5 Benefits of Sports Massage for Athletes
There are five compelling reasons for athletes to receive a massage.
As an athlete, you constantly push your body to the maximum. Whether you play sports professionally or on weekends, you're always looking for methods to improve, hurt less, and heal faster. Recently, sports massage has become increasingly popular. What is a sports massage, and how can it benefit you as an athlete?
What does a sports massage accomplish?
This type of massage focuses on specific areas of tension and stress in the body to improve your mobility, reduce muscle soreness, and improve overall performance.
The first benefit is that you will recover more quickly.
One of the benefits of sports massage is that it might help you heal faster. When you exercise frequently, your muscles develop small tears that cause pain and swelling. A sports massage can alleviate soreness and swelling, allowing you to resume your workouts sooner.
According to research published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, sports massage can help tired muscles feel and function better after a hard workout (1). Massage relieves pain by increasing the flow of blood to the affected area, providing oxygen and nutrients.
Edema and muscular spasms are lessened.
Help you relax and relieve stress in your muscles.
There are numerous methods in which sports massage can help you recuperate faster:
Get massages on a regular basis, and if possible, within 24 to 48 hours of completing a strenuous workout.
Monitor your hamstrings, quadriceps, and lower back for stiffness or soreness.
After a deep tissue massage, myofascial release, or trigger point therapy, you may feel better in certain regions.
Benefit #2: Greater freedom to move about
Another advantage of sports massage is that it might improve your mobility. Mobility means that your joints can move easily and freely across a wide range of motion. Athletes should be able to move around to stay in condition, gain strength and speed, and be safe. Sports massage can improve your mobility by relaxing the muscles surrounding your joints and alleviating muscle tension.
Sports massage can increase joint flexibility and improve ease of movement.
Improved nerve-muscle coordination and control
Sports massage may improve your movement in numerous ways:
Examine the area around the joints, such as the knees, hips, and shoulders.
Use myofascial release and trigger point therapy to help you relax in specific locations.
Make massages a regular part of your fitness routine. This will keep your body moving as your muscles relax.
The third advantage is that the muscles hurt and feel tight less frequently.
A sports massage can also relieve painful and tight muscles. Strenuous physical activity may cause your muscles to tighten and pain. Such discomfort may make it more difficult for you to succeed and increase your risk of injury. Massage for athletes can assist in relaxing muscles, relieving stress, and reducing muscle spasms.
Endorphins are released, which can help with pain relief and overall well-being.
Help you relax and relieve muscle tension so you feel better all around.
Muscles that are usually tight:
Back of the lower hamstrings
Shoulders and necks
Benefit #4: Improved performance.
Sports massage can improve athletic performance while also relaxing tight or tense muscles. Sports massage can improve athletes' performance by making them more flexible, less painful, and more relaxed. According to a study published in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, sports massage can help athletes perform better by improving muscle function (2).
Here are some recommendations for using sports massage to improve your sports performance:
Get at least one or two massages per month.
Pay special attention to areas that are tight and tense, such as your hips, hamstrings, and shoulders.
Some areas may feel less tight following a deep tissue massage, myofascial release, or trigger point therapy session.
Advantage #5: Not being hurt Finally, athletic massage could benefit you. Sports massage can assist athletes in avoiding common ailments such as muscular strains, tendinitis, and ligament sprains by relaxing their muscles, making movement easier, and lowering their stress levels.
How to Use Sports Massage to Avoid Injuries
Get a massage at least once or twice a week to maintain your health.
Pay special attention to tight and tense areas, including your hips, hamstrings, and shoulders.
Trigger point therapy, myofascial release, and deep tissue massage are all effective methods for treating stiff regions.
In brief,
In short, sports massage benefits athletes in a variety of ways. Sports massage can help athletes achieve their goals and perform better because it speeds up recovery, increases mobility, reduces muscle tension and soreness, improves performance, and reduces the risk of injury. Including sports massage in your training routine can help you feel better and perform better, whether you're a professional athlete or a weekend warrior.
References:
"The Effects of Massage on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness and Muscle Function After Exercise" (Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2015)
"The Effects of Sports Massage on Muscle Function and Efficiency" (Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 2018)
Sports massage can help you achieve your goals and perform better in your sport. Why not try it? Call today to schedule an appointment and learn how sports massage may benefit you.