Can a Sports Massage Help Me?
Posted on 31st January 2022 at 14:00
Ask yourself the following -
Has tension built up in your legs, arms, and/or back after playing sport or exercising?
Do you sit at a desk for hours as part of your job?
Are you physically active or do you spend all day on your feet?
Are you suffering with stress?
If you nodded at any of the above, then the answer is probably yes.
Why Sports Massage?
Sports massage is one of the most effective ways to maintain and protect your body from aches, pains and injuries, whether those aches and pains come as a result of exercise, your job, or your lifestyle. The psychological effects of sports massage are powerful too, for example it can help reduce the negative effects of anxiety and depression, whilst improving sleep quality and your overall wellbeing.
Can Anybody Try Sports Massage?
Amateur and professional athletes alike, regularly use sports massage to help them recover from injuries, reduce pain and prevent further damage to the body. Often, sports massage is also used to warm up, cool down or relax before or after exercise. A common misconception, understandable due to the name, is that sports massage is for marathon runners, footballers, and weightlifters only, but that isn’t the case.
Anybody can benefit from sports massage, even if you don’t exercise regularly. Perhaps you’re worried about muscle tension or are experiencing discomfort due to bad posture. Maybe you suffer with frequent headaches and a stiff neck, or your knees hurt when you use the stairs. Wherever your pain came from, you will experience relief after a sports massage.
What Are The Benefits of Sports Massage?
During a sports massage, your therapist will use intense massage techniques that involve deep pressure and heavy kneading of the body's soft tissue areas such as muscles, tendons, and fascia, as well as some specific techniques such as active release, stretching and trigger point therapy. Tight and damaged muscles can be painful and affect your range of motion. These tense muscles hold onto waste products such as lactic acid, so a deep massage will help get the fluids and nutrients flowing, in turn helping your body to release its own natural endorphins.
4 Reasons You Should Try Sports Massage
To Reduce Pain
Pain can affect any part of the body. A bad back or shoulders is one of the most common complaints, particularly from people who are office workers. A sports massage can release the built-up tension, reset your posture and make you feel so much better!
To Relieve Tension and Stiffness
Deep massage combats tension and stiffness by warming and stretching the tissues and increasing blood flow to the muscles. This helps the muscles to move more easily and flexibly.
To Prevent Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)
DOMS is the painful, stiff feeling that usually comes with unfamiliar or strenuous exercise. It can appear hours or even days later. A sports massage will help to ward off DOMS before the tension and discomfort kicks in.
Massage Will Make You Feel Good
Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Most of us will know how great it feels to have even a simple, relaxing back massage. An intensive, targeted sports massage has many positive effects on your psychological wellbeing, which helps improve performance and recovery. The specialist techniques will encourage the body to release its own mood-enhancing chemicals - dopamine and serotonin. This helps to increase calmness and focus and to reduce anxiety. It will also help you to sleep better.
So, what are you waiting for?
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