The Benefits of Therapeutic Massage For Athletes

Massage has long been used to enhance the health and performance of athletes as well as to treat sports related injuries. In many countries, a separate branch of massage known as “sports massage” has evolved for precisely these purposes. There are a few important differences between the practice of sports massage and that of other types of spa, wellness or relaxation-based body therapies. For instance, sports massage may incorporate both active and passive stretching activities and verbal feedback from the client or patient. Furthermore, the treatments generally do not take place in the type of scenario in which the recipient simply lays back and enjoys the massage in a passive, almost sleep-like state. In fact, some of the techniques are not designed to be at all relaxing (depending on the type of sports massage) but may be applied with the intent to energize the athlete and can be at times uncomfortable or even in rare cases, slightly painful. This does not mean that sports massages are never relaxing, pleasurable experiences. It all depends on the manner of sports massage being employed and the underlying purpose behind it. In any case, the over-all benefits of regular sports massage by qualified therapists far outweigh any physical discomfort that might occur during treatments. Therapeutic sports massage is advocated for all athletes from amateur part-timers to serious professionals or anyone wishing to maintain a healthy, pain and injury free body and a sound, peaceful mind.

Types of sports massage:

Warm-up
A warm-up or pre-event massage is a more vigorous, relatively brief and quick-paced treatment with the aim of warming up the athlete’s muscles in preparation for a sporting event or training session. This is beneficial in that it increases the athlete’s range of motion, assists circulation, stimulates the production of joint fluid and generally loosens up the body. A warm-up massage will usually avoid deep tissue work, which requires slow movements and more time, though some practitioners’ techniques will vary. A pre-event sports massage should be a physically invigorating, refreshing experience, yet it can also have the benefit of assisting the athlete’s mental relaxation and focus.

Cool-down
A cool-down or post-event massage means a massage that takes place within 48 hours of an event or training session and is generally to aid the body in its recovery process from strain, exertion or possible injuries. It is important to note that massage should not be applied directly to injured areas at the acute stage (within the first 72 hours of an injury taking place). An injured athlete could still receive a post-event massage, but the injured area should not be worked on until inflammation, pain and swelling have sufficiently diminished, unless a particular first aid technique is being applied, i.e. massage with ice.

Maintenance massage
Regular sports massage is massage with the aim of maintaining and improving the physical health, performance and over-all wellness of the athlete. This includes promoting good circulation, lymphatic drainage, improving muscle tone and specific injury-related benefits such as the softening of scar tissue. Stretching to increase range of motion and deep tissue work are techniques that would normally take place as part of a maintenance massage. Massage also helps to relieve pain, causes the relief of endorphins and promotes relaxation, all of which are beneficial to the athlete’s wellbeing.

For more information about sports massage and injury, please refer to the article entitled “Massage and the Treatment of Sports Injuries”.

A run down of the benefits of sports massage

• Maintaining and increasing good muscle tone
• Increasing and maintaining flexibility and range of motion
• Prevention and treatment of injuries
• Aiding and speeding up the recovery process
• Improving athletic performance
• Prolonging the athlete’s career
• Encouraging body awareness
• Promoting good blood circulation
• Aiding lymphatic drainage
• Assisting the body in the removal of lactic acid build-up
• Softening scar tissue and making it more elastic
• Reducing stress and encouraging relaxation
• Releasing endorphins