Whether you’re an athlete pushing your boundaries or just someone with an active lifestyle, sports massage can provide many health benefits.
Physiological effects include warming up muscles before an event or training session, stimulating blood flow to energise the muscles and helping break down lactic acid build-up.
Regular sessions can also alleviate muscle tensions and knots - a common issue that can hinder movement, cause pain and negatively impact posture.
Increased Flexibility
Whether you're a professional athlete pushing the limits of their physical boundaries or simply a person with a sedentary lifestyle, a good sports massage can be beneficial to anyone. Regular sessions can enhance flexibility, range of motion and muscle balance.
During a sports massage, techniques such as effleurage (stroking), friction and petrissage can be used to identify tender areas, stretch out fascia and tissue, improve blood flow and break down any inflexible scar tissue that may have formed following injury or over-use. This helps to eliminate accumulated toxins, improves nutrient delivery to the muscles and alleviates any build-up of lactic acid, all of which are key factors in optimal performance.
Aside from improving flexibility, the calming effects of sports massage stimulate the release of endorphins, our body's natural stress-relievers, which further aid in reducing anxiety levels and boosting moods. These neurotransmitters also help to clear the mind, allowing for better focus and concentration. This enables athletes to achieve peak performance both on and off the field, whilst preventing any onset of muscular fatigue or injury.
Reduced Pain
While sports massage is often associated with athletes and their training needs, it can benefit those who lead active lifestyles as well. Regular sessions can help to alleviate ergonomic strain from daily routines, and reduce stress levels.
Sports massage also improves circulation. This increases oxygen delivery to the muscles, and flushes metabolic waste such as lactic acid away from the muscles. This accelerates muscle recovery, and allows for a quicker return to peak performance.
Optimal flexibility also minimises the risk of injury. The combination of stretching and massage techniques in sports massage encourages muscles to relax and elongate, resulting in improved overall flexibility. This can make a significant difference when it comes to avoiding injuries, particularly those caused by overuse and imbalance. Olympic sprinter Allyson Felix has credited regular sports massage as a key factor in her ability to perform at such a high level, and avoid injuries.
Increased Endurance
Optimal range of motion and flexibility are paramount for athletes pursuing peak performance. By releasing tension and loosening tight muscle tissue, sports massage allows joints to move more freely. This reduces the risk of injuries and enables you to achieve your fitness goals more effectively.
Reduced Muscle Soreness
Intense training sessions can cause post-workout muscle soreness, and sports massage alleviates this by promoting blood circulation, decreasing inflammation, and flushing out metabolic waste products such as lactic acid. Enhanced recovery means you can train more consistently, and reach your athletic best.
Inflammation can impede muscle repair and increase the likelihood of future injury, and regular sports massage lowers inflammation levels by post-event sports massage releasing hormones that reduce tension and boost immune function. In addition, the deep friction techniques used in sports massage also break down adhesions between muscle tissues, allowing muscles and ligaments to function properly. This reduces stiffness and increases joint mobility, preventing injury and improving posture.
Better Sleep
The calming effects of sports massage promote deep relaxation, facilitating restorative sleep. In addition to improving mental focus and promoting holistic well-being, better sleep can improve overall performance and elevate athletic achievement.
Alleviates Muscle Tension
The soothing pressure and rhythmic strokes of massage stimulate the release of endorphins — our body’s natural stress-relievers. The result is a decrease in cortisol levels and a boost in other feel-good neurotransmitters, which support mood stability and feelings of wellbeing.
Enhanced Circulation
Studies have shown that the effleurage and petrissage techniques used during sports massage boost blood flow, enhancing oxygen delivery to muscle tissue. This results in reduced soreness, improved flexibility, and enhanced performance.
Athletes of all ages can benefit from sports massage, regardless of their level of training or sport participation. So whether you’re an elite athlete or just a weekend warrior, you’ll find that regular sessions will support your physical and mental wellbeing. And with improved flexibility and reduced pain, you’ll also enjoy a better quality of life.
