subject: Rejuvenate Your Body But Also Relieve Chronic Pain By Means Of A Fun, Relaxing Sports Massage [print this page] Participants in practically every sport are proclaiming the healing effects and advantages of sports massage therapy for edging out their competition. This not includes professional athletes, but the weekend warriors as well. Below are some of the benefits they enjoy.
Improved range of motion and increased flexibility;
Better endurance and less fatigue;
Looser muscles, resulting in less chance of injury;
The ability to compete at their very best level;
Lesser recovery time between their practice sessions;
Better circulation, which results in more nutrients and oxygen going to the body;
Rids the body of unwanted toxins resulting from exercise.
Sports massage is increasingly being included as an essential part of a complete workout routine that includes not only the exercise involved, but also for the wear-and-tear and minor injuries that naturally occur in any strenuous activity. Anyone who incorporates this type activity in their daily schedule will benefit from a sports massage program designed to match their activity level.
Tight muscles and decreased flexibility can cause muscles to tear and pull. Because our muscles lose some of their ability to relax after strenuous exercise, a sports massage is a vital component to your overall workout routine. The goals of sports massage differ at various stages of a sporting event.
Prior to the event: Studies have shown that athletes who receive a sports massage prior to a sporting event improve their muscle tension and their equally-important mental health in a shorter amount of time.
Pre-event sports massage therapy is designed to prepare the major muscles that the athlete will be using.
During an event: This sports massage technique is designed to help athletes reach optimal performance during an event, through injury-free training. Each type of sport has different demands on its participants and each utilizes muscle groups in a different way, so the sports massage techniques used will differ according to the sport involved.
Post-event: Sports massage performed after a competition is geared toward reducing the muscle spasms and metabolic build-up that occur with vigorous exercise. A post-event sports massage involves not only tissue repair, but also general relaxation and mental calming.
A remedy for excessive training: If an athlete doesn't let his/her body refresh itself adequately between training routines, they can experience irritability, more potential for injury and sometimes a change in their eating habits; these are all signs that their body has been overburdened. The state of total relaxation that results from a sports massage has been found to relieve symptoms quite effectively.
A sports massage to maintain the body: Overtraining can be very harmful to an athlete's body. Incorporating a sports massage program into a regular health program can enhance one's range of motion and muscle flexibility. Sports massage therapy works to drastically reduce the potential for severe injury before, during and after a sporting event.
Rehabilitation Massage: Even with preventive maintenance, muscles tend to cramp, tear, bruise, and ache; a sports massage can speed healing and reduce discomfort during the rehabilitation process. Performing a sports massage during the secondary phases of healing can improve the formation of strong and flexible repair tissue during rehabilitation.