Using Sports Massage Therapy
Sports massage is quickly becoming an integral part of today's athletic regimen, from corporate training rooms, to private training rooms, even to Olympic training centres. Increasing number of professional coaches think that regular massage can give an athlete an edge over competitors who don't regularly get massaged. "What is new is that athletes are not only aware of its advantages, but are beginning to Visit this site use it more frequently," says Mike Webster, PhD, a sports psychologist and performance improvement specialist in the University of Maryland College of Medicine." Masseuse techniques used during sport massage can provide increased joint mobility, reduce muscle tension and spasm, improve circulation, and reduce recovery time."
Apart from its many health benefits, there are lots of psychological reasons why athletes are choosing to include this technique in their training regimen. According to Webster, one of the most noticeable changes he sees in athletes is the ability to focus better on their game following a sports massage. "The effects are very noticeable," he says. "After a treatment, players are going to be in much better physical condition and performance can be improved greatly."
To perform these techniques, a certified massage therapist works with the entire body, working on soft tissues as well as muscles. The massage therapist uses their hands, elbows, fingers, forearms, and toes for gentle movements. These techniques relax tight, fatigued, stressed, and overworked muscle tissue, relieving pain and tension. A sports massage session typically involves up to ten sessions, with breaks in between for the athlete to decompress.
The objective of this type of therapeutic massage is to loosen tight muscles, increase range of motion, relieve stress and muscle tension, improve circulation, and reduce inflammation. Muscle soreness, stiffness, pain, cramps, stiffness, and headaches are common side effects of a massage therapy. To soothe muscle stiffness and ease aching muscles, a therapist might suggest a hot towel or heat pad to be applied to the affected area. In order to release the tension in tight muscles, the therapist might ask the patient to move their arms and legs for five minutes. Each session should take no more than thirty minutes.
Some therapists offer sports treatment through their own practice or as a sideline for a proven practice. Sports massage is not governed by standard licensing bodies, but some states have requirements for participating therapists. States such as Colorado require therapists to receive education and certification in sports therapy. Certification programs are available at local schools and technical schools.
There are several types of sports massage that target different areas of the body. Deep tissue, also known as Swedish massage, is for deep tissue injuries, like those resulting from a sudden crash, fall, or unexpected bruise. Sports massage therapists use long strokes and kneading techniques for relaxation and relief. Trigger point therapy is a popular technique aimed at relieving chronic painful muscle fibres of ache. Spinal decompression is used for patients with many different spinal problems, including disc degeneration. This technique is aimed at relieving stiffness and restoring mobility.
Although some people feel uncomfortable seeing a licensed sports massage therapist, they may prove useful to some. The combination of massage techniques used can decrease stress and increase range of motion, especially in regards to physical activity like weightlifting or yoga. When muscles are stretched, they have been given more chance to stretch out without injuring themselves. Injuries can be prevented if the injured part is properly worked on, which can help prevent additional injuries.
Many people may experience a mild sprain during their lifetime. A small tear in any muscle can easily cure, but more serious sports massage injuries, including a torn muscle , can take weeks or even months to heal. It is not uncommon for athletes to experience repetitive strain injuries, which occur when repetitive motions cause damage to the soft tissue surrounding the muscle. Ripped muscles can quickly become inflamed and cause discomfort, which is often brought on by an overloaded nervous system.