More and more people are choosing to undergo sports massage to help relieve their pain, overload, contractures or muscle breakdown. Sports massage is a manual technique that aims to improve the performance and physical condition of the athlete. It is applied so that the athlete can reach optimal fitness, as well as prevent and avoid injuries or accelerate the rehabilitation of muscle problems if they have already experienced an injury.
This type of massage can be used both as a preparation for training or competition, or to stretch and relax the muscles after performing daily training. According to Massaggi, experts in sports massage in London, there are four times when athletes should go for a sports massage:
- Maintenance massage: given regularly before or after training.
- Competition massage: used as a warm-up prior to competition to reduce excessive muscular and mental tension in the athlete.
- Post-event massage: help with the recovery process of the athlete.
- Rehabilitation massage: even when it is preventative to avoid injuries, some may always appear.
Sports massage differs from the most other forms of massage because it is aimed at benefiting specific muscles that have undergone or are going to undergo the burden of physical exercise of each athlete, and so the massage tends to be deeper and more intense.
The advantages are:
- The stretching and relaxation of muscles.
- Each muscle regains its shape and elasticity, giving better performance results in the athlete’s chosen sport and speedier recovery following intense physical activity.
- Helps in the prevention of muscular-related sports injuries.
- Helps improve existing injuries.
- Increases the energy level in the body causing the resistance of the muscles to increase.
- Stimulates circulation in the muscles.
- Relaxes the mind and body.
- Helps to reduce muscle pain and spasms generated by intense sports activity.
You might feel a bit sore once the process is over. This is because sports massage is more intense than a regular massage. You might also feel some degree of discomfort the day after, and in some case depending on the intensity of the sports activity and the subsequent massage, up to three days after.
Don’t worry about it. The process touches your pressure points, and so you feel this. However, it does not mean you will feel discomfort forever. It will be gone soon. Your body is just reacting to the pressure and this will eventually feel better.
No complications
Some people worry that because a sports massage uses much more pressure than during a regular massage it could lead to internal bleeding, nerve damage or bruising. These are all possibilities, but they can be easily avoided. Experts in sports massage will ask you if you have any pre-existing injuries or other health conditions prior to providing treatment.
Certified sports massage practitioners
Another reason why you should not worry about the effects of a sports massage is that only those specialists trained in sports massage know exactly what to do, and how, and they have lots of experience. So, booking a massage with a sports massage specialist will ensure you are in good hands. They know how to make the massage effective but still relaxing for you.
Why should you get a sports massage regularly?
There are many options when it comes to massage. But having a regular sports massage if you train regularly and compete in sports will ensure that your muscles are always in optimal condition and receiving the necessary help they need for full and fast recovery from intense physical exertion.
Learn more at Massaggi about sports massage in London and how it can help your athletic performance and recovery improve; you might even go on to achieve new personal records in your chosen sport!
You will not regret getting a sports massage if you have never tried one before. You might even decide to make it a regular part of your training regimen – which wouldn’t be a bad thing!
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