Massage has a number of benefits for athletes, including a safe way to warmup and cooldown, a healthy means of preventing injury and a way to promote healing should injury occur. When administered properly, massage can improve athletic performance. It can also help reduce pain after a long training session. Types of beneficial massage techniques include Swedish massage, sports massage and deep tissue massage.
Swedish Massage
Swedish massage was developed in 19th century by Swedish Psychologist Pehr Henrick Ling. Swedish massage promoted the dilation of blood vessels. This helps to improve circulation and flush toxins from the body. This style also helps to reduce inflammation and promote healing. For athletes, this massage therapy can also help prevent muscular fatigue and atrophy.
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep tissue massage is a form of therapy in which the therapist massages the deep tissue, allowing her to work with individual muscle fibers. This type of massage is good for resolving deep tissue tension and muscle knots. Athletes can benefit form this type of massage when they are experiencing muscle soreness or pain. It can also help to warmup the body before a workout.
Sports Massage
Sports massage is one type of massage therapy used by athletes and anyone who exercises or works out regularly. Its benefits include increasing flexibility, reducing soreness and pain, easing the tension after a rigorous workout and increasing range of motion. During this type of massage, the therapist will warm up the soft tissues and muscles using a fast-paced massage which invigorates the tissue. This can be used as a form of deep tissue massage after a workout and a soothing and stretching massage prior to a workout, to stretch and warmup the muscles.
Hot Rock Massage
Hot rock massage uses the placement of heated stones parallel to the spine, on the neck, chest and legs to gently heat and stretch the muscles. Once the stones have heated the tissues, the therapist will use them to gently massage the large muscle groups to ease tension, reduce pain and increase flexibility.
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