Modern science and professional trainers acknowledge the overwhelming benefits of sports massage treatments. Both experienced and amateur athletes consider it an integral part of their sports lives. They believe it is equally crucial to their training and diet. Many even claim it can give them an edge over their competitors.
How Does Sports Massage Help & What’s the best part of a sports massage?
Sports massage can be very beneficial to ordinary folks as well, not just athletes. You don’t even need to work out to enjoy the benefits of one. And yes, that is also backed by real-life science. But before we go into the wonders of sports massage, we must demystify some common misconceptions and myths about it. The following section will debunk the most important ones.
Common myths and misconceptions about sports massage
Sports massage doesn’t work!
This is wild: The fact that there are those wondering whether it works or not is ridiculous. But in the internet age, almost everything is questioned by someone. But let’s put this question to rest with some hard-core facts:
- The massage industry is worth £16 billion and keeps on growing.
- Pro athletes pay top dollar to work with renowned sports massage experts.
- Universities and companies invest hundreds of millions in sports medicine research.
- Sports massage has been the primary interest of hundreds, if not thousands, of studies, which have been conducted by some of the most renowned universities (Harvard, Stanford, Yale, etc.). The effectiveness of sports massage has been confirmed in each one.
- Sports massage therapists are an integral part of almost every sports club where the athletes are required to maintain good physical shape. The best and biggest clubs even have entire massage departments.
- Many athletes accredit great sports massage for much of their success and speedy injury recovery.
So, that’s one final big YES: sports massage works!
Sports massage hurts.
No, sports massage doesn’t hurt like hell. There is some moderate pressure, but that’s it. Nothing that the average person can’t handle. The pressure can sometimes be a bit harder, but you must tell your therapist if it hurts.
Sports massage is a man’s thing.
Again, no. Sports massage is equally beneficial for men and women. No studies have proven the opposite, that it is more helpful to males than females.
Anyone can do it
It’s a big no here as well. One must pass official training and get a license to work as a massage therapist. An untrained and unlicensed therapist cannot only be ineffective but can make things even worse, especially if you are there to speed up the recovery of a damaged muscle.
Sports massage is the same as deep muscle massage.
They are not. In deep muscle massage, the deeper tissue within the body is pressured. The muscles lie on top of the deeper tissue, which is being manipulated. On the other hand, sports massage is about pressuring the actual muscle (the soft tissue). For an untrained eye, there is no telling whether a massage therapist does one or the other. However, for a trained therapist, there is a difference as big as night and day.
Sports massage and massage, in general, is a relatively new thing.
Not reasonably, as massage therapy is described in Chinese books dating from 2589 BC. Since then, massage therapy has been used in ancient Rome, Babylon, Greece, India, and Assyria. Of course, there has been massive progress since then. But, by no account, it is a new thing. The old civilizations might not have the level of expertise now available, but they were no strangers to the basic mechanisms of massage therapy.
Sports massage is for young people only.
This is another misconception that is not true. Massage can benefit men and women of any age, from just a few to a hundred years old. Young or old, a muscle can benefit from a remedial massage—however, those sixteen or younger need permission from a parent.
At the same time, massage therapists prepare special programs for veteran athletes. With the right program and the help of an experienced massage therapist, you can optimize your muscular function and continue to be fit over the long term. Age is a number, and sports massage can help you discover how far your mind and body can go.
Is a replacement for a warm-up
It’s not true. In no situation is a pre-event sports massage a replacement for a warm-up, and it cannot be. No one knows when this myth started or who started it. It is more like a rumour that doesn’t seem to stop. But it is complimentary. A pre-event workout followed by a proper warm-up does your muscles a great favour. So, by any means, do it every time possible.
Myths aside, here is what having a sports massage is all about.
How does sports massage help, and why do you need it?
Sports massage combines several techniques to manipulate particular muscle groups related to your activities. It includes a variety of movements and specially tailored techniques, such as Swedish-style massage, petrissage, tapotement, friction, percussion, and trigger points.
The purpose is to help the athlete achieve excellent physical condition and maximum performance, quicker recovery, pain reduction, and significantly reduced injury chances. And if that is not enough, studies show that sports massage also helps reduce stress.
How does sports massage help?
The list of benefits from sports massage is based on observation and experience and is lengthy. The most notable advantages are:
- Improved flexibility
- Elimination of lactic acid
- Reduced muscle tension
- Lower chances of injury
- Increased joint ROM (range of motions)
- Increased blood flow
- Improved sense of well-being
- Muscle spasms are decreased
- Lowered Recover time
- Quality Sleeping
The only possible side effects are stiffness or tenderness for a day or two afterwards.
Types of sports massages
There are four types of sports massage:
- One type is given before training or a sports event. The idea is to either stimulate a muscle or help a nervous athlete to calm down. This type of massage supplements the warm-up so that the athlete is ready to perform at the highest level.
- The other type is given within four hours after a sports event or training. The idea is to relax the muscles. That way, the athlete can avoid soreness, and the recovery time is much shorter.
- This one is given between two training sessions. It is shown in case of a more minor injury or inflammation so that it doesn’t escalate into a more severe injury.
- Rehabilitative sports massage helps athletes recover from injuries faster and with fewer complications. It allows the muscle to return its flexibility to normal, decreases inflammation, and breaks down scar tissues. It also minimizes the chances of getting injured again.
Common injuries treated with muscular massage
Different sports can put different strains on other muscles. If you feel problems, from joint stiffness to pain, it is best to check it out first so that minor issues can be treated early and significant complications avoided.
Sports remedial massage is often beneficial in dealing with injuries before they escalate into a more significant problem. Some of the most common injuries treated with remedial massage are back/spine injuries, ankle sprains, foot injuries, knee injuries (meniscus tears, ligaments, cartilage, etc.), joint inflammations, wrist injuries, elbows, etc.
Why does sports massage feel good on sore muscles?
Sports massage helps the muscle tissue relax, which translates into fewer spasms and painful contractions. It also lowers nerve compression. When muscles are contracted, they often press the nerves that surround them. A relaxed muscle, achieved by massage, doesn’t compress the nerves around it. That’s why sore muscles feel much better after massage treatment.
How to make the most of a sports remedial massage?
You need to incorporate the massage into your training plan for best results. Professional athletes are doing that, and there is no reason other people can’t do it. A physical therapist who knows your overall condition and how you train and is familiar with your whole lifestyle can help you incorporate it into your training plan. That doesn’t mean you must do it as often as professionals do. But just enough to give the muscles the right amount of relief.
Another thing to consider is sticking to one massage therapist.
That is, you find one with the right moves, and you feel it is genuinely helping your muscles. Massage therapists can be like your barber or your family physician. Forming a working relationship can be very beneficial to you. Someone who knows the injuries you are prone to, your lifestyle, your exercise regime, and your diet can give a much better message than someone who sees you for the first time, regardless of his qualities.
When to avoid?
Sports therapy is literary for everyone and can benefit anyone regardless of gender or age. However, there are some conditions when it is not recommended:
- When there is an open wound
- Ruptures in muscles
- Pursuits or tumours
- Artificial blood vessels
Those affected by one or more of the conditions mentioned above need to avoid sports therapy or, at the very least, inform the massage therapist.
Where to find great sports massage treatments?
Searching for sports remedial massage is not an issue; finding a great therapist is another matter. Many therapists and centres promise a great experience at affordable rates. However, not all can live up to their advertisements.
At the same time, there are ways to ensure you end up in one where you will have a fantastic experience without charging a small fortune. Here is how to select sports remedial massage treatments:
Great user reviews
Nothing speaks louder than a bunch of negative reviews, or positive ones, for that matter. However, if there are mixed reviews, always go for the ones in the middle, the three-star reviews. Usually, those are the most realistic ones that you can rely on.
Tradition
The massage industry is quite competitive. If a message centre has been around for five or more years, it must do something well. That doesn’t exclude new ones, but it does make them more risky.
Experienced massage therapists
The expert sports massage centres ensure their massage therapists are well-paid and work in a pleasant environment. That usually translates into excellent customer satisfaction, which you are looking for.
They offer a variety of massages.
The best massage centres provide a range of massages, not just remedial massages. You can quickly discover that through their website or by calling and asking.
Recommendation from a friend or a colleague
It’s a bit old school, but advice from someone you know is always helpful.
Final words
Whether you are searching for sports massage in the UK or elsewhere, it feels incredible to find a great one and reap the benefits that come with it. It doesn’t matter whether you are a professional athlete, an amateur, a fitness lover, or don’t exercise at all—sports massage is about doing your muscles a favour.
The results will be explicit and immediate, both physically and mentally. Once you try it, you will likely return repeatedly as you will experience the full benefits of a sports massage.
