Benefits of a Sports Massage

Benefits of a Sports Massage
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The emphasis of sports massage is on the prevention of injuries, rehabilitation and optimal performance. Although directed towards athletes, a sports massage is beneficial to anyone who performs strenuous activities, including gardeners, mothers with young children and people who have physically demanding work. It is also great for people experiencing range of motion issues since it specifically deals with the way muscles move.

History of Sports Massage

Sports massage is a specialty recognized by the American Massage Therapy Association and is completely integrated into the world of professional sports. But the practice is fairly new to the States.

Even though the ancient Greeks and Romans used massage in their training regimens and Asian martial artists incorporated the practice, it wasn’t until the Soviet Union and other Communist bloc countries began employing massage therapists to travel with their athletes that the concept spread.

The benefits of sports massage became evident in their athletes and it was adopted by Europeans and then brought into the United States in the 1970’s.

What is Sports Massage?

Sports massage is generally a type of Swedish massage. This type of massage stimulates circulation of blood and lymph fluids. Trigger point therapy is also sometimes included. This method breaks down knots in muscles, called adhesions and it also helps increase range of motion.

Sports massage includes these four types:

  • Pre-performance sport massage - given 15-45 minutes before an event. Short and stimulating to warm the muscles up and help mentally prepare the athlete.
  • Post-event sports massage - given to normalize the body’s tissues after a hard event or workout.
  • Restorative sports massage - given during training to prevent injury, allowing the athlete to train harder.
  • Rehabilitative sports massage - given to bring the body back to health, alleviate pain and facilitate healing.

Physical Benefits of Sports Massage

There are numerous physical benefits from incorporating massage into your life. A sports massage will help you to get into shape faster and get the body into better general condition. It will also boost your performance in the activity of your choice.

  • Increase blood flow
  • Reduce heart rate
  • Reduce blood pressure
  • Reduce cortisol levels
  • Removes lactic acid build up
  • Improves tissue elasticity, stretches tissues that cannot otherwise be stretched

Psychological Benefits of Sports Massage

Research continues to point to a definite mind/body connection, so all the physical benefits of sports massage directly affect the psychological. Sports massage brings feelings of relaxation, reduced anxiety and in turn, this improves mood.

An invigorating pre-performance sports massage can also help mentally prepare your body and mind for a successful event. Pre-performance massages are often short and stimulating. Given 15-45 minutes before an athletic event, this sports massage is directed at warming up the muscles that will mainly be involved in the exertion. Depending on the athlete and the nature of the event, a sports massage can also help calm the nerves and get the athlete in the right mind-set.

References

Holistic Online, Massage Therapy - Sports Therapy - https://www.holisticonline.com/massage/mas_sports.htm

Mama’s Health- Sports Massage - https://www.mamashealth.com/massage/sports.asp

Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine - Sports Massage - https://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2603/is_0006/ai_2603000680/

Disclaimer

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