Benefits of Sports Massage
Blogs, / By Winsen Citra
Sports massage is a type of massage that is specialised to focus on muscles that is related to specific sports. It can be used to help an athlete prepare for an event or as part of recovery after an event. However, it is not only athletes who benefit from sports massage. People who are rehabilitating from injuries and recreational exercisers also find benefits from doing it.
How Does Sports Massage Differ?
Though some of the techniques used can be like a regular massage, the end goal of sports massage is different. Unlike regular spa massage, it has a specific goal of maximising your mobility. It is a form of therapy that is used to prepare your body for sports or to recover from your sporting activity. As such, it is often more targeted to specific body areas and will usually go a lot deeper into your tissues. Its ultimate aim is not relaxation. It is to help the athlete’s body achieve maximum performance and physical conditioning with a decreased chance of injury or pain and a quicker recovery.
What Are the Benefits?
There are many benefits that have been reported by athletes who get a regular sports massage. These are:
- Increased joint range of motion (ROM)
- Increased flexibility
- Increased sense of well-being
- Decreased muscle tension
- Decreased neurological excitability (nerves more relaxed)
- Decreased muscle spasms
- Better sleep
- Improved performance
What Can I Expect from a Sports Massage Session?
At Elevate Physiotherapy, our therapist will do a quick physical assessment of your body to find out which areas of your body we need to focus on. We will also check your general movements to determine if any movement is restricted by tightness or stiffness. After which, we will proceed with your massage session.
After the session, we will give you general advice on simple stretching exercises to maintain your body condition. You can expect to feel a little tender for about 1 day after the massage. It is, therefore, recommended to come to a sports massage at least 1 day before your sporting event (if you are preparing for one).
If you have further questions about sports massage, feel free to contact us. Do not forget to follow us on Instagram to get useful tips about your body.
Winsen Citra
Principal Physiotherapist
Winsen graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2011. He worked in organisations of various sizes such as Singapore General Hospital, Pain Relief Practice, and Physioclinic before working at Elevate Physiotherapy. He specialises in sports and musculoskeletal injuries and has worked with athletes in various sports such as fencing, dancing, dragon boating, and cycling.
In his spare time, he enjoys singing and playing chess.