Massage therapy is beneficial for a variety of populations but is especially beneficial for athletes. Athletes push their physical limits on a regular basis. Although this is very important for training purposes, it can take a serious toll on the muscles. Massage therapy can help combat some of the unpleasant effects of intensive athletic training.
Effect of Exercise
As greater demands are placed on the body by increased physical activity and altered training conditions, the muscles undergo several adaptations. Delayed-onset muscle soreness can occur after bouts of exercise, especially if the exercise is new to the individual or the intensity has been increased. This is a natural muscle response and generally occurs 24 to 48 hours after exercise. Heavily exercised muscles can also become chronically tight, which can result in a decrease in flexibility. Massage therapy can help relieve the stressors placed on the muscles during exercise and maintain proper muscle health and function.
Therapy Techniques
Every sport targets different muscle groups; therefore, there is usually some variability among massages due to the athlete's particular sport. Swedish massage is generally the most common form of massage therapy used during sport-specific massages; however, deep tissue, compression, trigger point and lymphatic massage techniques can also be incorporated. Deep tissue massage is generally only used with chronic conditions to help break up scar tissue. The process can be quite painful and can leave the individual in slight discomfort for up to 24 hours. If used inappropriately, it is possible for deep tissue massage to cause more damage than the actual injury it is being used to treat. It is extremely important to visit an experienced massage therapist, preferably one who has extensive experience working with athletes.
Benefits
Athletic massage therapy provides a wide range of benefits for athletes. Regular massage therapy can help prevent injury and decrease recovery time during workouts, which allows athletes the ability to get the most out of their training regimen. Massages help to increase blood flow, which also increases the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the muscle. Other benefits of massage therapy include increased flexibility, reduced incidence of muscle spasms, relief from muscle tension and stiffness, and relaxation.
Timing
Generally, there are specific times that athletic massages are provided. Athletes can visit a massage therapist on a regular basis for maintenance therapy. Regular visits help the athlete get the most out of his training and remain injury-free. Many athletic programs and events offer massage to athletes prior to the event, during the actual event and after the event for rehabilitation purposes. Pre-event massages are often used as a warm-up supplement and can help the athlete relax and avoid injury prior to competition. Massages during the event are generally very short and tend to focus on a specific area that has been affected during the activity. Post-event, or rehabilitation massages, are provided to help muscles rebound from the stress placed on them during the athletic activity and to minimize healing time of any tearing, cramping or bruising that may have occurred.
The Key
The key to incorporating massage therapy into any training plan is selecting the right massage therapist. As mentioned before, it is best to choose a therapist that has experience working with athletes. A therapist who has athletic experience will be skilled in a variety of techniques and will be able to determine the best types of massage for each individual athlete and when to utilize those. Many sports teams employ massage therapists or athletic trainers with massage specializations. For individual athletes, the American Massage Therapy Association offers a massage therapist locator tool on its website that allows users to search for a therapist by specialization.
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