Why Athletes Need Sports Massage
Sports massage is a significant part of the new athletic regimen, from high school training rooms, to college clinic rooms, into commercial locker rooms. But not everyone gets the benefits that massage can bring to their athletic performance. Here are some benefits of sports massage for athletes, and why you should think about adding this therapeutic treatment to your exercise regimen.
Among the most frequent sports massage techniques used today is targeted at crunches. Crunches are used to target tight hamstrings, calves, and lower back muscles. Sports massage techniques aimed at these particular muscles will allow greater blood flow to the area, which offers the much needed nutrients to the muscles to improve circulation. Increased circulation to and within muscles leads to more energy and a better, more relaxed feeling.
Another technique used by many massage therapists is deep tissue massage. Deep tissue massage targets the deep fibers of muscles, using kneading pressure to release chronic tension in the muscle. This is very beneficial to athletes who may have been injured or overused a muscle. Many times, a therapist will begin with an ice pack to reduce swelling before continuing on to the various techniques. These are the most recommended techniques for this sort of treatment because athletes typically have injured or overused muscles on a regular basis.
There are lots of benefits of the type of technique, and among them is the relief of pain. This is most frequently noted with athletes who experience chronic knee pain or other types of pain that's caused by overuse. When a massage therapist targets the deeper layers of muscles, the benefits not only include pain relief, but also a reduction in swelling and a decline in the amount of time it takes for an athlete to recover from injury. This is a huge benefit for athletes because they need every advantage they can get.
Another technique being used by massage therapists is the event massage. In the event massage, an athlete contracts muscles during the actual contest to boost their confidence before the contest. This can be done before a competitive workout. For example, if an athlete does an extra mile in front of a big race, this is regarded as a pre-event massage and it will help him or her be more relaxed and focused on the competition.
Many athletes turn to sports massage techniques to loosen up their muscles prior to workouts. If an athlete has had a grueling day at work, he or she may feel tense and stiff. This may result in aches and pains throughout the day, which may affect performance. A sports massage therapist will understand when to apply this sort of technique and when to allow it to cool down. This is an excellent method to use before a workout.
Post-conditioning massage is another technique that's usually utilized to help an athlete recover faster after an injury or intensive training session. Following an injury or rigorous training session, most individuals experience a drop in power and muscle tension. This drop in power and tension can have a negative effect on an athlete's performance and mental attitude. By utilizing a post-conditioning or sports massage treatment, an athlete can restore his or her energy levels back to normal. This can also improve recovery and minimize the effects of soreness or muscle strain.
Sports massage is great for healing of injured muscles and soreness. Additionally it is a great technique to use immediately after a workout to relieve muscle stiffness and decrease pain and swelling. Although massage might not prevent injuries, it can decrease the amount of time an athlete is out of action due to muscle stiffness, aches, and aches. Sports massage can also reduce the healing time for an injured player, because it decreases the amount of time muscle cells are used to fix themselves. This can be of great benefit to an athlete who needs to rest during the healing process.
