Using Sports Massage Therapy
Sports massage is rapidly becoming an integral component of today's athletic regimen, from corporate training rooms, to private training rooms, even to Olympic training centers. Increasing number of professional coaches think that regular massage can give an athlete an edge over competitors who do not regularly get massaged. "What's new is that athletes are not only aware of its advantages, but are beginning to use it more often," says Mike Webster, PhD, a sports psychologist and performance improvement specialist in the University of Maryland College of Medicine." Masseuse techniques used during sport massage may provide increased joint mobility, reduce muscle tension and spasm, improve circulation, and reduce recovery time."
Besides its many health benefits, there are lots of psychological reasons why athletes are opting to include this technique in their training regimen. According to Webster, one of the most noticeable changes he sees in athletes is the ability to focus better on their game after a sports massage. "The effects are extremely noticeable," he says. "Following a treatment, players are going to be in much better physical condition and functionality can be improved greatly."
To perform these techniques, a certified massage therapist works with the whole body, working on soft tissues as well as muscles. The massage therapist uses their hands, elbows, fingers, forearms, and toes for gentle movements. These techniques relax tight, exhausted, tense, and overworked muscle tissue, relieving pain and tension. A sports massage session typically involves up to ten sessions, with breaks in between for the athlete to decompress.
The goal of this kind of therapeutic massage is to loosen tight muscles, improve range of motion, relieve stress and muscle tension, improve circulation, and reduce inflammation. Muscle soreness, stiffness, pain, cramps, stiffness, and headaches are common side effects of a massage therapy. To soothe muscle stiffness and ease aching muscles, a therapist might suggest a hot towel or heat pad to be placed on the affected area. So as to release the tension in tight muscles, the therapist might ask the patient to move his or her arms and legs for five minutes. Each session should take no more than thirty minutes.
Some therapists offer sports treatment through their own practice or as a sideline for a proven practice. Sports massage isn't governed by standard licensing bodies, but some states have requirements for participating therapists. States such as Colorado require therapists to get certification and education in sports therapy. Certification programs are available at local schools and technical schools.
There are several types of sports massage that target different areas of the body. Deep tissue, also known as Swedish massage, is for deep tissue injuries, such as those resulting from a sudden crash, fall, or sudden bruise. Sports massage therapists use long strokes and kneading techniques for relief and relaxation. Trigger point therapy is a popular technique aimed at relieving chronic painful muscle fibres of ache. Spinal decompression is used for patients with many different spinal problems, including disk degeneration. This technique is aimed at relieving stiffness and restoring freedom.
Although some people feel uncomfortable seeing a licensed sports massage therapist, they may prove useful to some. The combination of massage techniques used can decrease stress and increase range of movement, particularly in regards to physical activity like weightlifting or yoga. When muscles are stretched, they have been given more opportunity to stretch out without injuring themselves. Injuries can be prevented if the injured part is properly worked on, which can help prevent further injuries.
Lots of individuals may experience a mild sprain during their lifetime. A small tear in any muscle can quickly cure, but more serious sports massage injuries, such as a torn 출장안마 muscle , can take weeks or even months to heal. It is not unusual for athletes to experience repetitive strain injuries, which occur when repetitive movements cause damage to the delicate tissue surrounding the muscle. Ripped muscles can quickly become inflamed and cause distress, which is often brought on by an overloaded nervous system.