Sports Massage for Humans Originated from Horse Massage

It does sound odd but it’s true. The sports massage we have grown to love and depend on throughout Tampa, including Lutz, Carrollwood and Wesley Chapel, was developed by Jack Meagher who is known as the father of equine sports massage.

Born in Gloucester in 1924, Jack Meagher became a medic in World War II. That was when he first learned massage from a German prisoner of war. Later, he got further training in the Massachusetts School of Physical Therapy and the Columbia Institute in Philadelphia. It is, therefore, for human massage that he was formally trained. In 1970, though, a friend brought a lame quarter horse to Meagher for treatment and that began his career in horse massage. Eventually, he became the official masseur for the U. S. Olympic Equestrian Team, giving sports massage therapy for both the horses and their riders. Other athletes were also among his clientele. In fact, he held sports massage therapy sessions at the YMCA.

Meagher died in 2005 but left behind several books he wrote. Among them were ''Sportsmassage," ''Beating Muscle Injuries for Horses" and ''Beating Muscle Injuries for Runners." One of his lasting legacies is sports massage as it is known in the United States and as we know it in Tampa, from Lutz to Carrollwood and Wesley Chapel.

Meagher’s sports massage is said to be a combination of Shiatsu and Swedish massage. It is based on the fact that all kinds of athletic movements can be traced to twelve basic body postures. According to this theory, each sport requires specific postures and, therefore, strains the muscles in predictable ways. With this knowledge, sports massage is able to prepare the body properly for each type of sport to decrease the risk of injury and maximize performance. Part of this preparation is the ability of sports massage to stretch tissues in ways that cannot be achieved through stretching exercises. Massage can stretch muscles lengthwise and sideways, and stretch the fascia that is wrapped around muscles, as well.

Sports massage can also be used to help the muscles recover faster and better after hard training and after each game, preventing tissue hardening and restoring elasticity. It flushes out waste products, improves oxygenation and enables better nutritional absorption.

Furthermore, it is effective in the treatment of sports injuries and the alleviation of the accompanying pain. It can break down old scar tissue from previous traumas and injuries, as well.

Sports massage has psychological benefits, too, that contribute to its efficacy. It releases endorphins and reduces anxiety, a common plague for all competitors, replacing it with a feeling of well being leading to more confidence. This by itself relaxes the body and improves one’s game. Furthermore, it invigorates the athlete and heightens energy levels.

With sports massage, an athlete can attain peak performance and enjoy a longer and more successful career. In case of injury, it can increase the possibility of regaining normal body movement and function for better quality of life even outside sports.

There is another form of sports massage, though, known as barefoot sports massage, sometimes also called barefoot deep tissue massage or barefoot compressive deep tissue massage, which is quite different. This uses several Eastern barefoot massage techniques along with deep tissue massage, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, compression technique and many others. Although this has been known to be used by some Olympian athletes, as well, this is not the sports massage style developed by Meagher.

So if you want to harness the power of sports massage for yourself in Lutz, Carrollwood, Wesley Chapel or elsewhere in Tampa, you better find yourself a professionally trained massage therapist who is up to the standards of the legendary Jack Meagher.  You just might find yourself performing like a champion.