Sports massage is a type of massage that combines Swedish massage techniques with trigger point therapy techniques in order to stimulate circulation of blood and lymph fluids. The goal of Sports massage is to break down adhesions in the muscles caused by activity and to increase the range of motion.
There are basically three types of Sports massage because there are different reasons for getting different types of work done at different times:
*Pre-Event Sports Massage – this is a stimulating type of massage aimed at warming up and stretching muscles before they are used in order to prevent injuries and enhance performance and is done 15-45 minutes before the activity occurs.
*Post-Event Sports Massage – usually occurs within an hour or two of the physical activity and helps to normalize the body’s tissue by working lactic acid and other various by products of strenuous exertion from the tissue and lengthening tight muscles.
*Restorative & Rehabilitative Sports Massage: occurs as a supplement during training programs and can help athletes avoid common, general injuries such as delayed onset muscle soreness. This type of massage can also help athletes recuperate more quickly from training or injuries and help them to become more focused, therefore allowing them to train harder with less injury. The therapist generally focuses on a specific problem area and preventing or alleviating pain.
Who should get a Sports Massage?
An athlete is anyone who trains up to four hours or more a day, depending on their particular sport.
I have a lot of experience with many different types of athletes.
– I have worked on serious marathon runners, dedicated weekend runners, and high school and track athletes.
– I have worked with many football players, soccer players and even two rugby guys.
– I have worked with two Olympic “paddle” team contenders over the years. They have competed all over the world.
– I have worked on tennis players, golf fanatics and even a Professional Foosball Player.
– I have experience working with several professional baseball players and with professional athletic trainers.
– The most experience that I have with Sports Massage is with high school band members. Yes, Band is considered a sport! Anyone who has seen these kids working at a band camp in the 100 degree heat of summer while carrying their instruments all day knows that band members are athletes! My daughter marches with Atlanta CV and they are hard core athletes. Additionally, I have worked on a professional flute player that performs regularly with the Atlanta Symphony.
Truthfully, I think that anyone that does any type of physical activity can benefit from a Sports Massage. There are many people who are not considered typical “athletes” are physically active and in need of specialized massage. For example, people who are out of shape and are just getting back into a workout routine. Sports massage can be extremely beneficial in relieving their sore muscles, preventing injuries and helping them to stay on track with their workout plan.
Sports Massage is the application of massage techniques that combine anatomical and physiological knowledge with an understanding of strength training and conditioning.
Sports Massage enhances athletic performance and helps athletes to reach their highest potential by accelerating their body’s natural restorative processes.
Sports massage helps to reduce the chance of injury by identifying and eliminating conditions in the soft tissue that are at potential risk from training and performance activities. Sports Massage is typically used before, during and after athletic events. It helps to alleviate fatigue, relieves swelling, reduces muscle tension and promotes flexibility.
Sports Massage counteracts the effects of intense training like increased metabolic waste buildup, strains in muscles or connective tissue and inflammation. Even if an athlete is not involved in rigorous training they can push to the limit their muscle strength and endurance with activities in their everyday lives. When a muscle has been stressed to the point of fatigue it normally takes 48 to 72 hours for the muscle to adapt and recuperate. Sports Massage can reduce the recuperation time by as much as 50%.
No matter if a person is a professional athlete, an amateur enthusiast or a weekend warrior, there are different demands made on the athlete defined by each sport. Sports Massage addresses those specific concerns. It is aimed at helping to heal strained muscles and allowing the healthy ones to reach their peak performance while simultaneously minimizing the risk of injury.