Benefits of Sports Massage
Whether you’re a beginner athlete or an elite competitor, massage therapy offers a variety of important health benefits. Individuals who participate in exercise and athletic programs who seek enhanced performance, improved conditioning, faster recovery, injury prevention, and assistance in maintaining peak fitness can benefit from massage therapy.
Massage therapy helps:
- Reduce muscle tension
- Increase range of motion
- Enhance athletic performance
- Improve soft tissue function
- Decrease muscle stiffness and fatigue
Many professional and collegiate athletic programs employ or contract with massage therapists, and sports massage has been sought for many years by athletes of differing backgrounds for multiple reasons. With Physical Activity Guidelines being very clear that activity is essential for people to be healthy, sports massage can be recommended to those individuals who participate in exercise programs as well as professional and collegiate athletes.
As an exerciser or an athlete, you’ll benefit more from a deep tissue or sports massage than you will a spa soft-and-gentle-and-smelling-good massage. However, these types of massage may not always be comfortable. A sports massage often involves a fast-paced massage, stretching and other approaches, depending upon the sport in which you participate. It can be tailored to be used as a pre-workout stretch and opportunity to warm up the muscles or used as a post-workout massage designed to reduce soreness and increase flexibility.
Deep tissue massage often is suggested by massage therapists because it works on particular issues you may have, applying heavier pressure on layers of muscles and other deep tissues. Don’t expect to be comfortable throughout this massage. It’s designed to get into knots and tension the muscles may be holding.
Like exercise itself, benefits are cumulative, meaning the more regularly you receive a massage, the more you’ll reap the advantages. Think of it as preventative maintenance.
Individuals who participate in exercise and athletic programs who seek enhanced performance, improved conditioning, faster recovery, injury prevention, and assistance in maintaining peek fitness can benefit from massage therapy given by professional massage therapists. Contact us at the European Massage Therapy School, Las Vegas Campus if you are interested in receiving massage therapy or if you’re considering entering the exciting career of being a massage therapist. Call (702) 202-2455 to learn more.
