Most people consider diet and exercise essential to achieving fitness goals. But, there are other behaviours that can help. Massage therapy is one.
Including regular massage sessions into your workout routine can improve performance, reduce soreness and speed recovery. Here are a few reasons why you should do just that:.
Increased Flexibility
Flexibility is important for anyone, whether they are a professional athlete or just starting a fitness routine. It can be hard to bend and stretch when your muscles are tight, but massage is a great way to get those muscles limber.
The friction applied during a massage stimulates an increase in temperature which causes vasodilation (where the blood vessels dilate). This allows an increased delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the muscle fibres. This increases the flexibility of the muscle, breaks down adhesions and stretches the muscles.
The flexibility gained from massage helps improve an athlete’s performance. This is because it decreases delayed onset muscle soreness and reduces stiffness after exercise. It also increases range of motion and soft tissue function. It has even been shown to decrease injury and boost the immune system. When stiffness is alleviated, concentration is improved, allowing the athlete to focus on their workout. This can help them achieve flexibility goals such as touching their toes or completing a yoga pose that once seemed impossible.
Reduced Soreness
Athletes who receive massages regularly are thought to have less of a chance of developing muscle injury than those who don’t. Massage helps to break up muscle groups that have become tight, knotted, and rigid. This causes microscopic tears within the muscles, similar to that of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Soreness, varying with the type of massage, lasts a few hours to a couple of days, and is considered a good hurt, as it signals the body’s healing process.
Athletes who experience soreness after a massage can minimize it by drinking plenty of water, both before and after the session. It’s also important to communicate openly with your therapist regarding pressure, comfort level, and any areas of discomfort. This allows them to adjust their technique and help you can sports massage replace physical therapy? to have a more enjoyable and fulfilling massage experience.
Reduced Risk of Injury
Whether you’ve just smashed your personal best at the gym or are getting ready to run a marathon, massage is an essential component of workout recovery. Regular therapeutic massages help you prepare for physical stress, reduce the pain and soreness of training, and increase your energy and performance.
The science behind it is pretty straightforward: Athletes who regularly receive massages have a lower risk of injury. That’s because the stretching and compression that comes with a good, deep tissue massage can help loosen tight muscles and tendons.
And a therapeutic massage also stimulates circulation, which helps deliver oxygen and nutrients to muscle tissues more efficiently—and eliminates waste products more quickly. Plus, massage can help ease the effects of a workout by releasing endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. This keeps you moving without fear of discomfort and allows you to make steady progress toward your fitness goals.
Increased Energy
When a massage is combined with other fitness and wellness routines, it can amplify the benefits. This includes lifting weights, running and yoga.
When muscles and joints are tight, they restrict blood flow and create a buildup of lactic acid. A massage increases circulation, which helps to remove the lactic acid and waste products that are created during intense workouts, as well as reduces muscle soreness and improves range of motion.
Regular massages can help your body recover from exercise faster, allowing you to train more often and reach your fitness goals sooner. By limiting pain, tightness and stiffness, massage therapy can drastically decrease the amount of time it takes to get back to peak performance after workouts.
Incorporating massage into a fitness regimen is an essential component of achieving health and fitness goals. Massage not only increases flexibility and boosts circulation, but it can also limit injuries and speed up recovery times. So, instead of waiting for neck pain or soreness to send you to a massage therapist, make it a part of your fitness routine!
