A Sports massage is optimal to assist healing injuries as well as a preventative treatment dealing with the health of muscle, tendon, ligament and connective tissue, range of movement, tone, balance of muscle and quality of posture. Sports massage can help prevent injuries and loss of mobility, cure and restore range of motion to injured muscle tissue, boost performance and could extend the overall life of your sporting career.
The deep massage and motion used in sports therapy 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 bring in oxygen and nutrients which help them recover quicker. Massage increases blood flow to tissues, but so does exercise. Massage also opens, or dilates the blood vessels and by stretching them this enables nutrients to pass through more easily.
Sports Therapy can stretch tissues that cannot be stretched in the usual methods. Bundles of muscle fibers are stretched lengthwise as well as sideways. Massage can also stretch the fascia that surrounds the muscle. This releases any tension or pressure that has built up.
Training can make tissues hard and difficult to move. This is one reason why hard training may result in sprains, strains or other injuries which result in scar tissue. Scar tissue is the result of previous injuries or trauma and can affect muscle, tendons and ligaments. This leads to restricted range of motion and very tight muscles and tissues that are prone to recurring injury and pain. Massage can help reverse this by stretching the tissues effectively thereby increasing range of motion.
Sports Therapy is especially beneficial just after a sporting event such as a marathon, ball game or sports match. While the muscles are still warm and pliable they will achieve a deeper stretch and more relaxation as the athlete is calming down after their event. This therapy can assist in reducing pain by releasing the body’s endorphins, bringing about relaxation to wearied tissues, reduce anxiety and can also give the athlete an invigorated feeling.