What is sports massage?
Sports massage uses hands-on techniques to manipulate the muscles, tendons and ligaments in the body to improve the efficiency of the musculoskeletal system.
Why have a sports massage?
The prime purpose of sports massage is to help alleviate the stress and tension which builds up in the body’s soft tissues during physical activity. Where minor injuries and lesions occur, due to overexertion and/or overuse, massage can break them down quickly and effectively. Above all, it can help prevent those niggling injuries that so often get in the way of performance and achievement, whether one is an athlete, ardent keep-fitter or a once a week jogger.
This treatment is not just for the sports person; anyone can benefit from sports massage, including people in physically demanding jobs and those not quite so obvious (occupational, emotional and postural stress may produce many similar characteristics to sports injuries).
SPORTS MASSAGE
Physical Effects
Pumping
The stroking movements in massage suck fluid through blood vessels and lymph vessels. This is especially important in tight or damaged muscle tissue as a tight muscle will squeeze blood out like a sponge, depriving the tissues of vital nutrients and energy to repair.
Increased Tissue Permeability
Deep massage causes the pores in tissue membranes to open, enabling fluids and nutrients to pass through. This helps remove waste products such as lactic acid and encourage the muscles to take up oxygen and nutrients which help them recover quicker.
Stretching
Massage can stretch tissues that could not be stretched in the usual methods. Bundles of muscle fibres are stretched lengthwise as well as sideways.
Break Down Scar Tissue
Scar tissue is the result of previous injuries or trauma and can effect muscle, tendons and ligaments. This can lead to inflexible tissues that are prone to injury and pain.
Improve Tissue Elasticity
Hard training can make tissues hard and inelastic. This is one reason why hard training may not result in improvements.
Physiological Effects
Pain Reduction
Tension and waste products in muscles can often cause pain. Massage helps reduce this in many ways including releasing the bodies endorphins.
Relaxation
Muscles relax through heat generated, circulation and stretching. Mechanoreceptors which sense touch, pressure, tissue length and warmth are stimulated causing a reflex relaxation.
psychological effects
Anxiety Reduction
Through the effects mentioned above relaxation is induced and so reduces anxiety levels.