Sports massage generally involves the manipulation of soft tissue to aid a person divulged in day-to-day physical activity. Soft tissue is connective tissue that has not hardened into bone and cartilage; it includes skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia (a form of connective tissue that lines and unsheathes the other soft tissues). Sports massage is devised to help rectifying problems and imbalances in soft tissue that are caused from repetitive physical activity and trauma. The application of sports massage, before and after exercise, may increase performance, aid recovery and avert injury.

Benefits

Sports massage is a common term for different types of massage associated with athletic performance. Every type of massage has its own benefits and uses various techniques.

Pre-event sports massage is usually carried out to prevent serious athletic injuries. It aids to warm-up the muscles, stretch and make them flexible for optimum athletic performance. It stimulates blood-flow and nutrients to the muscles, minimizing muscle tension, loosens the muscles, and inducts a feeling of psychological readiness.

Whenever athletes exercise heavily, their muscles suffer microtraumas. Minute swelling occurs in the muscle due to tiny tears. Post-event sports massage helps reduce the swelling caused by microtraumas; loosens tired, stiff muscles; helps maintain flexibility; promotes blood flow to the muscle to remove lactic acid and waste build-up; and reduces cramping. Plus, it helps accelerate the athlete’s recovery time and alleviates pulls, strains, and soreness.

Maintenance sports massage is generally done mostly once a week, although professional athletes who have their own massage therapists may have maintenance massage on daily basis. It remotely increases the flow of blood and nutrients to the muscles. It also helps the tissues loosen-up so that numerous layers of muscle slide easily over each other. It also greatly assist reduce any sort of development of scar tissue whilst increasing flexibility and range of the motion.

The aim of all these massages is to optimize the athletic performance. Athletes in different sports will focus the massage on different areas of the body and optimize your mental health.

Preparations

No extraordinary precautions are needed to participate in such massage. However, Athletes must wait at least 2 hours after competing before eyeing for a post-event massage.

Precautions

Massage may be an suitable method for help ailing certain sports injuries, especially muscle injuries. however, whilst treating an injury, it is better to seek some advice from a specialist in sports medicine before divulging in any massage. Certain ligament and joint injuries that need immobilization and expert attention may be exasperated by massage.

People suffering from the certain conditions or disorders must consult a physician prior to participating in a sports massage: acute infectious disease, aneurysm, heavy bruising, cancer, hernia, high BP, inflammation because of tissue damage, osteoporosis; phlebitis, varicose veins, and some skin conditions. Individuals who are intoxicated are not potential candidates for the sports massage.

Side effects

Sports massage is sound and effective. Given correctly, there are no undesirable side effects.

Research & General Acceptance

Sports massage has become a well-established and accepted practice around the globe. Numerous studies done in both the US and Europe have clearly shown that when used properly, massage will generate greater flow of the blood to the muscles and enhance athletic performance. Therefore, it is safe to conclude that practice of sports massage is not considered controversial.

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