The benefits of sports massage

If you are someone who trains regularly, be it strength training in the gym, at rugby or running to prepare for a marathon, it can take a toll on the body, leading to muscle soreness, fatigue, and the risk of injury. However, there are plenty of things that you can do to help to ensure your body has the best chance of repairing and recuperating after each session including proper nutrition, adequate rest and hydration. One of the methods of looking after yourself which is often overlooked is sports massage, which can be hugely beneficial to your physical and mental health. In this article, we’ll share the main advantages of integrating sports massage into your training schedule.

Faster recovery

Intense workouts in the gym can cause microscopic damage to muscle fibres, leading to muscle soreness and inflammation. Sports massage helps facilitate muscle recovery by increasing blood flow to the muscles, which delivers oxygen and nutrients needed for repair. This can help reduce post-exercise soreness and stiffness, allowing for quicker recovery between workouts and improved performance over time.

Reducing your risk of injury

Repetitive movements, heavy lifting, and improper form during workouts can increase the risk of overuse injuries and muscular imbalances. Massage can help identify areas of tension, tightness, or weakness in the muscles and address them through targeted massage techniques. By releasing tension, improving flexibility, and restoring optimal muscle function, it can help reduce the risk of injuries such as strains, sprains, and tendonitis and ensure that you can keep up with your program. 

Improved range of motion 

Tight muscles and a restricted range of motion can limit your ability to perform exercises with proper technique and can increase the risk of sustaining an injury. By incorporating techniques such as stretching and deep tissue massage, massage can help to increase your flexibility and improve joint mobility. 

Alleviates muscle tension 

Muscle tension, knots, and trigger points are common issues that can arise from repetitive movements, poor posture, or muscular imbalances. A good sports therapist can target these areas of tension using techniques such as compression, friction, and trigger point therapy to release tight muscles and alleviate pain. By reducing muscle tension and promoting relaxation, sports massage can help improve your overall comfort and well-being, allowing you to train more effectively and with less discomfort in the gym.

Stress relief 

In addition to its physical benefits, sports massage can also provide mental relaxation and stress relief for gym enthusiasts. The rhythmic pressure and soothing touch of massage promote the release of endorphins, neurotransmitters that help reduce stress and promote feelings of relaxation and well-being. By reducing stress levels and promoting mental relaxation massage can help improve focus, concentration, and overall mental clarity which could be the barrier to you reaching your goals.

Is sports massage painful?

If you’ve never had a sports massage before and have heard others talking about it, you may have some reservations. It’s commonly believed that for sports massage to be effective, it must be painful. During your session, there may be some discomfort that arises during your session, these are typically key indicators of tight and tender areas of the body that may need addressing. It’s important that you communicate with your massage therapist and provide feedback during your session so that they will respond by changing the intensity of your massage to a comfortable level. This can vary greatly from person to person due to differing tolerance levels of deep pressure, so there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach.

If you’d like to know more about sports massage in Barnstaple and how it could be of benefit to you personally, get in touch and our team will be able to answer any questions you may have and get you booked in.