A massage is not just a luxury, but a way for your body to release toxins and increase energy. Differing from the backrub your spouse offers, massage is a particular technique aiming to bring relief and healing through pressure point engagement. A massage therapist is trained, licensed, and experienced to help you feel your best, whether you’re an athlete or a working mom. That said, there are a few types of massages that help in different ways. The sports massage focuses on the muscles and parts of the body mainly used in sports-related activity. From pre-performance to rehabilitation, a sports massage Westminster therapist knows which areas of the body need more focus.
The Types of Sports Massage
Studies show that post recovery exercise techniques help reduce fatigue, inflammation, soreness, and muscle damage. The four types of sports massage are: training, pre-event, post-event, and rehabilitation. In training, this type of massage is scheduled between sports sessions to help reduce the risk of injury and improve recovery time. An athlete would typically get these massages on a regular basis because they help improve the range of motion and flexibility while bringing fresh blood flow to the muscles. Pre-event massages are usually performed on the day of a sporting event. The massage lasts between 10 and 15 minutes, and the technique is focused on warming up the tissue, increasing blood flow, and stimulating the targeted muscles that the athlete will use during the competition. Post-event is a 10 to 15 minute massage focused on the areas of the body that were used in the event or activity. The strokes are much broader to lengthen the muscles that are tight, and the compression is adjusted slightly to spread muscle fibers and increase blood flow. This massage technique also stretches the muscle to increase the range of motion. Lastly, a rehabilitation sports massage helps improve recovery time from sports injuries. It reduces the pain as the body heals. Many times athletes will experience the breakdown of scar tissue and inflammation after a vigorous event, and this is very wearing on the body. Rehabilitation sports massages can improve flexibility and reduce the chances of reinjuring the muscle.
Who Benefits from a Sports Massage?
Sports massages are geared towards individuals with a certain degree of athletic activity level. There are many techniques and benefits to use in sports massage including effleurage, which is a stroking technique. Other techniques include kneading, compression, vibration and gliding, stretching, friction, trigger points, and rhythmic striking. All of these aim to help the athlete achieve optimal performance and decrease their chances of injury. Ideally, if you are one who works out at the gym, lifts weights, or are involved in any type of sport, you could benefit from sports massage techniques. Unlike traditional massages, the massage therapist will know, based on their education, how to use the appropriate techniques and compression for your recovery, activity level, and sport.
Every massage has a different approach. A person working at a computer from 9am-5pm will experience different massage techniques than a person who is actively involved in a sport. The focus work, pressure points, and length of time changes to fit the lifestyle of the person.
Sports massages involve specific techniques that require much focus work. It takes a skilled therapist to recognize that athletes live a different lifestyle, so their massage techniques should be different as well. When you find a sports massage Westminster therapist, it’s recommended that they have worthy accreditation and have experience in the health and fitness field. At Best Choice massage, our therapists will schedule the right massage for your lifestyle. Book now!