The practice of sports massage has, for a long time, been important for professionals. England football fans will be able to recall the urgent treatment sought by its players in the 2017 World Cup semi-final. Then, during a tight break in extra time, physiotherapists sought muscle-damage limitation. England fell short in the semi-finals, however, the advantages of massages for sport remain.
Nowadays, Sports Massage Therapy is now more popular than ever, particularly with people who are not professionals.
However, why are people who play sports so in love with Sports Massages? The answer issimple: because they work. There are eleven reasons why you should consider a Sports Massage can change your life, in only 30 minutes.
1. It is a well-tested remedy to treat muscle soreness and injuries prevention
A majority of women and men are sore after exercising. The muscle soreness typically manifests as a dull aching that occurs a couple of hours after exercise and lasts for several days. It is referred to as delayed muscular soreness (DOMS). The primary reason for DOMS is thought to be an eccentric contraction which causes the muscle to lengthen as it contracts. This includes activities like moving downhill while running, lifting heavy weights or lowering down to pushing up or squatting. Lower body movement in particular will cause more soreness than upper-body exercises.
The soreness typically manifests around six-to-eight hours after exercise. It could peak between one to two days after exercise, then diminishing in the following 72 hours.
One Australian study conducted a study that compared two groups of males and women in order to determine whether massage therapy for sports was effective. The study compared a “control” group that did not receive sports massage therapy, as opposed to a group that did. Both groups performed “eccentric exercises” to increase DOMS. Three hours later, members of the other group received the 10-minute massage. This study, released in the Journal of Athletic Training, discovered that muscle soreness was “significantly lesser” in the massage group.
The conclusion is that sports massage therapy itself alleviated soreness and discomfort as much as 30 per cent.
Similarly, this study from The Journal of Sports Sciences concluded that a 30-minute massage did wonders for bodybuilders after exercising. The bodybuilders did not only have a higher rate of recovery as well as improved their performance when they return to work which allowed them to recover faster following their workouts.
This study, which was published in The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness found that massage therapy aids in the healing process of soft tissue. The massage techniques improved the healing capacity of cells called fibroblasts in massaged muscles, which increased the healing process in damaged soft tissues. (Fibroblasts are a type of cell in the body which play an important part in the healing of connective tissue.)
2. The way that sports massage therapists employ specific techniques specific to the practice of sports massage.
There is a lot of questions what is a sport massage?
Massage therapy for sports is a contemporary and sophisticated form of therapy. Because of this, it incorporates many techniques similar to those found in other massage types, and more. It is a similar technique to effleurage, and petrissage, which a majority of people will know (even even if they’re unfamiliar about the concepts) like the circular stroking movements and squeezes that are made using the palm of your hand.
This is where the similarities end. Here are some of the aspects that make sports massage truly special:
Unlike other forms or types of massages, sports massage employs the concept of’myofascial’. This technique can be used to pinpoint discomfort in the body, more specifically, where pain may be emanating from a specific point in the affected muscle.
Myofasical relaxation is among the many neuromuscular methods used by sports massage therapists to aid recovery. To allow neuromuscular practices (sometimes called “neuromuscular therapy”) to aid in recovery from chronic and acute pain , specific methods are required. These include flexing and stretching muscles that are affected, and home self-treatment. Contrary to traditional massages, sports massage therapy requires “homework” -and commitment in order to maximize the benefits to be experienced, which can include regular stretching exercises as well as the use of a foam roller.
Myofasical releases’ effects are felt deep in the muscles. This means less pressure on the joints, and a reduction of discomfort in the area of treatment. A sports massage will unlike other massages not only treat muscles, but the entire soft tissue like ligaments, the tendons, and the fascia. (The fascia is an extremely thin layer of fibrous tissue that surrounds the muscle.) It directly reaches the source of muscles overworked because of intense, athletic exercise.
3. Sports massage is different from. deep tissue massage: What a sports massage is more specific than a deep tissue massage in the treatment of sports-related injuries
It’s not unusual for people to ask the difference is between sports massage therapy and deeper tissue massage.
As previously mentioned there are some commonalities among all massage therapies that can cause confusion.
The key is in the name the word “deep tissue massage”: it is focused on the layers of tissue over the muscle, but not specifically on the muscle itself. This type of pressure is brilliant to break up any new knots, or to get out “new” tension in the region. For “newer” and comparatively minor, aches and pains, deep tissue massages are at their most efficient.
Massage therapy that is based on sports is effective at treating aches or knots that have accumulated over time. These tendencies are typically “older” and more severe than the ones that deep tissue massage targets.
The sports massage and deep tissue massage have similar methods and goals, but the sport massage tends to be more “long time”. A deep tissue massage is brilliant at aiding recovery and treating aches and pains in the body, such as lower back pain or repetitive strain injuries. However, due to the constant soreness and injuries result from intense exercise or a highly physical lifestyle make many opt for sports massage therapy.
Sports Massage Pricing
4. Therapists for sports massage are expected to be particularly knowledgeable about the anatomy of the human body to be able for a sport massage to be effective.
A common concern is what does Massage therapists do?
The key elements that distinguish different massage techniques have been previously covered. It is a more refined form of massage. It is a method that has the sole aim of improving athletic performance as well as improving recovery times (as well as reducing the chances of getting injuries).
The therapists of sports massage are trained to utilize the methods unique to the sports massage. This requires specialist knowledge that masseuses or masseuses may not have.
Sports massages are effective because sports massage therapists are required to have an in-depth knowledge in the body’s anatomy.
A good knowledge of the body is essential to aid in the recognition of irregularities and issues that can lead to injuries if not treated. Handling muscles is also a nitty-gritty practice.
There’s a line between treating a problem and making it worse. That’s why such a thorough anatomical knowledge is required.
5. A massage for sports has “different strokes” which utilize the “healing force of touch”
A common question commonly asked about the distinction is between deep tissue massages and a sports massage. It’s not as common to have a sports massage be compared with the Swedish massage, but in actuality the sports massage is likely more like the Swedish massage than deep tissue.
A sports massage is one of the techniques employed by Swedish massage.
According to Harvard Medical School, the Swedish massage uses a series of long, smooth strokes to ease aching muscles, relax the connective tissue, and improve circulation. The Swedish massage is classified as “ideal for people who are just beginning their journey and wanting a basic, restorative massage”.
The sports massage employs several of these same glide strokes, however with a focus on the healing process, recovering from injury, and prevention of sports-related injuries.
The sports massage are a variation on the relaxing strokes of Swedish massage to deliver specific treatment.
The reason that a sports massage is often compared with a deep tissue massage but not the Swedish massage could be because both the deep tissue massage as well as the sports massages are usually associated with “good pain” or a slight discomfort. This is due to the fact that for a sports massage to work it requires a wider mobility is usually required.
6. A massage for athletes prior to or following a workout can have impressive benefits for performance
It is normal for athletes and sports enthusiasts to enjoy an “pre-event” massage. These are, effectively, warm up massages that can last as little as 15 minutes up to an hour and are usually specific to the body areas that will be worked out. Certain pre-event sports massages are applied within two hours of the event.
The benefits of a massage before the event don’t need to be directly before the event or during the actual event. It is a great “warm up” starting as early as seven days before the event.
By performing a pre-event, pre-event sports massage, the techniques are reduced to enhance joint mobility and to permit stretching of soft tissue. It is designed to aid relaxation and focus and, in this way, is closer to the Swedish massage.
This is where the difference in the massage for deep tissues and sports massage becomes clearer: a deeper tissue massage is not recommended before exercising, since the intense pressures applied to the muscles force the body into recovery mode, and not in the state of being ready.
Pre-event massages are typically accompanied by post-event massages. Veteran athletes can begin the sessions after a few hours. Much like their pre-event counterparts massages that focus on recovery can help you recover for a few days following an event.
7. Maintenance massage: sports massage therapy during exercise
In that tragic 2017 World Cup semi-final, after an entire 90 minutes of play , and prior to extra time was scheduled, the England team’s coaching staff scrambled to administer sports massage therapy on their players. During an exercise such as this, the form of massage therapy is often described as maintenance massage.
Maintenance massage has, in a way, two meanings. Runner’s World identifies the maintenance massage as a treatment that helps to ease tightness within the soft tissue during an event. It is dependent on the conditions that are present. could last from 30 minutes up to an hour typically during the training process for a large event, such as the marathon.
But the phrase “maintenance massage” is also used to describe regular sports massage sessions. If it is used in this context the message of maintenance may typically be more lengthy than their preor post-sports massage counterparts. They can also utilize more intense strokes to release the tension, with focus on the trigger points at which the stress could be emanating from the muscle, and is usually recommended at minimum every week for maximum efficacy.
To avoid confusion, it might be beneficial to use this Runner’s World definition as pit stop maintenance. This creates a vivid and clear picture, like that of the England team’s rush to recovery before extra time.
8. A sports massage can provide immense health and therapeutic benefits
Sports massages come with the added benefit of incorporating therapeutic elements that other forms of massage are known for. They aid in injury prevention and recovery, along for the well-being of the participant. It relieves symptoms of anxiety and stress.
One study even showed that a partial sports massage resulted in positive hemodynamic changes throughout the body, which included lower blood pressure as well as a diminished heart rate.
For tackling stress, a sports massage is effective because it promotes the release of certain neurotransmitters called endorphins which are produced by the pituitary gland as well as the hypothalamus — these endorphins are the body’s natural pain reliever.
Massage therapy, even as a stand-alone treatment , can help sufferers of musculoskeletal conditions through reducing pain and improving performance.
9. A massage for sports helps flush out toxins and improves blood and lymphatic circulation.
Massage therapy helps to rebalance the muscles and connective tissue. The techniques used help to eliminate toxins from the process. Two ways that these neuromuscular techniques perform their magic, and that is through applying pressure and encouraging circulation throughout the body.
by applying a mechanical pressure on the connective muscles and tissues. Toxins often accumulate in joints. When left untreated these toxins may build up and cause more serious injuries, and more often. The toxins get “flushed” when they are stimulated by applying a mechanical, technical pressure to muscles and connective tissues.
The mechanical pressure helps to improve the body’s circulation. This guarantees a steady the flow of blood throughout all organs however, it also helps to ensure an effective “venous return”. The venous return is the flow of the circulatory system back into the heart. It is this return that is vital for the elimination of the toxins.
The venous flow is what helps in recovery. DOMS that is caused by regular or excessive exercise is caused by lactic acid and lactic acid restricts blood and oxygen in contracting muscles, causing pain and muscle weakness. However, the massage for sports helps in supplying blood back to these muscles.
The compression techniques used in massage therapy for sports also work for stimulating lymphatic systems. One study discovered that “direct force” on a localised area of the body boosted “local micro-circulatory blood and lymph flow results”.
A lymphatic system that is stimulated will result in an increase in lymphatic drainage. A more stimulated lymphatic system not only works to improve healing time, but also help prevent conditions like lymphedema and oedema.
10. Massage therapy incorporates wisdom passed through time from the ancients.
Massage has been utilized by health professionals to treat illnesses and injury for hundreds of years. The earliest recorded examples being in Ancient China around 3000 – 2500 BC.
Massage therapy originated independently within the ancient kingdoms of Egypt, India, and Japan in one shape or form. Elements of the Egyptian massage, also known as the reflexology method, spread to Europe, and are still employed to this day.
The word “massage,” originated from the Greek word that means “to work with the hands for example, kneading dough”. Massage treatments has been practiced since Ancient Greece likely began around 800 BC. It was in the 5th century BC Hippocrates was the medical pioneer advised “friction” and its benefits to rub the body to treat physical injuries.
11. The practice of sports massage began with a huge successes
Massage therapy is a long-standing practice. However, the method and technique of sports massage therapy is only one hundred years old.
Sports massage therapy was refined in Finland during the first decade of the twentieth century, originating from the Swedish massage system, in the Finnish School of Massage.
in 1924 Paavo Nurmi, also known as the “Flying Finn” has won 5 gold medals in the Paris Olympics — which included the 5,000m event less than two hours after his 1,500m race and also setting record times. Nurmi’s dominance is yet to be surpassed. The thing that caused the world to sit up and take notice of sports massage was Nurmi’s incorporation of this early Finnish practice of sports massage into his routine of training.
In World War Two Jack Meagher is known as one of the “father of American sports massage” worked in the US army as a medical professional. He first came across the methods of massage therapy after an German POW gifted him a massage.
Meagher was unable to believe the “astounding” improvements made to his athleticism. He would later create the term “sports massage” and created Meagher Method. Meagher Method.
Meagher Method Meagher Method is a series of soft tissue techniques and applications that were created and based on Meagher’s knowledge of muscular kineticsas well as his understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the body.
You feel sore after massage? Good. Feeling sore after a workout? You might want to ask: is there somewhere I can get a sports massage near me?
Sports massage therapy has never been more sought-after by professionals, amateurs, and hobbyists alike. The long-running and prolific popularity is a testimony to its efficacy.
The pain and discomfort that comes with DOMS is a result of the micro trauma inflicted on the muscles and connective tissues during a workout and can result in inflammation. Preventing and treating DOMS is one of the main goals of massage therapy for athletes.
The practice of sports massage has been identified as the “targeted therapeutic treatment for the particular biomechanical and physical requirements of athletes” But that doesn’t mean sports massage therapy is limited to athletes or sport enthusiasts only.
Indeed, as is proven by research, sports massage therapy may be full of other advantages that people who are not sports enthusiasts may find appealing. It could be that they aren’t so active and are still carrying the aches and knots that come with an active and active past or those who walk regularly, or for those who are interested.
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