Sports therapy is a medical specialty that focuses on patient treatment, rehabilitation, and injury prevention.
In sports massage, athletes receive massages designed explicitly for them.
It is not only beneficial for athletes but can also be helpful for people who exercise regularly.
If you are an athlete or simply someone who works out frequently, chances are you have suffered from some sports injury.
Nowadays, a wide array of treatments are available to help you recover from these injuries, and one of the most popular treatments is sports massage.
Doing sports massage can prevent injuries from occurring in the first place.
Studies have shown that regular sports massage can increase flexibility and range of motion, as well as reduce the risk of developing overuse injuries.
In addition, sports massage can help improve your performance by reducing sore muscles and cramping during workouts.
Your body will benefit from sports massage in three different ways (coming up are three fancies “P” words):
- Physiological (basically the body’s internal systems – think heart rate and blood pressure)
- Psychological (your brain’s response)
- And the Physical reaction from our body (our muscles, tendons, and ligaments – the bits that hurt).
The Benefits of Sports Massage
Many benefits come with getting a sports massage, including reducing inflammation, improving range of motion, reducing recovery time, and more! Below is the list of benefits of sports massage:
1. Reducing Inflammation
Sports massage can help to reduce inflammation in the body by flushing out metabolic waste products that build up during exercise.
This type of massage can also help to release tension in the muscles, which can reduce the risk of injury.
2. Improving Range of Motion
Sports massage can help to improve the range of motion by lengthening the muscles and breaking down scar tissue.
This type of massage can also help increase blood flow to the muscles, improving flexibility and preventing cramping.
3. Reducing Recovery Time
Sports massage can help to reduce recovery time by flushing out lactic acid build-up in the muscles.
This type of massage can also help promote blood flow to the muscles, speeding up the repair process.
4. Improving Circulation
Sports massage can help to improve circulation by increasing blood flow to the muscles.
This type of massage can also help reduce congestion in the lymphatic system, improving immunity.
5. Reducing Pain
Sports massage can help to reduce pain by releasing endorphins that block pain signals from reaching the brain.
This type of massage can also help to increase blood flow to the area, which can speed up healing.
6. Relaxing Muscles
Sports massage can help to reduce muscle tension by loosening tight knots and breaking down adhesions that cause muscle pain and spasms.
This type of massage can also help increase blood flow to the area, improving muscle function.
7. Reduce Fatigue
Studies have shown that sports massages before physical activity increases power output and stamina while working out, thus reducing Fatigue.
8 . Relieve Muscle Soreness Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)
This a common problem among athletes and physically active individuals, but a good sports massage will relieve this stiffness and soreness.
9 . Stimulate Weak or Injured Muscles
A sports massage stimulates these fibers through light touching if a particular muscle group is weak or injured.