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Sports Massage - What is it? by Don Gillmore, Licensed Massage Therapist Sports massage is a form of massage which utilizes specific strokes and stretches to help obtain maximum performance and physical conditioning with less chance
of injury or pain. It helps to obtain maximum conditioning by increasing power, endurance and flexibility both before and after an event or work out. Performance INCREASES OF 20% ARE COMMON
as a result of massage sessions.Who Can Benefit? ANYONE WHO WORKS OUT. Whether you are just starting a work out program or are in training for an event, you will benefit. Swimmers, weight lifters,
runners, golfers, ball players, skaters, dancers, tennis players, musicians and boxers, as well as weekend athletes, have benefited from sports massage. What are the Common Causes of Sports Injuries?
Injuries are commonly experienced when someone has just started training, overstrains, fails to sufficiently warm-up, receives trauma or has muscular imbalances, poor flexibility, mineral deficiencies or inadequate endurance.
How Can Sports Massage Help in My Rehabilitation? Sports massage can:
• accelerate the healing process
• increase range of motion
• reduce swelling, bruising, pain and
adhesions 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 a lack of exercise during
inactivity while recovering from injury. Sports massage is also used to relieve muscular spasms and fatigue-related injuries. Why is Sports Massage Recommended Overall?
Sports massage is more than just
a reward at the end of a work out. It is a vital tool for keeping athletes primed for top performance and can lengthen their careers. Most important, UNRELAXED MUSCLES ARE UNPRODUCTIVE MUSCLES!
Recognized as an important part of a regular maintenance program, sports massage is widely used by individuals, teams and clubs. How is Sports Massage Administered?
Sports massage should be a regular
part of every athlete's training program. Athletes have different massage needs at different times. There are three basic categories:
Training:
Throughout training and rigorous regular athletic activity, massage helps to prevent injuries. Areas of muscular stress can result from repetitive or stressful motion and are typically precursors to injury. Sports massage assists in relieving muscle stress and preventing injuries, enabling harder and more consistent training.
Pre-Event: A quick treatment which boosts circulation and flexibility. It leaves muscles relaxed and ready for action. Pre-event massage can help prevent muscle and tendon injuries and improve performance.
Post-Event:
After an event or rigorous training, post-event massage increases circulation to quicken the removal of fatigue toxins, relieve muscle spasms, and prevent soreness. Post-event massage is used to assist athletes in recovery and in regaining their pre-event condition by relaxing tight, fatigued muscles, tendons and ligaments.
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