Defeat Strain and Promote Healing Through a Soothing Sports Massage
Sports enthusiasts in Shanghai – from occasional joggers to training specialists – are touting the benefits of sports massage therapy. This type of massage is becoming increasingly popular among participants in almost every sport. Some of the advantages they enjoy as a result of a sports massage include:
- More flexibility and range of motion;
- Enhanced endurance with reduced fatigue;
- Less chance of injury due to loosening of the muscles;
- Competing at their highest possible level;
- Reduced time needed to recover between exercise sessions;
- More nutrients and oxygen in the body due to better blood circulation;
- Reduction of harmful toxins the body generates from strenuous exercise.
Sports massage is increasingly being included as an essential part of a complete workout regimen that includes not just the exercise itself, but also for the wear-and-tear and minor injuries that naturally arise in any strenuous activity. Anyone who incorporates this kind of activity into their daily schedule will benefit from a sports massage plan designed to match their activity level.
Our muscles tend to lose their ability to relax after heavy exercise, leading to tight muscles as well as a reduction in flexibility, which can cause muscle tears and pulls. A regular regimen of sports massage therapy has proven to be highly effective in combating these – as well as other – ailments of muscles that have been stretched to their limit. However, the goals of sports massage therapy vary at different stages of sports activity and competition as follows:
Before the event: Studies have shown that athletes who receive a sports massage before a sporting event improve their muscle tension and their equally important psychological wellbeing in a shorter amount of time. Pre-event sports massage therapy is designed to prepare the key muscles that the athlete will be using.
During a sporting event: The massage technique used during a sporting event is designed to ensure the best performance with low-risk training. Just as each different sport uses different muscle groups in different ways, the sports massage strategy will vary accordingly.
Post-event: Sports massage performed after a competition is geared toward reducing the muscle spasms and metabolic build-up that occur with vigorous exercise. A post-event sports massage involves not just tissue repair, but also general relaxation and mental calming.
Sports massage therapy for overtraining: Sometimes athletes do not allow their bodies to rejuvenate themselves between training sessions. Irritability, a change in an athlete’s appetite, and an increased number of injuries are all signs that the body could be overworked. A sports massage helps relieve these signs by putting it in a state of complete relaxation.
Maintaining an athlete's body: Everyone knows the importance of maintenance, and athletes have found that engaging in a regular program of sports massage therapy is an excellent tool. Incorporating sports massages into an athlete’s regular regimen significantly reduces the risk of serious injury at all stages of the competition.
Rehabilitation Massage: Even with preventive maintenance, muscles tend to cramp, tear, bruise, and ache; a sports massage can speed healing and reduce pain during the rehabilitation process. Performing a sports massage during the secondary phases of healing can enhance the formation of strong and flexible repair tissue throughout rehabilitation.