If you are an athlete and do not receive regular massage, it's important to learn why receiving regular massage and bodywork helps helps improve sports activity and enhance sports conditioning and performance .
Athletes put their bodies through much more stress and strain than many people. because they are regularly training and many are in regular competition.
Because of this type of regular athletic training/competition athletes require a much more consistent practice of self care to help keep their body in tip top shape.
We all need a consistent practice of self care, however athletes require more because of the physical demands they put on their bodies on a regular basis.
Massage and bodywork are important self care tools that athletes can use to help enhance their sports activity and increase their sports performance and conditioning.
How receiving regular massage and bodywork helps with athletic performance:
Athletes put their bodies through much more stress and strain than many people. because they are regularly training and many are in regular competition.
Because of this type of regular athletic training/competition athletes require a much more consistent practice of self care to help keep their body in tip top shape.
We all need a consistent practice of self care, however athletes require more because of the physical demands they put on their bodies on a regular basis.
Massage and bodywork are important self care tools that athletes can use to help enhance their sports activity and increase their sports performance and conditioning.
How receiving regular massage and bodywork helps with athletic performance:
- Helps the body recover faster from injury
- Can help keep muscles and fascia relaxed and stretched reducing chance for injury.
- Decreases pain by flushing out painful lactic acid which is produced by muscles during strenuous physical activity from training or from the sports activity
- Scar tissue reduction for when athletes have an injury.
- Increases circulation throughout the body enhancing oxygen and nutrients to muscles, fascia, tendons and ligaments which helps lessen the microtraumas that occur from strenuous training and sports activity.
- Help with structural balance of muscles and fascia as many athletes overwork some areas during their sports activity.
- Decreases post sports activity stress by activating the parasympathetic response(rest and digest) response in the body.
Why Types Of Massage Are Best For Athletes
Deep tissue massage is an excellent massage for athletes and it helps relax the deeper tissues of the body.
Myofascial release is another great massage for helping athletes. Shortened and contracted fascia(the connective tissue that wraps muscles and organs) can create imbalance in body reducing performance. Myofascial release helps keep the fascia lengthened creating more balance and helping to increasing performance.
Sports massage is massage targeted to sports injury and can include stretching massage, trigger point therapy, neuromuscular therapy and medical massage focused techniques.
Myofascial release is another great massage for helping athletes. Shortened and contracted fascia(the connective tissue that wraps muscles and organs) can create imbalance in body reducing performance. Myofascial release helps keep the fascia lengthened creating more balance and helping to increasing performance.
Sports massage is massage targeted to sports injury and can include stretching massage, trigger point therapy, neuromuscular therapy and medical massage focused techniques.
How Often To Schedule A Massage
As general maintenance for athletes, especially ones who train regularly, I recommend massage therapy at least every two weeks. Once a week if training intensely.
For pre-event, a massage session a few days before the event is beneficial.
Post event massage is important but only lighter massage right after or a few days after to help flush out the lactic acid. Deeper massage is beneficial post event after the soreness has decreased, which tends to be 3 days or so.
Massage and bodywork are very important in helping athletes with improving their conditioning and performance.
However as most athletes know other self care tools are needed, like healthy food, regular stretching, rest days, nutrient balance, and excellent water intake.
For pre-event, a massage session a few days before the event is beneficial.
Post event massage is important but only lighter massage right after or a few days after to help flush out the lactic acid. Deeper massage is beneficial post event after the soreness has decreased, which tends to be 3 days or so.
Massage and bodywork are very important in helping athletes with improving their conditioning and performance.
However as most athletes know other self care tools are needed, like healthy food, regular stretching, rest days, nutrient balance, and excellent water intake.
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