Aiden Gray Finding A Great Sports Massage Therapist To Meet All Of Your Project Needs
Aiden Gray Finding A Great Sports Massage Therapist To Meet All Of Your Project Needs
Blog Article
How Often Should Athletes Get Sports Massages?
Getting a sports massage is a vital component of any athlete’s recovery strategy. It helps rehydrate muscles and reduces the risk of injury. But how often should athletes get these treatments?
The answer depends on the athlete’s goals and training schedule. Ultimately, it comes down to frequency, quality, and choice of therapist.
Pre-event
Pre-event sports massages prepare athletes to perform by increasing their flexibility, enhancing their muscle function, and improving their ability to focus mentally. They utilize effleurage, friction, vibration, and tapotement techniques to stimulate blood flow and release tension.
Athletes should consider getting this type of massage in the seven to two days prior to their event, says Denunzio. Anything less can leave the muscles too sore to perform well on race day.
A pre-event session should be no longer than an hour, and should incorporate light massage techniques such as effleurage and friction as well as kneading (petrissage). The goal is to reduce the stress hormone cortisol which can impair performance by creating a state of chronic fatigue. It also helps remove lactic acid and alleviate tired muscles to ensure maximum performance.
Post-event
A post-event massage is usually given within 24 hours after the event to help aid recovery. It helps flush out cellular waste, reduces muscle soreness and stiffness, and improves circulation. This type of massage also helps prevent and treat injuries that occur during training or competition.
Pre-event sports massages are meant to prep the body for activity. Whether it’s a soccer game or a track and field meet, the goal is to prepare the body physically for activity by increasing blood flow to the muscles that will be most worked during the event. This helps make it harder for the muscles to fatigue, which in turn makes it easier to complete an athletic event.
The time frame for pre-event massages varies, but ideally it should be done no more than 60 minutes before an deep tissue massage gun vs. sports massage session cost athlete begins competing. Any longer, and the massage may start to cause an athlete to over-stress their muscles, which can diminish their performance.
Maintenance
Generally speaking, massage therapy should be seen as a supplement to a good training programme and lifestyle. If a particular injury is persisting then it is best to seek a physiotherapy assessment to determine whether or not a sports massage is the best course of action.
Having a regular sports massage is considered to be one of the most effective methods for avoiding injuries. This is because it improves flexibility, increases range of motion and reduces muscle tightness, making it a key component in an athlete’s toolkit.
For a full-time professional athlete, it is common to have regular massages on a weekly basis during periods of intense training. However, amateur athletes and recreational exercisers should work with a therapist to establish an appropriate treatment schedule for their goals. It may be necessary to frontload sessions initially, such as every 2-4 weeks, to gain the benefits of sports massage quickly. After that, a maintenance schedule will be set.
Choosing a therapist
Athletes require a massage therapist who understands the unique needs of their sport and training regimen. A well-trained therapist can make the difference between an athlete who can push their boundaries and one who is injured.
Pre-event sports massage is performed shortly before an athletic event to stimulate the muscles, improve circulation, and reduce mental tension. It should be short and include techniques like effleurage and petrissage to prepare the muscles for movement. The therapist should stay in constant communication with the athlete regarding their comfort level and do not use new techniques or overwork the muscles.
Post-event massages can be given several hours to 48 hours after an event to aid in recovery and prevent soreness. These sessions should be shorter and more focused on muscle groups that were heavily used during the event. Post-event massage can be very beneficial for runners, as it has been shown to improve flexibility and decrease running times.