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The Health Benefits of Sports Massage
If you're doing intense weekly workouts to get in shape, build muscle, or lose weight, you are making significant changes to your body over a long period of time. Most people may not think of themselves as athletes as they maintain this lifestyle, but your body does! This month we wanted to share some of the benefits occasional and regular massage contribute to your long-term health goals. And as you may, or may not know, HomeBodies has professional massage experts on staff too.
The main purpose of a sports massage is to drain away fatigue post-performance and promote relaxation. Pre-performance, the goal is to improve the elasticity of the skin and muscles to avoid tears and muscle strain. Sports massage therapy works to relieve the stress and tension that build up in the body during an athletic event or workout.
Often, minor injuries occur due to simple overexertion. Sports massages break down the injuries caused by muscle lesions. Massages work to:
- Relieve swelling
- Promote flexibility
- Reduce muscle tension
 Besides physical benefits, a sports massage provides physiological benefits. Sports massage services can reduce anxiety and help with pain management. In fact, in a finding published by the "Journal of Athletic Training," studies found sports massage services reduced the occurrences of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, DOMS, by over 30 percent.
The best way to get tired, cramped muscles to relax is to expose them to heat, increase the circulation of blood through them and stretch them. All which are benefits of sports massage services provided by a licensed sports masseuse.
The Association of Sports Massage Therapists has also conducted studies showing there are increased psychological benefits to sports massage services. These benefits include:
- A reduction in anxiety before beginning an athletic event or workout
- Enhanced well-being feelings and rejuvenation
- An increase in the awareness between the mind and body
A sports masseuse must pass vigorous training to become licensed. First, a sports masseuse must enter a massage therapy program. After completing this course of study, massage students are given the opportunity to choose a massage therapy to concentrate in and receive additional instruction. Generally, this requires an additional semester of study or about 90 credit hours of hands-on training. Those students interested in earning a NYC sports masseuse license may volunteer their services during marathons and decathlons.
As massage therapy has grown increasingly popular in the sports arena and more widely accepted by the professional sports industry, the demand for licensed sports masseurs has tripled. Michael Phelps, Olympic swimming star and earner of 14 gold medals, attributes his success to a schedule of two massages each day.
A HomeBodies qualified sports masseuse has experience in:
- Sports massage theory
- Techniques that provide cramp relief
- Techniques designed to reduce the threat of a sports injury
- Techniques designed to enhance performance
Sports Massage After Workouts
A sports massage prevents injuries by lowering blood pressure, reducing the amounts of cortisol produced by the body and reducing heart rate. This allows athletes and those working out to feel relaxed and revitalized.
Any type of healthful benefit reduces the risk of injury. A relaxed muscle is less prone to tearing and soreness than a tense muscle. Benefits of a sport massage that reduces injuries include:
- A larger range of motion
- Decreased neurological excitability
- Increased elimination of lactic acid
- Decreased recovery time between workouts
- Decreased muscle spasms
HomeBodies sports masseurs are trained in pre-workout massages as well as post-workout massages. They are able to identify tightness of the muscles, scar tissue build-up and trigger points. If left untreated, these result in further injury to the body.
A HomeBodies masseuse has knowledge and training in the anatomy and physiology of the human body as well as masseuse training. The American Society of Sports Medicine reports that a sports massage is especially useful in the treatment of:
- Shin splints
- Ankle sprains
- Groin and hamstring strains
Whether you are a professional athlete or a novice just beginning training and workouts, a sports massage provides much needed benefits. The physiological and psychological benefits of a sports massage should not be passed up. Whether using it as a stress and anxiety reducer, or to prevent and treat injuries, a sports massage should be experienced.
Contact HomeBodies today for more information on our sports massage services.
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