Sports Massage Therapy

Sports Massage Injury Treatment

A sports massage can help an athlete recover from an injury because it targets the body's tissues and muscles. The stroking motions of a massage increase blood circulation, which is important in treating tight muscles that restrict the flow of blood and deny tissues proper nutrients. With a deep tissue massage, the pores in tissues open up and fluids and nutrients are easily able to pass through. This means that waste products, such as lactic acid, which causes sore muscles, and scar tissue which forms after an injury, move out of the area and allow an athlete to recover quicker.

Sports massages stretch tissues that cannot be stretched by other means. Tension and pressure in the tissues are then released. Also, intense physical activity can cause tissues to harden and loose elasticity. A sports massage stretches these tissues and helps to loosen and improve their elasticity. As a result, the athlete sees improvements in their performance because the tissues can now work to the best of their ability.

Sports massages also have physiological and psychological effects on an athlete. By releasing tension and waste products in muscles, pain is alleviated and endorphins are released. A massage also helps muscles to relax and reduces anxiety, which is often associated with an injury.