Sports Massage Therapy
By Jessica at 11 December, 2009, 9:17 pm
Sports massage therapy improves the condition of the athlete’s muscles, according to research. For many athletes, massage therapy has become as essential to their workouts as strength training, cardio routines, stretching and icing. Massage therapy is an important facet of a well-rounded exercise program and one that should not be limited only to professional athletes. Athletes of all sports and skill levels can reap the benefits provided by massage therapy.
Sports massage therapy adds an aspect of repair and recovery to an athlete’s training regiment. Through massage, an athlete’s range of motion and flexibility can be increased, which is something that can enhance their physical abilities. Massage helps the muscles and tissues recover after a grueling workout, allowing for the athlete to push themselves further the following day. Additionally, massages have shown to reduce muscle fatigue and soreness, a common complaint for many athletes. The scheduled and frequent implementation of massage therapy has also been shown to reduce injuries in athletes by the proper stretching of muscles.
There are several techniques used in sports massage therapy. Typical techniques used for sports massages are deep Swedish massage, compression massage, cross-fiber massage, trigger-point massage and lymphatic massage.
A planned sports massage program is beneficial to athletes of all levels. There are several different times one can employ massage therapy into their athletic routine. A few examples of these types of sports massages are:
• Scheduled Maintenance Massages
• Event Massages
• Rehabilitation Massages
Scheduled maintenance massages are completed at routine, scheduled appointments. The goal of this type of massage is to improve flexibility and motion, which can help the athlete achieve their peak performance level.
The next type of massage program is event massages, which incorporates pre-event and post-event massages. Both of these massages aim to promote circulation and lengthen tightened muscles. Pre-event massages are given to warm-up athletes’ muscles and to enhance mental clarity and calmness. A post-event massage, administered at the end of physical competition, can significantly reduce the length of recovery time an athlete experiences.
Finally, athletes that are recovering from an injury can benefit significantly from rehabilitation massages. Sports massages specifically focused on rehabilitation can aid in the healing process of muscle tears, cramps, bruising and aches.
Adding regularly scheduled sports massage therapy to an athlete’s workout routine can aid recovery and enhance performance, taking an athlete’s performance capabilities to the next level.
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