Sports massage in Sofia is a full-body massage for people who train regularly. It helps muscles recover between sessions, eases tightness and improves mobility. Kaloyan Zarkov has worked with sports clubs and knows which muscles each sport loads. So sports massage at Kainezi Therapy is tailored to what you train for and how long you have until your next competition.
What to expect
Kaloyan asks which sport you do, how often you train, when your next competition is and where you feel tight. The massage is on a treatment table, with oil. You undress to your underwear, and comfortable shorts are fine too.
The massage covers the whole body, with more time on the muscles that work hardest: calves and thighs for runners, shoulders and back for swimmers and tennis players. Kaloyan alternates quick and deeper strokes, holds pressure on tight spots and adds stretching. Besides his hands, he can also work with Ergon, a special warmed tool. It combines a fascial blade, which loosens the tissue around the muscles (the fascia), with vibration like that of a massage gun. The pressure is firmer than in a relaxing massage. The next day your muscles may feel slightly tender, as they do after a workout.
When to come depends on your goal. For recovery, the best time is on a rest day or 1–2 days after a hard session. Before a competition, come 2–3 days earlier rather than the day before. During preparation, many athletes come every 1–2 weeks.
What it helps with
- Tight calves and thighs from running and cycling
- Tight shoulders and back from swimming, tennis and the gym
- Muscle fatigue and soreness after hard training
- Limited movement that gets in the way of your technique
- Tightness that keeps coming back in the same place
Who is this massage for?
- You train 3 or more times a week and your muscles struggle to recover.
- You are preparing for a marathon, a competition or a season.
- You are returning to training after a break or an injury.
- You exercise for pleasure but want to feel lighter after hard efforts.
When it isn’t suitable
- In the first days after a strain, tear or sprain. The injury needs assessing first, not a massage in the area.
- With bruising or swelling in the area.
- With a fever or a skin infection.
- With pain that gets worse under load and doesn’t ease with rest. You need an examination first.
