Active Recovery Sports Massage

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I specialise in women’s health and have over 10 years of experience in this field. If you are uncomfortable receiving care from a male practitioner who specialises in women’s health, I respectfully encourage you to seek support from another provider who better aligns with your comfort level, as my practice may not be the right fit for you. 

Winner for 2024. 

Australian Enterprise Awards proudly hosted by APAC Insider for Best Sports Massage Therapist 2024 - ACT. 

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  LUXlife Eighth annual Health, Beauty and Wellness Awards go to Massage Therapist of the Year 2024 (ACT): Ray Flaherty, LUXlife Excellence Award for Sports Massage Services 2024 - ACT.

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Athletic Sports Massages Canberra is all about women's health and wellness in sports, including sports massage, PNF stretching, active release therapy, myofascial trigger point therapy, and myofascial cupping treatments.

Sports massage and stretch therapy are for adults and their children who are athletes. 

You might want the sports massage for yourself because of the sports you play or your teens who play basketball, football, dance of any kind, etc. The sports massage session can typically be used before, during & after athletic events. Sports massage and stretch therapy aim to prepare the athlete for peak performance, relieve swelling, drain away fatigue, reduce muscle tension, promote flexibility, and prevent injury or help with an injury. 

This type of massage can be useful for anyone with chronic pain, injury, or range of motion issues, and it has stretch therapy within it.  When you strenuously and frequently use your muscles, like if you're really into weightlifting, they can become chronically tight or hypertonic, which can make you more susceptible to tears and pulls.

Relaxing and loosening muscles increases flexibility and range of motion in the joints and helps to reduce swelling. To put it simply, making your muscles less stiff is good for moving them around.

Several techniques can be combined, including but not limited to just sports massage, deep tissue massage and myofascial trigger point release, as they help to break down adhesions & improve muscle tone, myofascial release, and PNF stretching, which was originally developed as a form of rehabilitation, and is very effective. Stretching can assist in improving the range of motion. PNF (Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation) is a more advanced form of flexibility training, which involves both the stretching and contracting of the muscle group being targeted. 

1. A trigger point is a tight area within muscle tissue that causes pain in other parts of the body. A trigger point in the back, for example, may produce referral pain in the neck. Receiving a massage with trigger point therapy regularly can help naturally manage pain and stress from chronic injuries.  Trigger point therapy may result in localised bruising, particularly in individuals who bruise easily or have increased capillary fragility. This bruising is typically mild and temporary and is considered a common side effect rather than a complication. 
2. Myotherapy for fascial release involves applying sustained pressure to the fascial connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion. 
3. Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) is a more advanced form of flexibility training, which involves both the stretching and contracting of the muscle group being targeted. PNF stretching is one of the most effective forms of stretching for improving flexibility and increasing range of motion.
4. Active release therapy (ART) is a soft tissue manipulation technique aimed at relieving tension, adhesions, and scar tissue in muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves. It’s typically performed by a therapist using their hands to hold parts of the muscle with the movement of limbs. 

⭐ Athlete Feedback

(Competitions Dancer) 

Thank you so much Ray! I really recommended any woman who has existing sciatic issues to come to Ray, he is very knowledgeable and great at what he does. 

Shan August 2025 

(Surfer)

Ray is great at getting deep into tight muscles and is very generous with his time. His massages certainly help with improving my range of movement and I always feel relaxed after the appointment. Highly recommend for anyone needing relief from overused muscle pain. Kate Blakeney 29.11.24 Google review

(Powerlifter went to the USA for a powerlifting competition)

I have had the most positive experiences seeing Ray for remedial massage. He is lovely, super skilled, works around any injuries and his knowledge on muscles and the body is really great. The studio is lovely and you feel immediately comfortable. I am a powerlifter and seeing Ray has dramatically improved by mobility, allowing me to get the range of motion I need for my sport. Thanks again, I’ll be back soon! Rebecca 10/03/24

(Mum And Her 2 Teenagers in sports) 

Ray is an amazing massage therapist who I highly recommend. I've also taken my athletic teenagers with sore muscles to see him and they felt so much better afterwards. Ray is very responsive and always try’s to work around what time suits us. Very glad I found his services. Jenny 07/2023 Google review.

(Jocky)

Glad Ray was recommended to me, usually quite hesitant on trying someone new. Have always had ongoing issues related to being an athlete. He has made my day to day a lot more manageable with reducing pain, tightness, as well a significant decrease in migraines. Very adaptable with treatment dependant on how your body is feeling. Flexible with times. Easy going and welcoming presence. Would 100% recommend Ray and will continue to see him for his great work. Teaghan 2021 On goggle review.

(Elite Tokyo Olympic Athletic)

I've been seeing Ray regularly in the lead up to competing in the Tokyo Olympic Games, and his care and communication as a massage therapist is outstanding. Ray is exceptionally friendly, professional, knowledgeable and has tailored to my changing needs week to week with patience and consideration. He's particularly helped with both upper and lower back pain, as well as general aches and pains due to the training load of elite level sport. Would not hesitate in recommending. Thanks Ray! Maria 2020 on Goggle review!

Hockey Athletic 

My name is Alana. I am 19 years old and currently a university student as well as an elite hockey player. I have represented the ACT since I was 10 years old and have represented Australia twice, once in 2009 and once in 2011. For the past 2 years I have also held an ACTAS scholarship which requires a large amount of training on a weekly basis. I have been seeing Raymond Flaherty ever since he joined Hawker Chiropractic in 2011. 

I had been seeing another masseuse prior to this. 

My main reason for seeing Ray was initially to get my legs massaged. Doing a lot of training takes its toll on my body and I enjoyed a massage to in a way to revitalise my legs. Ray really helped to rid my legs of knots and tightness in my quads, hamstrings and calves. I found that for a couple of days to even a week after a massage my legs didn't get as sore or tired after training. This enabled me to complete trainings at a higher level as my legs weren't as fatigued.  

Recently I have been seeing Ray for a completely different reason. At the start of 2012 I started getting frequent blocked ears and a very stiff neck. I saw Ray once a week for a month and by the end of the 4 weeks I was rid of blocked ears and a stiff neck, however I had immediate relief after every massage. 

Ray worked vigorously on my neck muscles using remedial and deep tissue massage and I noticed a difference as soon as I got off the table. I currently live outside of Canberra but I book in with Ray whenever I go back. Ray is a fantastic and enthusiastic masseuse who puts the patient first and does all he can to help his patients. He also is fantastic in the sense that he explains the problems to the patient and gives advice such as stretches and Creams. Alana ACT 2011 to 2012