DOES SPORTS MASSAGE IMPROVE ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE?
Looking to perform better, stay injury-free and recover faster from training? If so, sports massage can help. Sports massage can boost your physical performance, speed up muscle repair, and help you recover from injuries, and ease pain in the process. In the long run, it can help you reach peak performance and maintain optimal body functioning . It not only supports muscle repair and decreases the risk of injury, but also improves circulation and reduces mental tension after a hard workout. A good massage can restore mobility to injured muscle tissue and reduce fatigue, allowing you to work out harder and more efficiently.
By reducing muscle tension and swelling caused by exercise, it assists in post-training recovery and can accelerate healing from musculoskeletal injuries. Sports massage can be used in rehab, as a performance enhancing tool or as a stress relief aid. This style of massage brings fresh, oxygenated blood to the muscles and other tissues and a variety of techniques can be used according to your needs. For instance, the massage techniques used for treating strains, pulled muscles, and tears will stimulate lymph flow and reduce lactic acid buildup. They also help remove metabolic waste while increasing the flow of blood and oxygen to your tissues, allowing your body to recover faster from training and perform at its peak.
This practice is widely used in pre-event preparation, injury rehab, and post-workout recovery. Most athletes experience increased flexibility and range of motion, greater endurance, and reduced muscle pain after a massage.
BENEFITS OF SPORTS MASSAGE:-
- Pain relief
- Reduced recovery time
- Increased energy and stamina
- Improved mobility and flexibility
- Muscular relaxation
- Improved blood flow
- Reduced inflammation
- Enhanced sports performance
- Improved mood
- Stress and anxiety relief
- Stronger immune function
- Lower injury risk
- Scar tissue breakdown
- Better sleep
- Improved tissue elasticity
Sports massage helps break down scar tissue and promote the formation of new healthy tissues. It also stretches and strengthens your muscles, dilates the blood vessels, and invigorates the body. It also increases endorphin levels in the brain, enhancing your mood and reducing pain. These factors combined lead to enhanced sports performance.
A lesser known benefit of sports massage lies in its ability to increase tissue permeability, allowing nutrients and fluid to pass through your tissues more easily. Studies have also found that sports massage may reduce breathing pattern disorders, lower serum creatinine kinase post exercise, and decrease DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness). So if it takes you too long to recover from training, get a massage! Your muscles will recover faster and function more efficiently.
Competitive sports require mental focus and concentration as well as physical strength. If you’re stressed or tired, you may not be able to perform at your best. Sports massage can help de-clutter your mind and relieve stress, leading to improved focus, by activating the parasympathetic nervous system. It also keeps the stress hormone cortisol levels low while increasing serotonin and dopamine levels
Depending on your sport and individual needs, probably one massage per week is a good preventive measure, or at least twice a month. A typical session lasts for about 30-60 minutes. In some cases, the massage therapist may also recommend stretching and other exercises that can be done at home. They should also be able to tell you how to stay safe and prevent injuries.