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Sports massage can
Maintain the body generally in better condition.
Prevent injuries and loss of mobility.
Cure and restore mobility to injured muscle tissue.
Boost performance.
Extend the overall life of your sporting career.
Physical effects of massage are:
The stroking movements in massage suck fluid through blood vessels and lymph vessels. By increasing the pressure in front of the stroke, a vacuum is created behind. This is especially important in tight or damaged muscle tissue as a tight muscle will squeeze blood out like a sponge, depriving the tissues of vital nutrients and energy to repair.
Deep massage causes the pores in tissue membranes to open, enabling fluids and nutrients to pass through. This helps remove waste products such as lactic acid and encourage the muscles to take up oxygen and nutrients which help them recover quicker.
Stretching - Massage can stretch tissues that could not be stretched in the usual methods. Bundles of muscle fibres are stretched lengthwise as well as sideways. Massage can also stretch the sheath or fascia that surrounds the muscle, so releasing any tension or pressure build up.
Break down scar tissue - Scar tissue is the result of previous injuries or trauma and can effect muscle, tendons and ligaments. This can lead to inflexible tissues that are prone to injury and pain.
Improve tissue elasticity - Hard training can make tissues hard and inelastic. This is one reason why hard training may not result in improvements. Massage helps reverse this by stretching the tissues.
Massage does increase blood flow to tissues, but so does exercise. What massage also does is open or dilate the blood vessels and by stretching them this enables nutrients to pass through more easily.
Physiological effects of sports massage are:
Pain reduction - Tension and waste products in muscles can often cause pain. Massage helps reduce this in many ways including releasing the bodies endorphins.
Relaxation - Muscles relax through heat generated, circulation and stretching. Mechanoreceptors which sense touch, pressure, tissue length and warmth are stimulated causing a reflex relaxation.
Psychological effects of massage are:
Anxiety reduction - through the effects mentioned above relaxation is induced and so reduces anxiety levels.
If massage is done with brisk movements such as what would be done before an event then this can produces an invigorating feeling.
If you are injured, or in pain, massage, aromatherapy oils and reflexology can allow you to recover faster. (also after exercise) This may improve your performance, prevent injury or speed up your recovery from injury, and may avert any reoccurrence.
For more information or to book an appointment
Contact Belinda today on 07716005354
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