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all types of massage the therapist has specific aims in
mind, and in sport we focus on the individual needs of the
athlete. With the ever growing number of people taking part
in sports, combined with the increasing competitiveness
and intensity of physical exercise, the demand for sports
massage is also increasing and becoming more and more recognized
as a skill which may aid recovery and enhance performance.
Sports
massage does have some aims in common with other forms of
massage and it is especially important to have a thorough
understanding of anatomy and physiology, in particular the
muscular and skeletal systems. By understanding these systems
and the effects of exercise we may also appreciate how massage
may benefit the sports person and becomes an integral part
of the athlete's training program.
Athletes
who are looking to improve performance and increase their
competitive edge do so by adopting a training schedule to
enhance their skill, strength, stamina, suppleness and speed.
The degree to which they develop and utilize these qualities
will depend on other factors such as the level of competition,
the sport played, and possibly their position in a team.
However, no matter which sport, the aim is nearly always
to systematically increase the level of training and thereby
subject the body to gradual and controlled overuse.
It
is this overuse which may often create problems and imbalances
in the soft tissues. If these are ignored and allowed to
become chronic, they will not only hinder the athlete's
rate of improvement, but also in many cases their performance
may well suffer and ultimately the athlete may be susceptible
to developing more serious conditions. Certainly if they
are unable to perform at their best, they may be more at
risk from other more traumatic forms of injury. For example,
a player involved in a contact sport who is "carrying"
an injury may not have their usual level of agility. The
result might be that they might suffer an extrinsic injury
because of not being fully prepared for the contact suffered
from an unexpected tackle.
Benefits
of Sports Massage
Massage,
applied skillfully, is the most effective therapy for releasing
muscle tension and restoring balance to the musculo-skeletal
system. Received regularly this may help athletes prevent
injuries, which might otherwise be caused by overuse. A
constant build-up of tension in the muscles from regular
activity may lead to stresses on joints, ligaments, tendons,
as well as the muscles themselves.
These
muscle imbalances may develop and often go undiagnosed until
they are serious enough to cause the athlete discomfort
or impede performance. The skilled massage therapist will
be able to detect variations in the soft tissues and by
using the correct techniques, help the sports person maintain
a much healthier physical state. It may therefore be reasonably
claimed that one of the greatest benefits of sports massage
is in helping prevent injury.
Call
us today at 408-739-2273 for a great massage!
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