How Sports Massage Accelerates Recovery: Maintenance Vs Injury
Whether you're an elite athlete or simply someone who enjoys staying active, the journey to recovery after an injury can be challenging. Sports massage stands out as a powerful ally in accelerating injury recovery, offering targeted techniques that every athlete should know. This hands-on therapy not only aids in muscle relaxation but also complements physical therapy, providing a holistic approach to wellness. With the many benefits of sports massage, including improved circulation and reduced muscle tension, it's an essential component of effective recovery techniques. Ready to explore how these methods can enhance your athlete recovery journey? Let's dive into how our services can support your path to optimal health and performance.
Enhancing Recovery
A British Journal of Sports and Exercise Medicine review found that, although there was limited evidence that sports massage improves performance directly, there was evidence that flexibility was increased and DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) was reduced.
Flexibility is one of the major components of physical fitness and performance, and we know that a good level of flexibility is required to achieve peak sport performance. We also know that if you’re suffering with DOMS, you cannot train as effectively as when you are fully recovered. So, if we can increase flexibility and reduce DOMS, you’re going to be more likely to achieve your best performance next time you step into the gym.
One of the comments I often get when treating non-injured clients with sports massage is how gentle I am. There is no evidence to suggest that you should be caused pain or bruising from a sports massage for it to be effective, in fact if I had caused any type of trauma to one of my pro athletes the night before a race then I would very quickly have been out of a job!! At times, sports massage can be uncomfortable, but you should never be gritting your teeth to “get through” your treatment and I’ll work with you so we find that perfect level of pressure so I can be as effective as possible.
Supporting Injury Recovery
Sports massage plays a vital role in supporting injury recovery, making it an invaluable tool for athletes and active individuals. Research published in the Journal of Athletic Training highlights the effectiveness of massage therapy in reducing pain and improving function in various musculoskeletal conditions.
Sports massage should be avoided in the first 72 hours post injury, but after that time, one of the primary ways sports massage aids in injury recovery is by reducing inflammation. The targeted pressure and manipulation techniques used in sports massage help to increase lymphatic drainage, which in turn reduces swelling and promotes faster healing.
Sports massage can also help prevent the formation of scar tissue during the healing process and additionally post surgery scars can have an increase in flexibility and reduction in pain following targeted treatment. By gently manipulating the affected area, massage therapists can ensure that new tissue fibres align properly, maintaining flexibility and reducing the risk of future complications.
It is important that we do a thorough assessment prior to treating you with sports massage to ensure it is clinically indicated for your individual rehab journey. I’m not afraid to say “no” if I think that sports massage is not appropriate to your stage and type of injury - it’s also why you should seek out a qualified graduate sports therapist or physiotherapist when injured to ensure the treatment won’t have detrimental effects down the line.
