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.
10. Improve Balance
People who receive regular sports massages tend to have better Balance.
For those of you who are athletic and active, massage therapy can improve your performance.
You can run farther, leap higher, swim deeper, walk farther, lift more weight, and even improve your golf swing if your muscles are in good shape.
You will gain from whatever sport or activity you choose.
11 . Maintain Healthy Joints
Joints go through a lot of stress and wear and tear. However, with proper maintenance through sports massages, you will decrease your chances of joint problems later in life.
12 . Prevent Injuries
As mentioned earlier, one significant benefit of regular sports massages is injury prevention due to stretching, strengthening muscles, and improving joint function.
Types of Sports Massage Techniques
It is possible to treat various injuries using sports massage techniques. Here are some of the most common methods:
Swedish Massage: This is the most common type of relaxing massage, and it uses long strokes and light pressure to relax the muscles. In general, it is used to relax.
Deep Tissue Massage: This type of massage uses deep pressure to target knots and other areas of muscle tension. It can help treat injuries such as chronic back pain or rotator cuff tears.
Trigger Point Massage: This type of massage focuses on specific areas of muscle tension known as trigger points. Trigger points are often responsible for referral pain when you feel pain in one area of your body, but the source of the pain is actually in another place. Trigger point massage can be beneficial for treating headaches or neck pain.
How Massage Guns Helpful for Sports Massage
A sports massage gun is a powered massager that uses a percussive mechanism to deliver rapid bursts of targeted pressure to specific body areas.
A massage therapist often uses it to treat injuries, relieve pain, and improve circulation.
The massage gun uses a motor to create a percussive force that strikes the body with rapid taps.
It is possible to adjust the pressure of the taps to target different depths of muscle tissue.
Massage guns offer various attachments that can target different areas of the body, such as the back, neck, shoulders, legs, and feet.
Best Massage Guns for Sports Massage
1. Theragun G3PRO: This is a high-end massage gun that offers a variety of features and attachments. It is an excellent choice for those looking for a professional-grade massage gun.
The Theragun power button also controls the speed and uses lights to indicate the speed level.
The problem with this design is that there’s no way of knowing when it’s time to recharge the massage gun.
The travel case it comes with is a soft pouch, making it easy to throw into a gym bag or purse while traveling.
2. Legiral Le3 Massage Gun: The Legiral Le3 is a budget-friendly massage gun that offers good value for the price. It comes with six attachments and three-speed settings, making it a versatile option for those looking for a budget-friendly massage gun.
This massage gun has six head attachments, 20-speed levels, and a 6-hour battery life.
3. Renpho Mini Massage Gun: This muscle massage gun is an excellent choice for those looking for a compact and portable massage gun. It is a perfect choice for those who want to be able to take their massage gun with them on the go.
4. Rebel Pro Massage Gun: This deep-tissue muscle massager is an excellent choice for those looking for a powerful and affordable massage gun. It offers a variety of attachments and features that make it a perfect choice for a wide range of users.
5. Lifepro Sonic Handheld Percussion Massage Gun: The Sonic handheld massager is a powerful yet economical choice for relieving tired, achy muscles. Additional features include eight massage heads, five intensity settings, and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery with a 6-hour battery life.
These massage guns offer a percussive massage treatment, combining traditional massage and vibration therapy elements.
Conclusion
Sports massage is a type of massage that uses specific techniques to help relieve pain, reduce swelling, and improve the range of motion in injured muscles.
There are many different types of sports massage techniques, and each has its own benefits.
If you are an athlete or someone who works out frequently, consider getting regular sports massages to improve your performance and reduce your risk of injuries.
