Massage has been found to be among the oldest practices of physical therapies known to man. It has been discovered that various cultures have practiced massage for more than 3000 years throughout human civilization. However, it is only rather recently that massage has been accepted in the modern world as an important part of treatment particularly in sports.
What are the objectives of sports massage?
Just like in most kinds of massage, the sports massage practitioner was a particular goal in mind in terms of the general well being of the patient. In sports massage, the objectives gear towards the improvement of an athlete’s performance and the quick recovery of muscles used for the specific sports involved. As more and more people get involved with sports and physical exercise, sports massage grows in popularity as well as it is becoming to be greatly recognized to help improve recovery and performance.
Since sports massage is essentially a type of massage therapy, it follows similar principles, which involve a deep understanding of human physiology and anatomy, especially with regards to the skeletal and muscular systems. Such knowledge is essential in order for the practitioner to determine how massage therapy may benefit the athlete and how best to integrate the therapy into the particular training program.
The aim of sports training is to enhance an athlete’s performance and create a competitive edge by subjecting their bodies to activities that develop speed, stamina, strength, skill, and agility. Depending on the particular sport, the athlete’s status, or the position in sports teams, the body may be subjected to different degrees of challenges. But no matter how systematic or efficient the training the body will probably be overused and over worked.
The use and possibly the abuse of the body often lead to some problems with the bones or the muscles that could accumulate more ailments over time, hindering not only the rate of the athlete’s improvement, but disturbing the actual performance as well. Faced with such conditions, the athlete might not be able to perform in the best state, which could create the risk for injuries and traumas.
While the body is capable of healing itself, the capacity of the body to recover may be jeopardized with the continuous use with sports training. The body needs a lot of time to heal but time is not a luxury for sports enthusiasts who require frequent training. This is where sports massage comes in as it greatly enhances the speed of athletes to recover from the rigors of their training as it speeds up the body’s ability to heal and recuperate.
What are the benefits of sports massage?
When done by a skillful and certified practitioner, sports massage is greatly effective in easing the tension of muscles and restoring the muscular and skeletal systems’ balance. When athletes receive sports massage regularly, they could also prevent injuries, especially those that are related to muscle overuse. The continuous accumulation of tension in the bones and muscles due to frequent strenuous activity often leads to stress on the joints, the muscles themselves as well as the connective tissues such as the tendons and ligaments.
Oftentimes, these imbalances in the muscles are not diagnosed until they are grave enough to cause extreme discomfort for the athlete or until performance is severely disturbed. However, a very good sports massage practitioner would have the necessary knowledge and skill to be able to detect discrepancies in an athlete’s muscles and soft tissues at a very early stage. The massage therapist would also be knowledgeable enough to treat any disturbance early on.
What precautions should be taken with sports massage?
While sports massage is generally beneficial for athletes who are stressed and tensed, there are cases when sports massage is not advised because they may even make injuries worse. The following situations usually do not call for sports massage:
- Acute injuries and traumas such as brushings, sprained ligaments, burns, open wounds, contusions and chilblains.
- Fevers of over 100 degrees
- Abnormalities in blood vessels such as thrombosis, varicose veins, and phlebitis
- Hemophilia or extreme tendency to bleed
- Infectious diseases such as herpes, viral infection, bacterial infection, and fungal infection
- Tumors or cysts
For such cases mentioned and other serious disturbances, it is best to consult with a physician before undergoing sports massage.
Sports massage may greatly enhance an athlete’s general well being. To know more about sports massage, consult with a health practitioner or a sports specialist.
Sport Massage 101: Everything You Need to Know
The Basics of Sports Massage
Throughout history, people have been utilizing the healing powers of massage. The history of massage can be traced back for thousands of years, and it can be found in a number of different cultures. That said, massages have only recently begun to be embraced by modern medicine. Sports massage is one type of treatment that's becoming particularly popular.
What can sports massage do?
Like with any type of massage, the goal of sports massage is to improve the overall health of the patient. However, sports massage also focuses on improving the athlete's natural abilities Techniques that will strengthen their performance and improve their muscle recovery are employed. An increasing amount of athletes are beginning to rely on the power of spots massage. It allows them to recover very quickly, and gives them significant improvements to their performance.
Sports massage uses the power of anatomy and physiology in order to improve the strength of the skeletal and muscular systems. Massage practitioners need a great deal of training to be able to employ these message techniques effectively. A good masseuse uses their understanding of the human body in order to strengthen and heal an athlete.
When training for a sport, the ultimate goal is to improve an athlete's abilities. They can be a stronger competitor if they work to improve their stamina, speed, agility, strength, and skill. Many athletes push their bodies to the limit as they work to become stronger. Unfortunately, this level of training often leads to the body becoming overworked.
This kind of abuse can hinder an athlete's performance over time. It can damage their bones and muscles, and can lead to a number of ailments. It also puts athletes at risk for injury and trauma. This is the primary reason why the injury rate for athletes is so high.
The body is more than capable of recovering from this abuse, but continuous sports training makes it hard for the body to heal in the way it needs to. Athletes can't afford to give their body the break it needs, because they need to keep on training. This is why sports massage can be so helpful. It allows athletes to recover from the challenges of their training at a rapid rate, and gives them a chance to properly recuperate.
Why a sports massage can benefit you
When a sports massage is carried out by a well-trained practitioner, it can be incredibly effective. It will restore the muscles while easing tension at the same time. Massage can significantly reduce the rate of injury, especially when it comes to injuries that have to do with muscle overuse. When bones and muscles are frequently subjected to intense activity, the joints become stressed. There is also a great deal of stress placed on the muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
In many cases, these problems go unnoticed until they're severe enough to cause significant problems for the athlete. Thankfully, a qualified sports massage practitioner is capable of detecting these problems right away. They can find and treat the issue before it becomes a major problem.
When it comes to sports massage, what should I watch out for?
In most cases, sports massage will only benefit athletes. However, there are a few situations in which sports massage can actually be detrimental. There are certain types of injuries that can be worsened by massage techniques. Avoid sports massage under these circumstances.
- When you have an open wound or contusion, or some kind of other acute injury
- When you have a fever of more than 100 degrees
- If you're experiencing blood vessel abnormalities, like phlebitis, thrombosis, or varicose veins
- If you suffer from hemophilia
- If you have an infectious disease, like herpes, a fungal infection, or a virus
- If you have a cyst or tumor
If you're dealing with one of these issues, talk to a doctor before visiting a sports massage practitioner. You don't want to get a sports massage if it will make matters worse. Even if the massage practitioner is aware of the issue, it can cause problems.
In most cases, sports massage can do a great deal to improve an athlete's health and safety. It can be hugely beneficial, and has very few drawbacks. It's definitely something worth trying.
If you'd like to find additional information on sports massage, talk to a sports specialist or health practitioner. They'll be able to give you the information you need, and can refer you to a licensed practitioner.
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