Benefits of Sports Massage
Sports Massage (or Soft Tissue Therapy) is a form of massage involving the management and manipulation of soft tissues in the body.
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 ensheaths the other soft tissues). Sports Massage is designed to assist in correcting problems and imbalances in soft tissues that are caused from repetitive and strenuous activity or an injury.
During a massage, your soft tissues are manipulated to help facilitate movement, encourage less stiffness in the affected area and can make you feel more relaxed. Soft tissue massage can be beneficial in assisting with preventative treatment, pre or post competition and injury recovery.
“It is applicable not just to sports people but to anybody wishing to guard against or recover from a soft tissue injury “
(Association for Soft Tissue Therapists)
Why should you have a Sports Massage?
By stimulating blood flow via soft tissue therapy, both before and after training sessions, athletes can improve recovery time, enhance performance and reduce the risk of injury [source].
Sports Massages are proven to release tension in muscles all over the body and flush the bloody of lactic acid which has built up during exercise. Relaxing the body in this way can help reduce the risk of injury, professional and amateur athletes from all sports benefit from this form of massage all over the world.
Benefits of using Sports Massage may include
Improving your circulation and lymphatic flow
Improving the healing time of strained ligaments and muscular tissue
Increasing your range of movement and joint flexibility
Assisting in mental preparation for sporting events
Increased endorphins
Strengthening the immune system
Reduced delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS)
Sports Massage vs Deep Tissue
To most people, these massage treatments seem very similar, but depending on your lifestyle, you may find you benefit from one more than you do the other.
The sports massage technique mainly focuses on the areas of the body that are more vulnerable to injury or stress as well as other areas of tension. Think about runners, they are going to need more work on their legs, while tennis players might benefit from more focus around the shoulders and arms.