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Sports Massage Edgbaston
Soft Tissue Therapy Birmingham
At Functional Body Clinic in Edgbaston, I provide sports massage and soft tissue therapy for active people across Birmingham. Whether you train at a local gym, play club sport, run at the Reservoir, or compete at one of Edgbaston's many sports venues — I help you recover faster, manage injuries, and keep doing what you enjoy. With a BTEC Level 5 qualification and over 10 years of clinical experience, every session is hands-on, assessment-led, and specific to how you move and what you do.
Who I Work With - Activity By Activity
I support a variety of sports and movement disciplines through soft tissue therapy. Discover how it aids your activity and why athletes from Edgbaston’s top venues choose me for recovery.
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Running Recovery Edgbaston Reservoir Parkrun & Beyond
Running the Edgbaston Reservoir Parkrun on Saturday mornings means what you do afterward is just as crucial. Repeated impact can silently build up stress in your feet, ankles calves, and hips. Sports massage alleviates muscle adhesions, lengthens tight hip flexors and hamstrings, and improves your stride efficiency. I work with runners of all levels, from beginners to those aiming for a sub- 5K or training for a half marathon.
Common running and walking injuries I work with:
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Plantar fasciitis — pain and tightness through the sole of the foot, often worst first thing in the morning
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Achilles tendinopathy — load-related pain at the back of the heel or mid-tendon, common in those who've recently increased mileage
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Knee pain (ITB syndrome & patellofemoral pain) — lateral knee pain or aching behind the kneecap that builds during or after runs
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Shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome) — diffuse shin pain along the inner tibia, typical in runners ramping up too quickly
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Tennis & Racket Sports Edgbaston Priory
Edgbaston Priory is one of the UK's most prestigious tennis venues, and whether you play competitively or socially, racket sport places distinct demands on your body. The repeated rotation through the thoracic spine, the shoulder loading during serving, and the explosive lateral movement all create predictable patterns of tension and overuse. Soft tissue therapy targets the rotator cuff muscles, forearm extensors, and the paraspinals that take strain during twisting movements. I work with club players and recreational players alike. No level of competition required.
Common Racket Sport injuries I work with:
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Shoulder Overuse Injuries - Rotator cuff pathologies, Impingement, and loss of range from repetitive overhead loading.
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Lateral Epicondylitis (tennis elbow) - Pain on the outer elbow caused by repetitive high loads from single arm back hand shots.
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Medial Epicondylitis (golfers elbow) - Pain on the inside elbow commonly caused by repetitive high force topspin heavy severs and improper technique.
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Wrist and forearm issues - Tightness and strain in the forearm flexors and extensors that builds up through the season.
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Golf Performance & Recovery
Edgbaston Golf Club
The golf swing places high rotational demand on the hips, thoracic spine, and shoulders, all coordinated in under two seconds and repeated across 18 holes. That unidirectional load gradually overtightens structures on one side while restricting range of motion on the other, building cumulative tension in the lower back, forearms, and hips. Sports massage targets the structures most loaded by the swing — thoracic rotation, hip flexors, forearm extensors, and shoulder mechanics — keeping your body able to deliver what the course demands, round after round. I work with club golfers and competitive players at Edgbaston Golf Club and beyond.
Common golf injuries I work with:
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Low Back Pain - The most common golf injury, caused by repeated rotation under high compressive loads leading to disc, facet joint, and muscle strain.
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Medial Epicondylitis(golfer's elbow) - Pain on the inner elbow from repetitive loading of the flexor-pronator tendons, often linked to grip and swing mechanics.​
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Lateral Epicondylitis (tennis elbow) -Outer elbow pain in the trail arm from excessive gripping and rapid wrist extension during follow-through.
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Shoulder Rotation Issues - Limited thoracic and shoulder mobility reducing backswing and increasing strain on the rotator cuff and surrounding structures.
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Knee Pain -Common in the lead knee due to rotational stress during the downswing, affecting the meniscus, ligaments, and joint surfaces.
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Swimming & Triathlon University Of Birmingham Pool
Swimmers and triathletes training at the University of Birmingham pool often develop characteristic tightness through the pectorals, anterior shoulders, and lats. Over time this can create a forward shoulder posture and reduce external rotation, increasing the risk of shoulder impingement. If you're combining swimming with cycling and running as part of a triathlon training block, I can also help manage the cumulative load across your whole body — so your recovery keeps pace with your training volume.
Common Swimming injuries I work with:
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Swimmer’s Shoulder – Rotator cuff overload and impingement from repetitive freestyle, often linked to tight pecs, lats, and forward shoulder posture.
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Neck Strain – Tightness and pain from prolonged breathing patterns, body position in the water, and added time in aero position on the bike.
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Thoracic and Low Back Pain – Stiff upper back and lumbar overuse from rotation, kicking mechanics, and the cumulative load of swim–bike–run training.
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Breaststroker’s Knee – Medial knee pain and irritation of the MCL and medial compartment from repetitive whip kick and poor hip control.​​
Yoga & Flexibility Training The Yoga Sanctuary Edgbaston
Yoga practitioners — particularly those who train regularly or work at or beyond end-range flexibility — can accumulate strain in the hamstring attachments, hip flexors, and shoulder girdle. Soft tissue therapy can help identify and release areas of myofascial restriction that are limiting your range, rather than just working around them. This isn't about undoing your practice — it's about supporting it.
Common Yoga injuries I work with:
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Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy – Pain at the sit bone from repeated deep forward folds and loaded hamstring stretching.
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Hip Flexor Strain and Tightness – Irritation of the iliopsoas and rectus femoris from long holds in lunges and repeated hip flexion.
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Shoulder Impingement – Pinching at the front of the shoulder from weight-bearing poses with limited scapular control or stacked mobility demands
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Wrist and Forearm Overload – Pain and tightness from frequent weight-bearing in hands (planks, arm balances, vinyasa transitions).
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Thoracic and Cervical Strain – Stiffness or ache through the upper back and neck from repeated end-range backbends and prolonged head/neck positioning.
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Martial Arts & Combat Sports
Birmingham Martial Arts
Combat sports — whether that's BJJ, kickboxing, Muay Thai, or MMA — place the body under a unique combination of impact, grappling load, and explosive movement. Sports massage helps manage the cumulative muscle soreness and stiffness that comes from regular sparring and drilling. Recovery is part of the sport. I help you make it consistent.
Common Martial Arts injuries I work with:
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Neck Strain and Cervical Tightness – Built up from chokes, clinch fighting, and repeated impact absorption.
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Shoulder Sprain and Rotator Cuff Irritation – From posting on the mat, underhooks, frames, and heavy punching volume.
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Elbow Tendinopathy and Joint Strain – Due to arm bars, heavy grip fighting in BJJ, and repetitive striking.
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Hip and Groin Strain – From kicking, takedown entries, guard work, and explosive direction changes.
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Knee Ligament and Meniscal Stress – Caused by twisting under load during takedowns, scrambles, and checked kicks.
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Gym Training & Strength Work PureGym & Nuffield Health Edgbaston
If you're lifting consistently, your body is under regular mechanical stress. Tight hip flexors from heavy squats, pec and anterior deltoid tightness from pressing work, and lower back fatigue from deadlifts and rows are extremely common. Sports massage helps restore muscle length, reduce DOMS recovery time, and improve the mobility needed to train safely over the long term.
Common Gym Training and Strength Work injuries I work with:
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Lower Back Pain – Lumbar fatigue and strain from deadlifts, rows, and loaded spinal flexion, often compounded by tight hip flexors.
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Shoulder Impingement – Anterior shoulder and rotator cuff irritation from press-heavy programmes and limited thoracic mobility.
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Knee Strain – Patellar tendon irritation, patellofemoral pain, and quad/hamstring tightness building up with consistent lower body loading.
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Upper Trap and Neck Tightness – Overuse and bracing during heavy squats, deadlifts, and shrugging patterns.
Cycling & Road Training Edgbaston & South Birmingham Routes
Cyclists spend extended periods in a position that shortens the hip flexors, loads the lumbar spine, and creates significant tension through the thoracic area and neck. Regular soft tissue therapy can help you sustain power through better hip extension, reduce the postural strain of time in the saddle, and manage the issues that develop without adequate recovery support.
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Common Cycling injuries I work with:
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Hip Flexor Tightness and Pain – Psoas and rectus femoris shortening from sustained hip flexion, often feeding into anterior hip or low back discomfort.
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Knee Pain – Patellofemoral irritation and lateral knee pain (ITB-related), commonly linked to bike fit, cadence, and progressive tissue tightness.
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Lower Back Pain – Lumbar loading and paraspinal fatigue from prolonged forward flexion, especially on longer or more aggressive rides.
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Neck and Upper Back Tightness – Tension from holding a fixed head and shoulder position, particularly on drop bars or in aero.
Cricket - Edgbaston Cricket Ground & Club Cricket Across Birmingham
Cricket is a sport of extremes — long periods of low-intensity activity punctuated by explosive, technically demanding movements. Bowlers place enormous rotational load through the lumbar spine and shoulder with every delivery. Batters sprint and decelerate hard between wickets. Fielders throw from awkward positions at full pace. Whether you're playing club cricket across Birmingham, watching your technique at the nets near Edgbaston Cricket Ground, or competing at county level — the physical demands are real and cumulative.
Common Cricket injuries I work with:
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Shoulder injuries — rotator cuff strain and overuse from bowling and throwing, particularly in fast bowlers and fielders with high throw volumes
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Lower back pain — lumbar stress from the extension and rotation demands of the bowling action; one of the most common presentations in young fast bowlers
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Hamstring strains — acute and chronic hamstring injuries from the explosive sprint and deceleration demands of batting, running between wickets, and fielding
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​If you're playing regularly across a full season and want to stay available throughout, building soft tissue therapy into your routine is worth considering. One session between matches can make a significant difference to how you perform in the next one.
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Team Sports & General Active Lifestyles
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You don't need to be training for a race or competing at club level to benefit from sports massage. If you play five-a-side football, casual squash, weekend cricket, or simply use exercise as a way to manage stress and stay well, regular soft tissue therapy is a valuable tool. I work with plenty of clients across Birmingham who simply want to feel less stiff, move more freely, and not let minor niggles turn into things that stop them doing what they enjoy.
Do You Need a Physio
Or Would Soft Tissue Therapy Be Enough?
This is a question I get asked regularly, and it deserves an honest answer.
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Physiotherapy and soft tissue therapy are not the same thing, and they're not in competition. A physiotherapist assesses, diagnoses, and manages musculoskeletal conditions. If you've had a significant injury or aren't sure what's wrong, physio is often the right first step.
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Soft tissue therapy fills a different gap. The focus is sustained,
skilled, hands-on work with the tissue itself — deep fascia work,
trigger point deactivation, Muscle Energy Technique, and structural postural correction. These are techniques that require direct manual contact and can't be replicated by an exercise prescription alone
In practice, many of my clients have already been seen by a physio and discharged — but they still have persistent tightness, restriction, or niggles that are getting in the way of training. Others use sports massage alongside ongoing physio care. Both work.
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If you're not sure which applies to you, get in touch. I'll give you
an honest answer.