The practice of sports massage has been around for quite a while and has was a must for professional athletes. England football team fans will remember the urgent treatment that its players sought in the 2017 World Cup semi-final. In the tense break in extra time, the physiotherapists sought to limit muscle damage. England did not win that semi-final however, the advantages of massages for sport remain.
Today, Sports Massage treatment is becoming more sought-after than ever before, particularly among people who are not professionals.
Why are athletes and their wives so in love with Sports Massages? The reason is that they are effective. There are eleven reasons why you should consider a Sports Massage can change your life, within just 30 minutes.
1. It is a well-tested remedy for muscle soreness and injury prevention
The majority of people are sore after exercising. The muscle soreness typically manifests with a dull ache that begins a few hours after exercise and lasts for a few days. It is referred to as delayed onset muscles soreness (DOMS). The main reason for DOMS is believed to be an eccentric contraction where the muscle lengthens when it contracts. This can be seen in exercises like going downhill in a race, or lifting weights or lowering into the squat or push-up. The lower body, in particular is more likely to cause soreness than exercises for the upper body.
The soreness usually manifests within six to eight hours of exercise. It may peak from one to two full days following a workout then diminishing in the following 72 hours.
One Australian study conducted a study that compared two groups of males and women to determine whether sports massage therapy is efficient. There was a “control” group that didn’t receive any sports massage therapy, and a second group that received. Both groups performed “eccentric exercises” to stimulate DOMS. After three hours, the members of the other group received 10 minutes of sports massage. The study, which was released in the Journal of Athletic Training, discovered that muscle soreness was “significantly lower” in the massage group.
The conclusion is that sports massage therapy has helped ease soreness and discomfort up to 30.
Similar to this, this study from The Journal of Sports Sciences concluded that a 30-minute massage helped bodybuilders after exercise. In addition to helping bodybuilders show a faster recovery and improved their performance in subsequent workouts and allowed them to recover faster afterward.
This study, which was published in The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness discovered that sports massage therapy was beneficial to the healing process of soft tissues. The methods increased the healing capacity of the fibroblasts, or cells that are found in massaged tendon, which helped speed up the healing process of damaged soft tissues. (Fibroblasts are a kind of cells in the body which play an important part in the healing of connective tissue.)
2. The way that sports massage therapists employ specific techniques that are unique to massage therapy for sports
The most frequently asked question is what is a sports massage, exactly?
Massage therapy for sports is a contemporary and sophisticated form that uses massage therapies. This is because it employs many of the same techniques that are used in other types of massage, and many more. The same techniques are used in effleurage, and petrissage, which most people would recognize (even even if they’re not familiar to the term) for example, the circular motions of stroking, as well as squeezes that are made using the palm of your hand.
However, this will be where all the similarities stop. Here are the details that make massage therapy for sports really unique:
In contrast to other types that massage is sports. It employs the concept of’myofascial’. This technique can be used to detect discomfort in the body, more specifically, it can be used to determine if pain could be emanating from a specific location in the muscle affected.
Myofasical release is among numerous neuromuscular techniques that massage therapists employ to help recover. To enable neuromuscular techniques (sometimes called “neuromuscular treatment”) to aid in healing from chronic and acute pain , specific methods are needed. This includes stretching and flexing the muscles affected, as well as self-treatment at home. In contrast to regular massages, sports massage therapy demands “homework” -and commitment in order to reap the maximum benefits that can be realized, which includes regular stretching exercises as well as the use of foam rollers.
The effects of myofascial release can be felt in the muscles. This results in less pressure on joints and less discomfort in the area of treatment. A sports massage like other massages, not only treat muscles, but also the rest of the soft tissues like ligaments, tendons, as well as the fascia. (The fascia is thin, fibrous tissue that covers the muscles.) It is directly connected to the muscle that is overworked due to strenuous training, sports.
3. Massage for sports is different from. deep tissue: What the sports massage is more specific than a deep tissue massage for the treatment of injuries resulting from sports.
It’s not unusual to hear people ask what the distinction is between sports massage therapy and a deeper tissue massage.
As stated above there are commonalities across all of the massage treatments that could cause confusion.
The key is in the title the word “deep tissue massage”: it concentrates on the layers of tissue over the muscle, but it is not focused on the muscle itself. This kind of pressure can be extremely effective to eliminate any newly-formed knots or free of “new” tension that has developed in the region. For “newer” and comparatively minor, pains and aches, deep massages of the tissues are at their most efficient.
Massage therapy for sports is the most efficient in treating aches knots, pains and knots that have accumulated over time. The pains that are experienced tend to be “older” as well as more severe than the ones that deep tissue massage addresses.
Sports massage as well as the deep tissue massage share similar techniques and objectives, however the sport massage tends to be more “long long-term”. Deep tissue massages are excellent in helping to recover and relieving pains and aches within the body, like low back pain or repetitive strain injuries, however for chronic injuries and soreness that are due to intense training or an physically active life style, many people prefer massage therapy for sports.
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4. Therapists who work with sports massages have to have a thorough understanding of how the body works human body to allow a sports massage to be effective.
The most frequently asked query is: What exactly does the job of a massage therapist?
The distinctive elements that distinguish the sports massage treatment from all other massage techniques have been discussed previously. Massage therapy for sports is a refined type of massage. It is a method that has the sole aim of improving athletic performance as well as increasing recovery speed (as as reducing the chance of sustaining injuries).
Massage therapists for sports are there to apply the unique techniques to sports massage. This requires specialized knowledge that masseuses or masseuses might not possess.
They are beneficial because the therapists who perform them must have an in-depth knowledge about the structure of our body.
An knowledge of the body is essential for the detection of any abnormalities or issues that can lead to injuries if not treated. The manipulation of muscles is also a delicate technique.
There’s an important distinction between treating an issue and not making it more difficult, which is the reason the highest level of anatomical understanding is essential.
5. A sports massage uses “different strokes” which make use of the “healing force of the touch”
One of the most frequently requested is the distinction is between deep tissue massage and the sports massage. It’s not as common to have a sports massage be compared with the Swedish massage, however in reality, the sports massage may be more like the Swedish massage, compared to the deeper tissue.
A sports massage is one techniques used in the Swedish massage.
Based on Harvard Medical School, the Swedish massage is a sequence of long, gentle strokes to soothe aching muscles, relax the connective tissue and increase circulation. The Swedish massage is called “ideal for those who are new to massage and looking for a simple, restorative massage”.
The sports massage employs the same glide strokes, however with the focus on the healing process, recovering from injuries from sports, and also preventing them from occurring.
What sports massage is can be described as a variation of the relaxing strokes of Swedish massage to provide an individualized treatment.
The reason why a sports massage is frequently compared to a deep tissue massage — not the Swedish massage could be due to the fact that both the deep tissue massage as well as the sports massage are often connected to “good pain” or mild discomfort. This is due to the fact that to allow a sports massage to be effective it requires a wider movement range is usually required.
6. A massage for athletes prior to or after exercise has significant benefits for performance
It is normal for sports enthusiasts or athletes to get an “pre-event” massage. They are, in essence, massages to warm up that could be as short as 15 minutes up to an hour, and are typically targeted to body parts which are to be worked on. Certain pre-event sports massages are performed within two hours of the event.
The benefits of a pre-event massage don’t have to occur prior to the event, or during the actual event. It could be a useful “warm up” starting as early as seven days before the event.
In a pre-event massage, the methods are lowered to improve flexibility of joints and let the stretching of the soft tissues. It’s designed to help with in focusing and relaxation, and it is similar to its cousin that is the Swedish massage.
This is also the place where the distinctions in the massage for deep tissues and the sports massage are clearer: a deeper tissue massage isn’t recommended prior to a workout because the intense pressures applied to the muscles send the body into a recovery mode, not the state of being ready.
Massages prior to events are usually accompanied by post-event sports massages. Veterans are able to jump into these sessions after just a couple of hours. Similar to their pre-event counterparts, massages that focus on recovery can be beneficial for recovering following an event.
7. Massage for maintenance: therapy during training
In the flimsy 2017 World Cup semi-final, after an entire 90 minutes of play , and prior to additional time was up was scheduled, the England team’s coaching staff scrambled to administer sports massage therapy on their players. When exercising the type of massage therapy is commonly called maintenance massage.
Maintenance massage can have, at times it has two meanings. Runner’s World identifies the maintenance massage as a form of treatment that helps to ease tension in the soft tissue during an event. Based on the situation, this could last from 30 minutes to 1 hour typically during the preparation for a major race, like the marathon.
However, the phrase “maintenance massage” could also be used to describe regular sports massage sessions. In this way the message for maintenance can typically be more lengthy than their preor post-sports massage counterparts. They may also employ more intense strokes to relieve the tension, with more emphasis placed on trigger points, where the tension could be emanating from the muscle. They they are usually recommended at least every week to ensure maximum efficiency.
To avoid confusion, it could be beneficial to refer to this Runner’s World definition as pit stop maintenance. This will create a vivid and clear picture, like that of the England team’s rush to recover prior to extra time.
8. A massage for sports has immense therapeutic and health benefits
Massages for sports have the added benefit of incorporating the therapeutic aspects that other types of massage are renowned for. They aid in injury prevention and healing, as well as to improve the health of the participant. It helps alleviate the effects of anxiety and stress.
A study found that a massage for a short period led to positive changes in hemodynamics within the body, such as lower blood pressure as well as a lower heart rate.
In terms of reducing stress, a sports massage can be effective since it stimulates the release of certain neurotransmitters known as endorphins that are released from the pituitary gland as well as the hypothalamus. These endorphins are your body’s natural pain relief.
Massage therapy, even as a stand-alone therapy, can aid those suffering from musculoskeletal issues by relieving pain and improving performance.
9. A massage for sports helps flush out toxins and increases blood flow and lymphatic circulation.
Massage therapy helps to rebalance the connective tissue and muscles. However, the techniques employed help to eliminate toxins from the process. Two ways that these techniques for neuromuscular therapy work their magic. One is through creating pressure and promoting circulation throughout the body.
Applying a scientific, mechanical pressure to the connective muscle and tissue. Toxins are likely to accumulate in joints. If left untreated the toxins 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 tissue.
The mechanical pressure aids in improving the body’s circulation. This helps ensure a healthy circulation of blood to every tissue, as well as it helps to ensure the “venous return”. The vein return is the return from the blood returning to the heart. This venous return that is vital to eliminate toxic substances.
The venous flow is also the reason for recovery. DOMS caused by infrequent or intense exercise is caused by lactic acid and lactic acid reduces oxygen and blood flow in the contracting muscles, causing discomfort and muscle weakness. However, the massage for sports helps to replenish blood flow to the muscles.
The techniques for compression used in sports massage therapy also help in stimulating the lymphatic system. A study showed the fact that “direct physical pressure” on a specific part of the body increased “local micro-circulatory blood flow and lymph flow outcomes”.
A boosted lymph flow means more lymphatic drainage. A lymphatic system that is stimulated does not just help improve the speed of recovery, but also help prevent conditions like lymphedema and oedema.
10. The practice of massage therapy is based on wisdom passed through the ages
Massage has been utilized by health professionals to treat injuries and illnesses for many thousands of years. The first recorded instances of massage were found in Ancient China around 3000 – 2500 BC.
Massage therapy was developed independently from the ancient kingdoms of Egypt, India, and Japan in one shape or form. The elements of Egyptian massage, also known as the reflexology technique, were introduced into Europe and continue to be in use to this day.
The word “massage” is originated from the Greek word that means “to use hands to work for example, making dough”. Massage therapy is a common practice in Ancient Greece likely began about 800 BC. The fifth century BC Hippocrates was the pioneer of modern medicine recommended “friction” and the benefits of rubbing your body as a means to treat physical injuries.
11. Massage therapy for sports is a result of a phenomenal popularity and
Massage therapy is a long-standing practice. However, the art and practice of massage therapy for sports is only an era.
The practice of sports massage was slowly developed in Finland during the first decade of the twentieth century. It was derived from the Swedish massage systemthat was developed in the Finnish School of Massage.
The year 1924 was the time Paavo Nurmi was the “Flying Finn” was awarded 5 gold medals in the Paris Olympics — which included the 5,000m race just two hours after running a 1,500m race and setting records in the process. Nurmi’s dominance has yet to be matched. The thing that has made the world sit up and pay attention to sports massage was Nurmi’s incorporation of this ancient Finnish practice of massage therapy in his regimen of training.
In World War Two Jack Meagher was known as the “father of American sports massage” was a part of the US army as a medical professional. He first came across the methods of sports massage after an German POW offered him a massage.
Meagher was unable to believe in the “astounding” improvements in his athleticism. He went on to invent the term “sports massage” and developed his own method known as the Meagher Method.
Meagher Method Meagher Method is a series of soft tissue techniques and applications that were created and built on the knowledge of Meagher about muscle kinetics and anatomical and physiological aspects of the human body.
Are you feeling a little sore after a massage? Good. Are you feeling sore after your workout? Ask yourself: Is there a place where I can receive an exercise massage close to me?
Massage therapy for sports has never been more sought-after by professionals as well as amateurs and hobbyists alike. The long-running and prolific results are a testament to its efficacy.
The discomfort associated with DOMS is the result of the micro-trauma inflicted to the muscles and connective tissues following a workout that can cause inflammation. Treatment and prevention of DOMS is among the main goals of massage therapy for athletes.
Massage therapy for sports has been defined as the “targeted therapeutic treatment to meet the specific biomechanical and physical requirements of athletes” However, this doesn’t mean that sports massage therapy is limited to sports enthusiasts or athletes only.
As is proven that sports massage therapy can be the source of many other advantages that people who are not sports enthusiasts might find attractive. It could be that they have stopped exercising and are still carrying the aches and knots of an active past or those who exercise regularly, or anyone who is interested.
