All sports require long hours of practice and dedication to the craft. Whether it's a football player who starts off with 2-a-day practice sessions in the heat of summer, a track athlete preparing for a big competition or a weekend warrior who spends hours on the basketball court, athletes put their bodies through major stress. After practice or competition, the cooling down process begins and that's when the muscles start to tighten. In order to alleviate the pressure, the best thing for the body is a sports massage. To get the most out of a massage, make sure to use sports oils to soothe the skin and provide relief for your aching muscles.
What to Look for
Grapeseed, olive and sunflower oil are all readily absorbed by the skin and provide relief to your aching muscles. These natural oils are all excellent for aromatherapy, too. Sports massage oils also contain essential oils that have added benefits, including rejuvenating the muscles that have been put to work in competition. A deep relaxing sports massage is beneficial prior to bedtime after a hard workout. Marjoram, patchouli and chamomile are essential oils that have a strong sedative effect and should only be used prior to calling it a day. While most athletes are looking for their sports massage after a competitive event, doing a sports massage before competition has added benefits. Eucalyptus, fennel and rosemary are blended with almond oil in order to provide the most stimulating combination and get muscles ready for a peak performance.
Common Pitfalls
Sports massage oils provide relief, but they do not rid the body of all pain and all muscle soreness. An immediate sports massage will not return the body to its ideal state, but it will provide some relief. Be careful about which oil is used at which specific time. If a pre-event massage oil is used after an event, that could overstimulate muscles that have already been abused by the athletic contest. Conversely, a post-event sports massage oil used prior to the event can keep you from achieving your best performance.
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