Sports Massage For Athletic Performance

Optimal performance is critical for athletes, and lots of emphases are placed on keeping the muscles in good condition. During training, the muscles in the body develop small tears in them that rebuild themselves to be stronger to adapt to harder workouts. The muscles are constantly in the rebuilding process, and getting a sports massage from a massage therapist at a spa or other location can be highly beneficial to this healing process to keep the body at peak condition for optimal athletic performance.

A sports massage provides many health and wellness benefits for athletes, both physiological and psychological. Regarding physical benefits, sports massages are able to clear out any unwanted tissues, such as chemicals, lactic acid, and inflammation. Massages are able to increase blood flow, which can help to flush toxins out of the muscles in the body. Getting a massage after workouts can also help alleviate immediate and post-workout soreness.

Sports massages can also help to ease any muscle tension or any stress the body or mind may be under. Massages are able to help the body enter a state of relaxation by causing the release of certain chemical messengers, including dopamine and serotonin, which can help to reduce cortisol levels and decrease stress.

Sports massage therapy is available at a spa and many health and wellness centers, and a sports massage therapist can perform a number of different styles of massage based on the athlete’s goals and performance schedule. Massages can be given before an event to prepare the muscles and body for competition, during events to speed up recovery and release lactic acid from the muscles, or after the event to improve overall recovery.

Sports massages can also be used to help athletes recover from injuries or prevent future ones from occurring. This is done by giving specific attention to muscles that may be in pain or that could be hindering the range of motion and could cause issues in other areas of the body.