1. Before and After a Sports Event
Every athlete should incorporate massage into his or her regular routines. When competing in a rigorous event, start your day with a pre-event massage. Tell the therapist what you need. If you want to increase flexibility, he can raise your joints and lightly massage the areas while gently moving them around. The light massaging will increase blood flow and the movement can relieve tension and stress that you may be holding in your joints. A post-event massage should be given within an hour or two after the competition. A good massage will flush the system of toxins and lactic acid that have been shaken loose during the exercising. It should relieve tension and relax you. Make sure that you are well hydrated before getting a massage so you have enough fluids coursing through your joints.
2. Massage Is a Must
Regular massage will help you to retain flexibility while working out the kinks and knots that training and exercise heap on your muscles. Massage keeps you relaxed. Tight muscles injure easily and massage is a great tool to prevent pulled muscles and twisted joints. Sports massage does not necessarily last as long as a full-body massage, but rather works the areas most used by the athlete. It focuses attention on well-used areas of the body. Sports massage also can help increase circulation. It pushes the blood through the veins more effectively making healing and repair quicker. Sports massage also helps athletes to maintain a good attitude by easing stress about winning and pushing the body to its limits.
3. Heal Faster
After a sports-related injury, you can use sports massage to heal faster. Scar tissue forms after a sprain or muscle tear. Sports massage can, coupled with stretching and other therapeutic workout techniques, help to break down the scar tissue and allow the flexibility that was lost to return. Massage also can help you manage the pain following an injury when flexibility is returned to normal. Muscle spasm will decrease and the toxins flow out of the injured tissue. Never push yourself beyond your capabilities. However, at each session following an injury, you should allow the massage therapist to pull a little harder and stretch a little further. You may feel a slight pain as the nerves become stimulated, but accept it as part of the healing process and the price to pay for a flexible body.
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