Benefits of Massage Therapy for Athletes

Benefits of Massage Therapy for Athletes

Doctors agree that an Athlete’s peak performance can often be supported and enhanced by the proper use and application of sports massage. More than a treatment for injuries, sports massage produces numerous benefits for athletes physically, physiologically, and psychologically.

Many athletes choose to invest in deep tissue massage services, not only as a way to relax after a game but also for the other numerous benefits that this kind of service can bring them. Sports massage is designed to prepare the athlete for their best performance, reduce fatigue, and relieve muscle swelling and tension. During physical activity—especially strenuous—muscle tension builds up in the body’s soft tissues. Due to over extension or overuse, minor injuries and lesions occur in these tissues that can cause a great deal of pain and poor athletic performance. A massage therapy center can help alleviate pain and prevent such injuries that greatly affect flexibility, mobility, response time, and overall performance in athletic events.

Here are a few key advantages of deep tissue massage services for athletes. 

Reduces Pain

The first benefit of investing in deep tissue massage is that it reduces pain. This is something that some athletes can suffer from chronically, as they can experience pain resulting from injuries that they have sustained out on the field. Some reports even state that this kind of bodywork therapy can actually be more effective at alleviating pain than conventional medical remedies.

Heavily exercised muscles may also lose their capacity to relax. This causes chronically tight muscles, and loss of flexibility. Lack of flexibility is often linked to muscle soreness, and predisposes athletes to injuries-- especially muscle pulls and tears. Blood flow through tight muscles is poor (ischemia), which also causes pain. A regular routine of massage therapy is very effective in combating these effects of heavy exercised muscles.

The way that a deep tissue massage therapist does this is by improving blood circulation, which in turn reduces the inflammation which causes pain. Athletes looking for massage services are advised, therefore, to consider seeking out a bodywork therapist to complement any conventional treatment they may be receiving for pain. 

Improved Circulation 

The second benefit of this kind of treatment is also known to improve circulation that deep tissue massage therapy can provide; increased blood flow throughout the body means that performance is often enhanced, whether the sport of choice is baseball, football, swimming or dance.

One of the most common setbacks for athletes is delayed-onset muscle soreness, more commonly known as DOMS. This refers to muscle pain that typically develops several hours post exercise and consists of predominantly eccentric muscle actions—especially if the exercise in unfamiliar. Although DOMS is likely a symptom eccentric-exercise-induced muscle damage, it does not necessarily affect muscle damage. Recent studies have concluded that sports massage may help reduce and prevent the often-painful and debilitating effects of DOMS in athletes.

Reduces stress

Another important advantage to deep tissue therapy is that is can significantly reduce stress and promote better sleeping patterns. This is an effective method by which athletes that are under a great deal of pressure to succeed can effectively manage their stress levels before a game or competition, impacting their ability to perform during a key event.

For this very reason, as sporting season rolls round every year, there is a boom in the demand for massage services; professional and collegiate sports teams, as well as the city’s huge mix of minor league and semi-pro sports teams from women’s football to roller derby, seek out these treatments as a way to be mentally and physically prepared for the season.

Erases scar tissue

Deep tissue massage services is one of the many types of massage in Greenville that can also help to erase scar tissue in the body. For athletes that have suffered injuries and are experiencing prolonged pain and stiffness due to the resulting scar tissue, deep tissue therapy can have impressive results in this area over the long term.

This is achieved by improving lymphatic circulation and increasing the range of motion in the area, which breaks down scar tissue over time. For those seeking treatment for an injury in sporting cities, massage services should be chosen according to the therapist’s knowledge and ability to treat the athlete’s specific condition.

Regardless of the particular sport an athlete participates in – and whether they play in a big city or in a small town league – the benefits of massage services are considerable, ranging from healing the body and alleviating pain, to managing stress levels and significantly enhancing performance.

Sports massage should be applied before and after athletic events, with many “maintenance” sessions in-between meets or competitions. Pre-event sports massage is focuses on warming-up the major muscles to be used and improves tissue pliability. It also helps get the athlete in a good mental state for competition and prepares them to reach their athletic performance potential.

A sports massage in Greenville can be given following an athletic event and is mainly focused upon recovery. This type of sports massage is geared toward reducing muscle spasms and metabolic build-up that occur with vigorous exercise. There are many other benefits to Greenville Therapeutic Massage. Getting regular massages can be a great way to improve your overall health and wellness. Call Circle of Light Massage today at 864-238-3611 to schedule your appointment. Your body will thank you!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Many Benefits Of Massage