What is Sports Massage?
Sports massage was primarily developed for athletes to prevent injuries and help with recovery; however, it is a term that is more broadly used these days with athletes and non-athletes alike benefiting from this form of massage.
There are a number of physiological and psychological benefits that can be gained from having a Sports massage. The aim of Sports and Remedial massage therapy is to treat the dysfunction in soft tissue (muscle, ligament, tendon) and help to alleviate pain. It is also used for injury prevention and in preparing the body for performance by reducing soft tissue tension and therefore increasing mobility.
Who can benefit from sports massage?
Whether you are an athlete, office worker or busy mum you still can receive the benefits of sport massage treatment. Poor posture caused by sitting all day at a desk, driving, heavy lifting, even the stress of life can lead to muscle tightness, lack of flexibility and pain in muscles and joints.
As the tension in a muscle increases, the blood circulation reduces, in turn slowing the flow of essential nutrients and Oxygen that are vital for recovery. Deep tissue massage helps the pores in the tissue membrane to open, which allows nutrients and other substances to go through more easily. As a result, the waste products are eliminated from the body, and fresh oxygen and nutrients are taken in by the muscles.
The increased blood circulation helps speed up the process of the recovery by reducing the tension in the muscle, decreasing scar tissue and improving the quality of movement.
How does sports massage improve training?
If you play sport or exercise regularly it is very important to combine massage therapy with fitness. Sports massage plays a very important role before and after competition, helping athletes achieve their goals. Intensive training, pushing the body to the limit, may lead to injuries such as muscle and tendon damage etc.
The gentle massage strokes pump blood through the muscle, helping to improve micro-circulation, which helps remove any waste products from the muscle and refill nutrient stores.
Deep massage strokes can allow a therapist to find areas of tissue tension that the client would not previously have been aware of. Sports massage will help to improve the condition of your muscles, your sporting performance and also reduce the likelihood of injury.
Importance of the sport massage after injury.
Sports massage can play an important role in the recovery of minor sprains/sprains and more chronic injuries. One of our main aims is to help to improve quality of life, by increasing mobility, reducing pain, speeding up the healing process, helping you get back to normal life as soon as possible.
Fractures, muscle strain, ligament or tendon sprain reduce the flexibility in the tissue and as a result the muscle, tendon or ligament is more prone to injury. Sport massage will not only help to break down the scar tissue but also will improve the quality of the movement and prevent further injuries.
Sports massage can also have a positive effect on a person’s mood and wellbeing due to the increase in serotonin release during treatment. Serotonin is a chemical used to transmit messages between nerve cells and is thought to play an important role in our emotions, helping to reduce anxiety, regulate our sleep and improve our general well-being. Better sleep makes the body stronger and if we are relaxed we think less about pain so we can fully enjoy everyday life.