This article takes you through what is a sports massage and how it can benefit you and your wellbeing. Sports massage isn't just for elite sportspeople, it is for people like you and me.
What is a sports massage?
Sports massage is a fairly new medical practice that has slowly risen in popularity over the past 10 to 20 years. An overview of its roots can be found in ancient Greek medicine, where a massage was carried out to relieve athletes' muscle pain and speed up recovery time after exercise.
Ancient Chinese medicine and Buddhism recognise the value of massage therapy. Massage has also been used in rehabilitation for injured sportsmen and sportswomen since the 1800s, although was often used in a less professional way than today.
Sports massage is similar to deep tissue massage, which is a more classical form of massage, and provides more benefit for the athlete. A sports massage works on improving blood circulation in the body, reducing pain and stress.
Why you need it
- To relieve pain in muscles
- To promote relaxation in the body
- To improve circulation
- To relax and balance nervous system
Why you may not need it
- Liking pain relief? Take an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen, an antihistamine like diphenhydramine or Claritin to relieve aches.
- You are suffering from allergies or sinusitis, take medicine to manage them.
- You are a skier, golfer or tennis player and the muscles have been tight and sore all year. Take regular breaks and get a massage as often as you can.
- You are just a little sore from your last gym session, you need to keep training and strengthening your body, so a good sports massage is not for you!
How it helps
The body works hard when you are exercising and after a while, the muscles start to build up layers and layers of knots. This causes a lot of stress on the body and can have a lot of negative impacts on your body.
Sports massage helps your body reduce your stress by relaxing your muscles. Through this, your body can recover and can return to a normal and healthy state. Why is it beneficial? There are many reasons why having a sports massage is a good idea. First of all, it improves range of motion.
This means that the muscles are not so tight and the blood flow is easier. That means that less stress is put on the muscles, which means that they can do their job effectively and not strain more.
Health benefits
There are many benefits of massage therapy. When we are running a lot or exercising we start to accumulate muscle atrophy. That is when your body starts to lose muscles because you are doing more exercise than before. When you have a sports massage you will get all the muscles relaxed which enables your body to repair itself and rebuild itself.
This ultimately increases your longevity and your overall fitness level. The studies have shown that over the years, sports massage can decrease your likelihood of injuries, improve recovery and increase muscle memory. This means you will be able to exercise for longer periods of time without injuries occurring.
How to find a massage therapist
Depending on where you live, finding a sports massage therapist might be a bit trickier than it is in other parts of the country. To find a professional sports massage therapist in your area, Google 'massage therapist' or the areas where you live and see if there are any useful local guides for you to follow.
Are you nervous about going for a sports massage? When you have a significant injury or an injury that is causing a lot of pain, a sports massage might seem like the last thing you want. But it is the very best thing you can do for your body.
