Using Sports Massage Therapy
Sports massage is quickly becoming an integral component of today's athletic regimen, from corporate training rooms, to private practice rooms, even to Olympic training centres. Increasing number of professional trainers think that regular massage can give an athlete an edge over competitors who don't regularly get massaged. "What's new is that athletes are not only aware of its advantages, but are beginning to use it more often," says Mike Webster, PhD, a sports psychologist and performance improvement specialist at the University of Maryland College of Medicine." Masseuse techniques used during sport massage may provide increased joint mobility, reduce muscle tension and spasm, improve circulation, and reduce recovery time."
Apart from its many health benefits, there are several psychological reasons why athletes are opting to incorporate this technique in their training regimen. According to Webster, one of the most noticeable changes he sees in athletes is the ability to focus better on their game after a sports massage. "The effects are extremely noticeable," he says. "Following a treatment, players are going to be in much better physical condition and functionality can be improved greatly."
To perform these techniques, a certified massage therapist works with the whole body, working on soft tissues as well as muscles. The massage therapist uses their hands, elbows, fingers, forearms, and toes for gentle movements. These techniques relax tight, fatigued, tense, and overworked muscle tissue, relieving pain and tension. A sports massage session typically involves around ten sessions, with breaks in between for the athlete to decompress.
The objective of the type of therapeutic massage is to loosen tight muscles, improve range of motion, relieve stress and muscle tension, improve circulation, and reduce inflammation. Muscle soreness, stiffness, pain, cramps, stiffness, and headaches are common side effects of a massage therapy. To soothe muscle stiffness and ease aching muscles, a therapist might suggest a hot towel or heat pad to be placed on the affected area. In order to release the tension in tight muscles, the therapist might ask the patient to move his or her arms and legs for five minutes. Each session should take no more than thirty minutes.
Some therapists offer sports treatment through their own practice or as a sideline for a proven practice. Sports massage isn't governed by standard licensing bodies, but some states have requirements for participating therapists. States such as Colorado require therapists to get education and certification in sports therapy. Certification programs are offered at local colleges and technical schools.
There are lots of kinds of sports massage that target different areas of the body. Deep tissue, also known as Swedish massage, is for deep tissue injuries, such as those resulting from a sudden crash, fall, or unexpected bruise. Sports massage therapists use long strokes and kneading techniques for relief and relaxation. Trigger point therapy is a popular technique aimed at relieving chronic painful muscle fibres of ache. Spinal decompression is used for patients with many different spinal problems, including disk degeneration. This technique is aimed at relieving stiffness and restoring mobility.
Although some folks feel uncomfortable visiting a licensed sports massage therapist, they may prove useful to some. The combination of massage techniques used can reduce stress and increase range of motion, particularly when it comes to physical activity like weightlifting or yoga. colamassage.com/ When muscles are stretched, they have been given more opportunity to stretch out without injuring themselves. Injuries can be avoided if the injured part is properly worked on, which may help prevent additional injuries.
Many people may experience a mild sprain during their lifetime. A small tear in any muscle can easily heal, but more serious sports massage injuries, including a torn muscle , can take weeks or even months to heal. It's not uncommon for athletes to experience repetitive strain injuries, which occur when repetitive motions cause damage to the soft tissue surrounding the muscle. Ripped muscles can quickly become inflamed and cause discomfort, which is often caused by an overloaded nervous system.