Benefits of massage for sport

Sport can take its toll on the body and when exercising or training regularly the body can experience burnout where you experience greater fatigue. This is combined with tight, sore and achy muscles, which decreases how well you perform. In addition, tight ligaments create stiffness around joints, which restricts the range of moments. As a result, overall the quality of your performance will be hindered where the body is not performing at maximum capacity.

Imagine as a cricket player you have a stiff shoulder joint, tight muscles in the shoulder complex and an achy neck region. As you can imagine the range of movement will be limited and this will directly affect the fluid movement of the arm when bowling.

Or perhaps you are a runner and experiencing tightness in the hamstrings or soreness along the Achilles tendon when running. The difficultly to maintain stride length or run a long distance event in your best time will be hindered.

For others you may exercise regularly across the week. Like all things, when we place stress on something it struggles to work to its best capacity. For someone wanting to improve their physical and mental well-being, this will add additional pressure to the body and directly affect training when the body is not cared for.

Regular massage can significantly reduce See you soon! functions of the body. Massage ensures you are fully prepared physically and mentally for the sport, event or training you are taking part in.

Benefits of massage:

• Burn out through the pressure placed on the body during exercise and sport - massage can energise the body and calm the inner being of a sports performer.

  
  

• A sports performer needs to be focused and calm to take part in events. Massage supports the inner being, such as mental well-being.

  
  

• Tight, sore and achy muscles after prolonged physical activity. Massage moved toxins from the muscle tissue, moving it though the lymphatic system. In addition, massage improves circulation and oxygen supply to aid muscle recovery.

  
  

• Restricted range of movement, sore or stiff joints occur as the ligaments tighten and flexibility decreases. Massage helps release joints as the connective tissue is loosened and stretched.

  
  

• Prolonged physical activity places the body under challenges. Massage aid recovery from the strain placed on it, helping improve recovery and reduces the chance of muscle injury.

  
  

• Lactic aid is produced in the muscles as you exercise. Massage helps to remove this from the muscles at the end of exercise, minimising the chances of muscle soreness as tightness.

Research has shown: ‘Massage helps athletes maintain overall muscle health by identifying areas of tension and addressing them before an injury (https://www.runnersworld.com/health-injuries/a29459834/self-treat-running-injuries/) occurs….massage increases tissue flexibility and muscle relaxation, improves range of motion, relieves trigger points, as well as reduces …. massage helps the athlete remain active, optimise his or her training, and maximum performance.’