Sports Therapy Massage
Sports massage is a form of complimentary therapy geared towards participants in sports, especially athletics. The theory behind massage therapy is this Medicatrix naturae, which is helping the body to heal itself and increase overall health and well-being. The application of this principle within the context of sport aims to prepare the body for athletic activity and maintain it in an optimal condition. Preventing injuries, and helping recover from injuries, is also an important aspect of the therapy.
The main purpose of spots massage therapy is to help soothe any stress before an athletic event and to relieve the tension in the body's soft tissue. It prevents injuries due to overexertion and overuse. If an injury does happen, then massage can speed up the healing and recovery process.
Sports massage has three different forms: pre-event massage, post-event massage, and maintenance massage.
When athletes exercise heavily, their muscles suffer tiny tears that lead to a small swelling around the muscle - a condition termed microtraumas in sports massage terminology. Post-event sports massage aims to speed up the healing process by warming up the muscles and stretching them. This helps loosen the tired and stiff muscles and stimulates the flow of blood and nutrients to the muscles, hence reducing the swelling caused by microtraumas.
Besides its main purpose in treating microtraumas, a pre-event sports massage reduces cramping and removes waste build-up and lactic acid. It also alleviated soreness, strains and pulls and helps speed up athlete's recovery times from work-outs. The overall result is increased physical as well as psychological readiness.
Post-event massage is usually performed two hours after a competition is over. It is light and gentle and can be self-administered on parts of the body, such as the legs. The purpose of a post-event massage is to reduce the swelling and relieve stiff and tense muscles. The massage will remove toxic waste and clear away any toxins.
Maintenance sports massage forms part of an athlete's training program. It is performed at least once a week while the athlete is training. It is frequently administered on the back and legs and aims to relax tone knotted muscles as well as prevent the development of scar tissue.
Massage may be the appropriate technique for treating certain sports injuries, especially muscle injuries, oedema, sore spots and tendonitis. However, it is best to seek advice from a qualified sports therapist before performing any massage. Certain ligament and joint injuries need expert attention as they may be aggravated by an over-zealous massage.