30 minutes up to £80 for 90 minutes. A 1 hour session at £60 is the most popular choice, and a course of six 1 hour sessions is available for £300, saving £60. Payment is accepted by cash, bank transfer, and card.

Yes, Fiona is based at The Manor Health & Wellness Centre, 11 Manor Road, Colchester CO3 3LX, and welcomes individual athletes as well as clients connected to local clubs and teams across the wider Colchester area.