We always love a great massage – not only because it feels awesome but also because it’s good for us. We know athletes really take care of their bodies, and do you know what are the top 3 things on their list that helps them stay in shape?
- Training
- Diet
- MASSAGE!
Massage offers numerous benefits for athletes! Including:
- Improved flexibility and range of motion – This is due to the stretching that is incorporated into the session. The therapist assists the athlete with some passive/active stretches which help the muscles elongate. Assisted joint mobility exercises also help athletes improve their range of motion.
- Reduced muscle soreness and tension – Massage increases blood flow to the muscles, which helps inflammation subside and assists in the removal of waste products such as lactic acid from the muscles.
- Increased circulation – Massage naturally relaxes the body. When this happens, the blood vessels dilate, increasing blood flow to the muscles. In addition, a good massage therapist will take care to ensure their strokes are always centripetal (towards the heart), which also stimulates circulation.
- Faster recovery times after strenuous activity – After all of the above (muscles are stretched, swelling is down, toxins are flushed out), the soft tissue is in better shape to receive another workout.
Does an athlete benefit more from a sports massage than from a regular massage?
The short answer is yes. Sports massage is specifically designed to target the muscles and joints that are used most during sports activities, and as we discussed above, it helps improve mobility, flexibility, recovery, and overall performance. However, a deep tissue massage, Swedish massage with stretching, or a hot stone massage would also provide soothing effects on sore muscles.
At Healing Hands, we provide an array of massage techniques at no additional cost (it’s part of our massage philosophy). So, athlete or not, you are more than welcome to try us out and feel the benefits of massage in your own body. Hope to see you soon!