Massage therapy is the scientific manipulation of the soft tissues of the body for the purpose of normalizing those tissues and consists of manual techniques that include applying fixed or movable pressure, holding, and/or causing movement of or to the body. It can be particularly useful in enhancing sports performance both to prevent injury and in healing and repair.
What is Sports Massage?
Sports massage is a special type of massage that is particularly helpful to athletes. It is used before, during and after sports events.
Many weekend sports people and experienced athletes have sports massages done regularly as a part of their training program.
History of Sports Massage
Massage itself has been around for thousands of years. According to documents written in China 3000 BC, massage was being used as a treatment for ailments 5000 years before that. The ancient Persians and Indians were also known for their use of massage in healing. In the first Olympic games of 776 BC, the athletes had massages before their events. Use of and information about massage kept progressing, and then in about 100 AD, China produced the first schools of massage.
Benefits for Sports Massage
Generally, massage is known to affect the circulation of blood and the flow of blood and lymph, reduce muscular tension or flaccidity, affect the nervous system through stimulation or sedation, and enhance tissue healing. These effects provide a number of benefits:
- reduction of muscle tension and stiffness
- relief of muscle spasms
- greater flexibility and range of motion
- increase of the ease and efficiency of movement
- relief of stress and aide of relaxation
- promotion of deeper and easier breathing
- improvement of the circulation of blood and movement of lymph
- relief of tension-related conditions, such as headaches and eyestrain
- promotion of faster healing of soft tissue injuries, such as pulled muscles and sprained ligaments, and reduction in pain and swelling related to such injuries
- reduction in the formation of excessive scar tissue following soft tissue injuries
- enhancement in the health and nourishment of skin
- improvement in posture through changing tension patterns that affect posture
- reduction in stress and an excellent stress management tool
- creation of a feeling of well-being
- reduction in levels of anxiety
- increase in awareness of the mind-body connection
- promotion of a relaxed state of mental awareness
Elite athletes know what to do about their muscle aches and pains. They employ sports massage therapists to help them. Sports massage, or bodywork as it is also called, can be used as a preparation for play, during games or events, after events and for maintenance during the off-season.