Do you find that your muscles are aching after a big run? Can’t sit after a major gym session? Or are you in preparation or recovery from a major athletic event?
Sports massage could assist you to have the most efficient performance, regardless of the type of sports you’re taking part in. It is designed to repair muscle damage and the stimulation of both nerves and muscles. It manipulates the musculoskeletal system, including muscles, tendons and ligaments.
What Is Sports Massage?
A professional sports massage doesn’t just focus on the massage itself; but rather it delves deep into the anatomy and physiology of the body.
The massage therapist uses particular techniques that are designed to stimulate blood flow and free fibrous tension.
It includes soft tissue release that stretches the tissues and muscles; positional release to assist with hyperactive muscles; neuromuscular techniques that target particular points of the nervous system to reduce pain; and fascial release which helps to release the connective tissue around muscles.
There are numerous benefits of a sports massage, including:
Pain Reduction
Massage helps to release endorphins, reducing the tension and waste products that create pain. Varying degrees of pressure can be applied by the massage therapist to create friction, increasing blood flow, oxygen and nutrients. This helps to stimulate nerve fibers and to impede pain messages that travel to and from the brain.
Injury Prevention
Sports massage helps your tendons, muscles and joints move more efficiently, and move together better. If you overuse particular muscles, it can result in pain and inflammation. Sports massage is designed to reduce the chance of overuse of certain muscles, allowing all muscles to work in conjunction with each other. Therefore, reducing inflammation and preventing injury. Sports massage is particularly effective for sprains and stress injuries.
Recovery
Whether you’re a professional athlete or you’ve just had a tough session at the gym, a massage will help to assist with your recovery. It can help to reduce the delay on muscle soreness (which usually hits 1-2 days after by helping to dissolve waste fluids like lactic acid. It can also help your body cope with muscle spasms and metabolic build-up you might experience after a major session.
De-Stress
While sports massage isn’t generally the type of massage you consider when you need to de-stress and relax, it can actually be one of the most effective methods. When completed by a professional massage therapist, a sports massage will not only assist your body’s muscles, but can also lower blood pressure and increase your heart rate and reduce headaches.
You don’t have to be an athlete to benefit from a sports massage; and if you ARE an athlete, you should certainly be booking these regularly. If you have suffered an injury, you’re new to sports or you simply want to reduce tension in your muscles, sports massage is for you.
If you want to find out more about sports massage, book yourself in for an appointment, or you want to learn how to study and use this technique yourself; get in touch with our team today.