While there are many massage modalities to choose from, sports massage therapy continues to gain popularity and awareness for its effectiveness. Within professional sports this modality is relied on more than any other for preparation, recovery, and prevention of injury for before and after events.

 

Sports massage combines a series of massage techniques - effleurage, petrissage, and deep transverse friction - to help improve recovery and prevent injury. Research is continuing to show just how important this therapy is to both professional athletes and lay people in their pursuit of health and wellness through exercise. (1)

 

Even though this modality can benefit your health in many ways, there are 3 benefits that stand apart from the rest. Here's exactly why you should consider this therapy for your next massage session.

 

Sports Massage Benefits

 

1. Enhanced performance

 

Dynamic movements, flexibility, and strength are key for proper performance in any workout, training, or athletic event. As athletes prepare for events, sports massage helps to keep joints, ligaments, and individual muscle groups working well and in peak physical condition. Sports massage also improves nerve and muscle function and re-education to encourage full range of motion and movement in overworked, weak, or injured muscle groups. 

 

2. Shorter recovery

 

Instead of relying on supplements to get you through your next training session or just pushing through pain, sports massage can help speed up recovery between workouts and injuries. It’s important to let your body recover to avoid unnecessary downtime thus cutting into progress and gains. 

 

Without proper downtime, inflammation can run rampent throughout your body and is what often contributes to pain and stiffness. In combination with rest in between workouts and training, this therapy can help support healthier inflammation levels making your return to the gym a lot faster.

 

Sports massage has been shown that if received after exercise, especially within 2 hours, it can help significantly reduce DOMS (the micro tearing of the muscle that causes soreness 48-72 hours after exercise). It also expedites healing of these micro tears while also still allowing for growth with less pain during your next event or training session.  

  

3. Injury prevention

 

Pre- and post-event sports massage can actually improve activation of weaker muscles and can improve neurological signaling to prevent injury and enhance control. By utilizing muscle energy techniques and friction to help address a muscle group, sports massage can help your body regain functional movement to avoid compensation that causes injury with things such as running, lifting weights, or other dynamic movements.

 

Sports massage also helps prevent injury by simply improving the overall health and blood flow to joints and ligaments to allow for optimal pliability. This aids not just in flexibility, but also maintaining strength.    

 

With more people recognizing the importance of both physical activity and massage, sports massage is going to continue to rise in popularity as a foundation for preventative and ongoing healthcare. Whether you are a professional athlete, weekend warrior, or have a physically demanding jobs, sports massage has something to offer you.

The frequency of how often you get a massage can vary depending upon each person and situation, but if you are unsure of how often you should schedule a massage, go read our blog all about how often you should get a massage here.

 

Ready to see how massage can benefit your health? Book your next appointment here.

 

References:

1. Brummitt, Jason. “The role of massage in sports performance and rehabilitation: current evidence and future direction.” North American journal of sports physical therapy : NAJSPT vol. 3,1 (2008): 7-21.