Massage has been used for hundreds of years to promote health and well-being. Some think of it as an alternative medicine, although it’s mainly thought of as something to help us relax. However, massage has many more benefits than you probably realise, especially regarding the benefits of sports massage and athletes.
Sports massage can make athletes more versatile and better at their jobs. Read on for a deeper look at these benefits.
Massage affects the cardiovascular system. It helps dilate blood vessels, encouraging them to work more efficiently. Fresh oxygen and nutrients are delivered to the tissue, and the removal of waste products and toxins is encouraged.
Your heart rate also lowers right after receiving a massage. Massage is more commonly known to benefit the muscular system, helping to ease tension, reduce soreness, and speed recovery.
Not only does massage feel good, but it is also suitable for your muscles, helping to build and repair them. But specifically, what are the benefits of getting a weekly sports massage?
Benefits of sports massage for performance enhancement
Focusing on the massage aspect of the ritual, the scientific manipulation of soft tissues of the body is known to enhance performance. The systematic kneading and rubbing concentrate on specific muscles for a particular sport, which is one way of priming the muscles for optimal function.
But what are the essential benefits athletes get from sports massage? Research reveals that as far as performance goes, it can increase the joints’ range of motion, making movement less stressful and easier to execute. Plus, it can promote better flexibility to prevent injuries while performing extremely challenging moves.
Likewise, sports massage is known to decrease recovery time between workouts because it serves as a cure; athletes can have back-to-back games yet deliver the same quality performance because massage promotes quick recovery for the muscles and soft tissues.
Sports massage increases flexibility.
London fitness experts claim that many athletes have a similar ritual (with the addition of certain superstitious practices they believe will help them with their game) because it is a great way to prepare the body to increase flexibility.
For an athlete to work to their full potential, they need to be very flexible. It doesn’t matter which sport the athlete is involved in; the more flexibility they have, the more significant their advantage over their competitors will be. Since massage therapy stretches the muscle fibres, flexibility is promoted and easily maintained with regular sports massage.
Massage improves blood circulation and releases toxins.
Blood circulation is essential for many reasons, but when it comes to sports, it means an athlete can breathe much more straightforwardly and move better. Performance levels will soar thanks to the improved blood flow. Regarding overall health, sports massage can aid in removing toxins in the body. Most massages do this, but a specific technique is used in this type of massage that can help people void more easily and regularly. Regular bowel movement can be a problem for some athletes (and other people) who tend to have erratic schedules, and colon health may be compromised because of this.
However, expert massage can help address the problem. Lastly, people who get this systematic massage are less prone to experiencing muscle spasms or suffering from excruciating cramps that can restrict movement and cause pain for some time.
In conclusion, sports massage can help with more energy, better endurance, quick muscle recovery, improved movements, and overall better bodily function. Scientific research and observations have proven these benefits of sports massage. The only determined side effects of getting this massage are soreness of the muscles after the session and some sleepiness because of how relaxed the body tends to become. Still, it yields positive results that benefit those who receive it.
Sports massage for pain relief
Think about it; if an athlete is in pain due to an injury, they can’t do their best. With regular sports massage, muscle aches and pains can improve, and the athlete can do a much better job.
A deeper, better quality sleep
Sports Massage is a tremendous help when it comes to sleeping. Sometimes, it doesn’t if you have hours and hours of sleep; if the sleep you get isn’t quality, then you won’t be treated. Any athlete can perform at a superior level with a deep, quality sleep.
Increased relaxation levels and Less Stress
Many athletes find it a real struggle to relax and get some downtime, and stress significantly affects their health. Massages improve sports performance and everyday life with increased relaxation and less stress. Also, when a person gets a sports massage, their body releases endorphins, which help to relieve pain and make them happier.
Sports massage helps DOMS prevention.
Have you ever experienced delayed-onset muscle soreness, otherwise known as DOMS? It isn’t sports massage that can prevent muscle fatigue. It encourages blood and lymph flow throughout the body, preventing muscle fatigue.
You may have noticed that psychological effects were mentioned, too. Well, athleticism doesn’t depend on physical performance; you must be tactical and focused. To complete something like a race or bike ride to your full potential, you need to be stress-free, relaxed, and happy. Massage helps with all of those things!
If you think sports massage is expensive…you never had a good one
Must it be a sports massage?
There are different kinds of massage, from sports to aromatherapy. So, does an athlete have to get a sports massage like those offered by Massaggi, or can they pick and choose? You’ll do better as an athlete with a deep tissue or sports massage than a soft, gentle aromatherapy massage. However, a sports/deep tissue massage isn’t comfortable.
Depending on your sport, your massage is often fast and includes stretching and similar approaches. It can be tailored to suit you, whether you’re treating yourself before or after your performance. A sports massage is designed to undo any knots and reduce tension, so you shouldn’t go wrong during this massage.
When should you book your sports massage?
A massage now and again might be a nice treat, but it won’t be as contrived as a regular massage program. Just like exercising or practising your sport, you’ll be able to achieve excellent results consistently. The more regularly you’re, the more you’ll see you listed in this post!
It’s preventIt’smaintenance, in a way. Book your massage slots at least every other week to see excellent performance, physique, and well-being results.
If you want to book a massage before a particular event, you should do it about 3-5 days before the event. If you can schedule the massage on a rest day, that’s even.
Book a massage after an event; wait for 3-5 days, as this means any lingering soreness will hopefully ease off.
This treatment can benefit pros and amateurs, especially those looking to improve body conditioning and performance. You might need to sort out your finances to support your regular massage program, but it’ll be it.
Remember to set goals and drink plenty of water to support your performance and massage program further. At least 2 litres per day is recommended, along with another litre for every hour of strenuous exercise performed afterwards.
The best way to find a fantastic therapist is to ensure they’re red and experienced. Ask other people involved in your sport for recommendations. Sports massages should be considered an essential part of your training regime; even non-athletes can benefit from this treatment. Book your sports massage now to become a better athlete or person overall!
5 Benefits Of Sports Massage Therapy From Athletes
When you strive to be the best, your body has to collaborate and be on the same wavelength with your dreams.
However, because of the world we have created for ourselves, such as the chairs we sit on, the shoes we wear, and the desks we work at, our bodies suffer and lose the capacity to go beyond their limits. And if we attempt to push them, we break them, sometimes literally. Then it’s GAME. Hit’ser, there are ways we can help our bodies become strong, comfortable, and ready to push the boundaries of human potential.
Do my mother’s mother?
I’ve been training and competing since the age of 8 (now I’m 28), but until last year, I never had a sports massage (do my mother’s massages?).
Last year, I finally understood why my performance slowly dropped in the past five years. I kept getting injured more often and for more extended periods, and my body was becoming challenging to manage at a high level of performance.
Based on my experience, training hard and pushing boundaries can only be achieved if all elements of your body flawlessly connect and work together.
What are the benefits of sports massage for Athletes
1. Better and more fluid movement
In almost any sport, how fluid your body moves is critical. If stiff, movement will be slow, difficult, painful, and unnatural, with low performance. Sports massage techniques give the body more freedom of movement with less risk of sports injuries. Sounds good, right? It improves balance, flexibility, mobility, speed, and strength by releasing the tension in your body daily and during every training session. This is freedom of movement.
2. Increased endurance
Endurance is not only from a cardiovascular point of view; your joints have to hold when you run through rivers and lakes, jump and land on and off high platforms, jump in and out of ditches, and so on. No matter how much you train your lungs, if your ankles give up in the middle of the race or tournament, you either need to stop or continue and risk a long-term injury and then you can no longer compete.
Joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscle fibres must be prepared for impact and withstand hours of pressure.
Sports remedial massage therapy gives your body a strong foundation for movement at lower risks.
3. Faster recovery from sports injuries
In 20 years of competitive sports, I have had my share of injuries, and it was not until my first sports massage session that I noticed my old sports injuries starting to back up and new ones healing faster. With sports massage, I keep injuries in check and slowly build my body to function faster, stronger, and more intelligently.
4. Recovery from training sessions
Someone once told me that fitness is not about how well you perform an exercise but how well and fast you recover from/after it.
Our bodies require rest to recover. Resting means relaxing the body and allowing it to heal. However, if our bodies are tensed and tight, recovery will be much slower. So, one of the many benefits of sports massage therapy (reducing stress) is that it releases tension and pressure around the body, muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments. Everywhere, we need to recover for the next session.
5. Benefits of sports massage for better sleep
In my opinion, this is an essential and often overlooked element: sleep, but how many of us have a good sleep to wake up refreshed and ready to start the day immediately? Not many. Sleeping is the only time when our bodies naturally heal. Sports massage gave me just this. With a more relaxed body, my mind could relax as well; I could let go of physical and mental stress and give my body the chance to heal. I sleep better and wake up with more energy, ready to start my day.
A complete athlete is not the one who trains hard all the time, pushing herself until her body breaks down. A complete athlete acknowledges, manages, and uses her body most efficiently. A top athlete Trains Hard but also Trains Smart.
London health coach striving for athletic perfection.
Everyone has specific motivation triggers. I have always strived for perfection. Knowing I will never reach it, not even knowing what perfection is, makes me push harder and harder. Sometimes, I go too far, and my body “shouts” at “e—for “, ex “simple,” weakened immune system or an injury. Then, I knew that I had gone a little bit too far. But it’s all a little curve; we all go through it. So, I want now to give you an idea of my schedule.
I am a coach; I coach women outdoors, and I focus on mental well-being. I teach top athletes Trains Hard but also Trains Smart, which is based on Six Essential Principles:
- Earthing
- Zanshin or mindfulness
- Natural movement
- Nutrition
- Personal development
- Habits transformation
And through it, I help professional women let go of stress and overcome depression and anxiety.
I am also a competitive athlete. I hold National Titles and a second-world ranking in karate shotokan. Today, I compete for England at the national and international levels. It’s demanding, symbolic, and, most of all, mental.
In addition, I have a passion for Obstacle Course Races. When I have a strong passion for something, I want to be better and better at it, even the best. So, my goal this year is to be part of the Wild Forest Gym Elite OCR TEAM.
Of course, I am an entrepreneur, pushing boundaries in directions and on paths I never thought possible. Actually, I never knew those paths existed for me to take.
I push those boundaries, but I don’t do it don’t. I wrote my business and life coach, Amanda Watts, founder of Clients in Abundance and Awaken Your Magic. She looks after me and ensures I am always on the right path, no matter what.
Physical benefits of sports massage help professional athletes
What does my life look like… Well, it’s boring, it’s its pros and effective. I get a lot done fast.
So here is how a few of my days look. It should give you an idea of the physical stress and mental pressure I experience and why the physical benefits of sports massage therapy are one of the best ways to cope with them.
- On Monday, I coach two clients, one at 7 am and another at 11 am (that’s because of travel between locations). When I coach my clients, I do at least 50% of the sessions with them unless I have a terrible injury. Then, if the two were not intense, I would do my workout. By the time I get home, it’s past 3. it’s 3 pm, tit’s pm; I am working on my business.
- Tuesday is one of the most magical and most difficult days. That’s because I need 4:3 to go training with my OCR coach. I get back home at 10 am. At that point, I need to sleep, so I sleep 1-2 hours max. This is the most challenging day because from noon until 10 pm, I sit all day working on my business.
- Friday morning, I train myself outdoors. Then, I do business development for about 8 hours, followed by a nap and a 2h30 min Karate Training session. My Sensei has no hesitation in pairing me with all the big, bulky guys in the Dojo for free sparring. Luckily, my body has adapted so well over the 20 years of sports that although my body hurts, I have no visible bruises.
- Saturday is a long coaching day. My training is incorporated within those sessions, where I look at fine-tuning techniques and movement.
- Sunday is again a 2.5-hour Karate Day, including business and personal development.
Sports massage is usually squeezed somewhere in the week, along with yoga, another karate session, and other additional but critical aspects of being an athlete. But my week is not the same all the time. The days I mentioned are probably the only ones that stay the same, more or less, from week to week.
All in all, I believe that if I did not have the outdoors, I would not be able to cope with everything as well as I do. Sports massage techniques give my body the extra support to keep going and prevent sports injuries.
