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Surf Massage & Injury Rehab in San Clemente | Elite Bodywork

  • Tiffany Sandoval
  • Feb 28
  • 3 min read

Updated: Sep 16

Table of Contents


OC Massage

The Demands of Surfing

Every session blends endurance paddling, explosive pop-ups, and dynamic turns. The shoulders and rotator cuff are stressed by repetitive strokes; the core and lumbar spine absorb torque; hips and knees control stance and balance. Aging surfers especially face chronic stiffness, shoulder impingements, and low-back compression that limit water time.If tight shoulders, lower back pain, or knee stiffness are limiting your surf sessions, you don’t have to just push through the pain. A specialized sports massage designed for surfers can help you recover faster, enhance performance, and prevent injuries.



Athlete Fears: Injury, Pain & Lost Performance

For adult surfers, the greatest fear isn’t just missing a swell — it’s losing the ability to do what you love most. Chronic shoulder pain, stiff hips, or a locked-up back can slowly take surfing off the table. Beyond the waves, pain can creep into daily life: sitting at work, playing with your kids, or even sleeping comfortably.


At Elite Bodywork San Clemente, we help surfers not just stay in the water, but reclaim the freedom to move, breathe, and live without pain.

Our Signature Soft Tissue Approach for Surfers

  • RAPID NeuroFascial Reset: Clears nerve irritation from repetitive paddling and spinal torque.

  • Trigger Point Therapy (Travell): Releases referred pain in lats, traps, and hips.

  • Myofascial Release (Barnes/Myers): Restores glide through fascial lines strained by surf posture.

  • Myoskeletal Alignment (Dalton): Corrects posture imbalances from years of duck dives and turns.

  • Vodder Lymphatic Drainage: Reduces inflammation post-sprain, tendonitis, or overtraining.

  • Fascial Stretch Therapy (Frederick Method): Opens shoulders, hips, and ankles for smoother mechanics.

  • Breathwork & Diaphragm Release: Expands lung capacity for paddling endurance and recovery.

Adult Surfer Recovery Solutions

🏄 Shoulder Pain

  • Cause: Rotator cuff overload from paddling.

  • Solution: Trigger point release, RAPID resets, FST for rotator cuff mobility.


🌊 Lower Back Stiffness

  • Cause: Hyperextension during prone paddling.

  • Solution: Myofascial release to lumbar fascia, abdominal/diaphragm release, alignment correction.


🦵 Knee & Hip Strain

  • Cause: Stance pressure + twisting torque.

  • Solution: FST hip capsule work, myoskeletal resets for alignment, lymphatic drainage post-strain.


🤕 Neck Compression

  • Cause: Holding head extended during long paddles.

  • Solution: Trigger point therapy for traps & SCM, breathwork reset for posture.

Ride the waves, not the pain! Book your sports massage for surfers in OC today & keep your body surf-ready! 🌊💆‍♂️

🎥 Self-Relief : Simple At-Home Technique for Relief

Move: Foam Roller Thoracic Extension (for paddling stiffness)

  • Goal: Restore spine extension & open chest for pain-free paddling.

  • Setup: Place roller mid-back, hands behind head.

  • Steps:

    1. Inhale 4 / Exhale 6 as you extend back over roller.

    2. Roll slowly up & down 30s.

    3. Hold gentle stretch, 2 rounds of 30s.

  • Pro Tip: Retest by lying prone and paddling—shoulders feel lighter.

  • Safety: Stop with sharp pain or nerve symptoms.


❓ FAQ: Surfing & Sports Massage

💭 How often should surfers get a sports massage?

📌Every 2–4 weeks for maintenance; weekly during high swell season.


💭 Will sports massage improve my paddling endurance?

📌 Absolutely. Releasing tightness + diaphragm work boosts stroke efficiency.


💭 Can soft tissue therapy help with old injuries?

📌 Yes—scar tissue is mobilized, nerve pathways reset, and mobility restored.


💭 Is this only for pro surfers?

📌 No. From weekend warriors to lifelong locals, recovery is essential.



📢 Performance & Injury Prevention Partnership

surf-massage-san-clemente #SportsMassage #SurfingRecovery #SurfersLife #NeuromuscularTherapy #EliteRecoveryOC


  • On-Site Recovery Days at competitions

  • Screening for shoulder, hip, and back risk factors

  • Surf-specific protocols for shortboard, longboard, and masters surfers

  • Collaboration with coaches, PTs, and chiropractors

  • 📆 Book a Team or Club Consultation Today San Clemente

Lake Elsinore Massage
Tiffany Sandoval with Elite Pain Relief specializing in Medical Sports Massage Practices in OC .

About Elite Bodywork San Clemente

Hi I'm Tiffany Sandoval, Elite Pain Relief & Mobility Expert with over 13 years. I specialize in soft tissue therapy for professional and youth athletes, post-surgery recovery (shoulder, hip, and knee), and mobility restoration, using neuromuscular therapy, myofascial release, lymphatic drainage, and FST to optimize performance, accelerate healing, and prevent injuries.  Let's work together to unlock your body's potential, regain mobility, and pave the way for a pain-free, active lifestyle. Connect with her here or on LinkedIn.

Book Your Recovery Session

📲 Don’t wait until pain sidelines your surf season. Book your personalized recovery session in San Clemente today.


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