Sports massage is a massage therapy style involving deep tissue techniques to help alleviate muscle tension, discomfort, and pain. It is extremely popular among athletes but is not limited to athletic injuries alone, as deep massage techniques can be used to treat various issues.
Stretching and compression movements are usually followed in sports massage. A sports massage therapist will use a wide range of friction techniques, energy techniques, dynamic movement, and trigger point compression techniques during the session.
Numerous issues can be treated with sports massage, including but not limited to:
This depends entirely on the demands you place on your body and how your body responds to them. The majority of elite athletes receive at least one massage per week. Most amateurs who take their sport seriously or those who want to improve their workouts will, on average, see their physiotherapist twice a month. For most people who attend the gym regularly, once every three to four weeks is sufficient.
Blood flow improves significantly during a massage. Elevated blood flow provides the muscles with more oxygen to work with, and increased oxygen keeps muscles healthy, supple and strong, therefore preventing injuries.
Certain areas may feel a little tender, but it shouldn’t hurt. If the pressure or technique becomes too much for you, always feel free to let your physiotherapist know. Drink plenty of water to flush out the lactic acid in the muscle tissues and assist the lymphatic system.
Finally, whether it’s taking time out for yourself or relieving physical pain and muscle tension, massage therapy has been shown to lower daily stress and anxiety levels. As a result, your quality and quantity of sleep, which is necessary for everyday life, will most definitely improve.