Sports Massage Therapist

For many athletes, sports massage therapy plays an important role in their professional fitness program. Whether they’re injured or not, seeing a sports massage therapist for a regular massage offers a multitude of benefits. However, sports massage should not be limited to athletes only. Anyone who maintains a regular exercise program should turn to sports massage therapy.

What is Sports Massage?

Sports massage therapy is a type of therapy that uses deep tissue techniques to reduce muscle pain, discomfort, and tension. Although sports massage is more beneficial for athletes, this massage method is not limited to athletes, as deep tissue massage techniques can treat a wide range of conditions, such as:

• Joint and muscle injuries such as strains and sprains
• Postural pain
• Headache
• Whiplash
• Tennis and golfers elbow
• Repetitive exercise injuries
• Back pain

Sports massage techniques are generally quick and involve compression and stretching movements. A sports massage therapist will employ a wide range of deep tissue techniques during the treatment, including longitudinal ablation, tapotements, friction techniques, and muscle energy techniques like trigger points compression, active movement, and PNF stretching.

These techniques are used to reduce muscle tension, increase local blood flow, and warm up the muscle. While sports massage therapy can be tailored to the needs of an athlete who is about to attend an event or has just completed an event, deep tissue or sports massage can also be used to treat muscle aches or injuries by promoting both psychological and physiological benefits.

Benefits of Sports Massage

The following benefits can be achieved through the use of deep tissue and sports massage techniques:

• Reduction of muscle tension, muscle aches, and pains
• Greater range of motion, which leads to improved performance
• Reduction of muscle stiffness and pain after physical activity or exercise
• Reduced recovery time after injury
• Greater relaxation and decreased levels of physical and mental stress
• Helps with the quantity and quality of sleep

These benefits are due in large part to increased local blood flow that helps remove chemical waste products and irritants that have accumulated in the muscle. Additionally, the circulation of fresh blood increases the oxygen and nutrient content of the muscle. This can aid in muscle repair and facilitate a decrease in muscle tension.

Also, compression methods can affect blood flow and muscular nerve reflexes, which cause a relaxation effect in the muscle when stimulated. A stretched muscle can irritate nerve receptors in the muscle. This can lead to muscle discomfort and pain. A decrease in muscle tension can therefore lead to a decrease in nerve irritation and a decrease in muscle discomfort and pain.

Decreased muscle tension and increased localized blood flow can lead to an increased range of motion around the associated joint. This is especially important for fitness participants and athletes, as more range of motion is linked to better athletic performance and a lower injury rate. Post-event treatment can help decrease the recovery rate by increasing blood flow, which further reduces waste levels and increases the levels of oxygen and nutrients in the muscle.

If you are considering the benefits of sports massage for athletes, competitive and non-competitive athletes, give us a call at Performance Chiropractic + Physiotherapy. Our sports massage therapist can answer your questions and guide you through the process.