Sports massage is a type of deep tissue massage that relieves pain caused by injuries and excessive physical activity. In addition to relaxing the body, sports massages are also beneficial physiologically and psychologically.
The manipulation of soft tissue during a sports massage helps to reduce pain and tightness and improves mobility. Muscles, skin, tendons, ligaments and fascia are all examples of soft tissue. Any imbalances or limits brought on by frequent physical exercise can be treated with sports massage. Physical activity does not have to mean exercise; it could also be the repetitive process of working at a computer all day or carrying heavy objects at work.
Sports massage can enhance performance, avoid injuries, and hasten recovery time when used before or after exercise.
Let’s explore some of the fantastic benefits of sports massage.
Benefits of Sports Massage
Relieves Stress
When under stress, the body doesn’t function properly. After a busy week of work, this could entail feeling mentally or physically exhausted. By lowering the number of stress-related hormones in your body, sports massage can help you stay healthy and avoid getting sick. It can also speed up your recovery and prevent injuries.
Improves Circulation
The improvement and maintenance of blood circulation in the body are just two of the many advantages of receiving a sports massage. A study found that massage therapy can lessen muscle soreness and increase general blood flow. After a game or rigorous physical activity, getting a massage helps the vascular system operate better. (Source)
Reduces Blood Pressure
When there is low stress, low muscle tension and an overall increased blood flow, the heart doesn’t have to work hard to pump blood. This results in a healthy level of blood pressure.
Eliminates Muscle Soreness
Your muscles experience microscopic fibre tears when you work out or engage in any other physical activity. This isn’t a terrible thing, but it causes inflammation deep inside your tissue, which helps to heal the tears. This causes the soreness you experience after exercising for one or two days. Your muscles’ ability to repair themselves is accelerated by sports massage, which improves blood flow and flushes out waste products like lactic acid.
Reduces Pain & Inflammation
A number of athletes suffer from minor to chronic pain. And the pain has a negative impact on an their performance. According to a study, massage therapy encourages the growth of mitochondria, an energy cell that aids in repairing muscles and numbing pain, decreasing discomfort and inflammation as a result. (Source)
Boosts Recovery
Sports injuries are unavoidable. Although injuries are expected in sports, the suffering that comes with recovery may be intolerable. A 60-minute sports massage, when received two hours after an injury or intense exercise, has a higher chance of encouraging positive outcomes.
According to research, it can lessen delayed-onset muscular soreness, which quickens the healing and recovery of muscle and joint problems. (Source)
Increases Mobility & Flexibility
It is important to do your best as an athlete, but constant training can take its toll on your muscles. Overtraining can result in muscles becoming rigid. Sports massage helps relax your tense muscles and increases your flexibility. If you get a sports massage before a competition, you will relax your muscles, become more flexible, and perform better.
Improves Performance
Sports massages significantly improve your performance. Well-conditioned muscles enable you to move more quickly, jump higher, lift heavier objects, and strike them with more force. No matter what sport you choose, massage therapy will undoubtedly boost your performance!
Enhances Focus
Sports massage has many psychological advantages. It induces a meditative condition in your mind, which makes it calm, restored, and focused. When you’re in a meditative state, your brain can sort through the chaos and improve your focus; and a relaxed, focused athlete has the potential to be very good at their sport.
Improves Sleep
A sports massage eases tension, promotes relaxation, and helps athletes sleep more soundly. For athletes, getting enough and the right kind of sleep is crucial since it encourages a quicker healing process after injuries. Additionally, this promotes improved performance.
Sports Massage Is Essential Pre & Post Events
Pre-Events
A pre-event massage occurs prior to a game or competition. To ensure that your therapy is concluded between 30 and 60 minutes before the event, you should arrange the massage accordingly.
Pre-event massage differs from a typical massage in that nothing in the muscles or ligaments is being improved or fixed. The main objective is to assist you, the athlete, to be emotionally and physically ready for the upcoming competition.
The quick-paced, rhythmic sports massage technique works the muscles and prepares you for physical activity. This loosens the muscles, and mobility and range of motion are improved, which is the optimum situation for an event.
Post-Events
A post-event massage is scheduled after your event. You’re probably feeling stiff, worn out, and tense at this point, so a sports massage would be the ideal treatment.
A post-event massage isn’t very deep or intense. Its main goal is to help the body get rid of the metabolic waste (like lactic acid) that builds up following heavy exercise and prevent delayed pain. A sports massage will significantly help accelerate soft tissue repair and reduce muscle stiffness and tiredness.
Schedule Your Sports Massage Therapy at Magda Clinic
Magda Clinic offers professional sports massage therapy in Townsville, where you can get the best massage to prepare you before your event and speed up your recovery after your event. So if you are ready to schedule your sports massage, reach out now and Magda will schedule a sports massage tailored to your needs.