Sports Massage is a
form of massage that utilizes specific strokes to help athletes obtain maximum
performance and physical conditioning by increasing power, endurance and
mobility - both before and after an event or exercise. Sports Massage is
particularly beneficial when an athlete is in training for an event.
It's also helpful for anyone who routinely
stretches physical limits through movement. Swimmers, weight-lifters,
golfers, ball players, skaters, dancers, tennis players, musicians, and boxers,
as well as weekend warriors and those who practice strength training or
aerobics, have benefited from sports massage.
Sports Massage is generally used to help improve
athletic performance. Most often, the Sports Massage is focused on the
muscles and tissues used most in the athlete's sport, i.e. runners focus on
their legs and hips. The techniques used in Sports Massage include those
used in Deep Tissue, Reiki-ssage or Swedish Massage. Athletes have
different massage needs at different times. There are three basic
categories:
PRE-EVENT ~
A quick treatment (rhythmic pumping) is
a supplement to your warm-up. It boosts your circulation and increases
your flexibility and range of motion, thereby reducing any muscle pain and
soreness, leaving your muscles relaxed and ready for action. Pre-event
massage can help you prevent muscle and tendon injuries and reduce the strain
and discomfort of training. It also can be a great psychological advantage
in your competition.
POST-EVENT ~
Recovery after a competition involves
not only the normalization and repair of tissue, but also general relaxation and
mental calming. Post-event sports massage increases circulation to quicken
the removal of fatigue toxins, relieve muscle spasms and prevent soreness.
It is used to assist athletes in recovery and in regaining their pre-event
condition by relaxing tight, fatigued muscles, tendons and ligaments.
TRAINING ~
Throughout training and rigorous regular athletic
activity, massage helps prevent injuries. Areas of muscular stress can
result from repetitive or stressful motion and are typically precursors to
injury. Sports massage assists in relieving muscular stress and preventing
injuries, enabling harder and more consistent training. Adequate recovery
is also a major factor in avoiding nagging minor injuries that inhibit maximum
performance.
Sports Massage can accelerate your healing
process, increase your range of motion, reduce your adhesions, and reduce your
swelling, bruising and pain. Areas of stress in other muscles, created
through compensating for an injury, can be eased with a regular sports massage
regimen. Sports Massage can partially compensate for lack of exercise
during inactivity while recovering from injury. Sports Massage is also
used to relieve muscular spasms and fatigue-related injuries.
Sports Massage is more than just a reward at the
end of a workout. It is a vital tool for keeping athletes primed for top
performance and even lengthening their careers. Recognized as an important
part of a regular maintenance program, sports massage is widely used by
individuals, teams and Olympic and professional athletes.