Massage for people involved in sport
Sports Performance Massage
Pre-Event sports massage helps warm up the muscles by stretching them and making them flexible for optimal athletic performance. A pre-event massage also stimulates the flow of blood and nutrients to the muscle, reduces muscle tension, loosen the muscles and produce a feeling of psychological readiness. A pre -event massage is best done up to two days prior to the main event.
Post- event massage focuses on relieving muscle soreness, minimizing the effects of fatigue and reducing the stress levels in the body. It also helps reduce swelling, maintain flexibility, promote blood flow to the muscle to remove lactic acid and waste build-up and reduce cramping. This also helps faster healing.
This is more of a maintenance massage which can be done at least once a week as a regular part of athletic training programs. Preventive massage increases the flow of blood and nutrients to the muscle and helps repair small tears due to strenuous physical activity. It also keeps tissue loose so that different layers of muscle slide over each other.
Sports massage is also used as a last resort in the event of injury. Sports massage helps rehabilitate by minimizing the adverse effects of scar tissue and adhesions caused to the athlete and helps regain lost flexibility and strength.
The benefits of sports massage impact the physical, physiological and psychological levels. A state of well being is achieved only when all the three aspects are in balance. Here is a compilation of the key benefits attained at each level through a sports massage:
Physical effects of massage are:
* Deep massage causes the pores in tissue membranes to open, enabling fluids and nutrients to pass through enabling removal of waste products such as lactic acid.
* Deep massage encourages the muscles to take up oxygen and nutrients which promote faster healing
* Sports massage stretches muscles to release tension or stress caused due to excess physical activity
* Sports massage helps break down scar tissues which usually affect the muscle, tendons and ligaments which impair performance.
* Sports massage helps improve elasticity of tissues.
Physiological effects of sports massage are:
* Sports massage helps reduce pain.
* Muscles are relaxed after a sports massage
Psychological effects of sports massage include:
* Reduced levels of anxiety and stress caused due to relaxed muscles and nerves.
* Sports massage stimulates a sense of well being and health.