There are numerous benefits & effects of sports massage.
Sports massage was originally developed to serve athletes as a way to prevent and relieve injuries, but both athletes and non-athletes can gain physiological and psychological benefits from receiving sports massage therapy.
Sports massage should play an important part in the life of any sports participant from beginners to professionals, whether they are injured or not. Massage is hugely beneficial on physical, physiological and psychological levels.
Sports massage can help maintain your condition, prevent injuries, loss of mobility, and restore mobility to injured muscle tissue or joints: boost your performance and extend the overall life of your sporting career.
Physical effects of massage
Break down scar tissue – Scar tissue is the result of previous injuries or trauma and can effect muscle, tendons and ligaments. This can lead to inflexible tissues that are prone to injury and pain.
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness Prevention – Sports massage therapy can prevent or relieve delayed onset muscle soreness which typically begins to develop 12 to 24 hours after the exercise has been performed. DOMS may produce the greatest pain between 24 and 72 hours after the exercise has been performed. Sports massage therapy prevents delayed onset muscle soreness by encouraging blood and lymph flow throughout the body, preventing muscle fatigue.
Improves tissue elasticity – Hard training can make tissues firm and inflexible. This is one reason why hard training may not result in dynamic improvements. Massage helps reverse this by stretching the tissues.
Increases tissue permeability – Deep massage causes the pores in tissue membranes to open, enabling fluids and nutrients to pass through. This helps remove waste products such as lactic acid and encourage the muscles to uptake oxygen and nutrients more efficiently which boosts your post-exercise recovery.
Opens micro-circulation – Massage increases blood flow to tissues, but so does exercise. However, massage dilates and stretches your blood vessels enabling nutrients to pass through more easily.
Stretches – Massage can stretch tissues that could not be stretched in the usual methods. Bundles of muscle fibres are stretched lengthwise as well as sideways. Massage can also stretch the sheath or fascia that surrounds the muscle, releasing any tension or pressure build up.
Physiological effects of sports massage
Stress and Pain Reduction – Sports massage therapy can help a person manage stress. When a person receives a sports massage, their body releases neurotransmitters called endorphins which act as the body’s natural pain reliever. Endorphins that are released due to receiving a sports massage help to decrease anxiety, provide pain relief, improve mood and enhance a person’s state of well-being.
Would you like to book a sports massage in Truro?
I am based at:
The Old Bakery Studios (just past Radio Cornwall)
Blewett’s Wharf
Truro.
To book your appointment please CLICK HERE
