Sports Massage: Why Should I Consider It?

Sports Massage: Why Should I Consider It?

Are you an athlete or exercise enthusiast? If your answer is yes, adding elements of a sports massage during your next visit to our chiropractic in El Segundo can work wonders for your body. A sports massage is known for enhancing your flexibility, helping you recover from excessive movement, and prevent the onset of forthcoming injuries. Think of a sports massage as a focused treatment, where firm pressure is applied to aching muscles and tissue. With the right therapist, you will see immediate results after your first session!

How Does a Sports Massage Work?

During a sports massage, a therapist will use several techniques to manipulate soft tissue surrounding your muscles. Athletes benefit greatly, as they can base your treatment on the sport you play for. According to Verywell Health, Olympic Gold Medalist Paavo Nurmi relied greatly on sports massage. In the 1920s he was one of the first to partake in this treatment. Each patient responds differently to each of the following techniques:

  • Swedish style massage
  • Petrissage (kneading)
  • Effleurage (stroking)
  • Stretching
  • Vibrating
  • Gliding
  • Increasing friction
  • Compressed movements
  • Targeting trigger points
  • Tapotement (rhythmic striking)
  • Percussion (tapping repeatedly)

Each technique has a specific way of increasing your performance and physical ability. While minimizing pain, you can expect a faster recovery during your first few sessions.

The Benefits

Although you might feel tender or stiff 1 to 2 days after your first massage, it is a completely safe treatment with many advantages. A few benefits positively affect you psychologically, while others positively impact you physiologically. You can expect to see:

  • A boost in your sense of well-being
  • Ease your nerves
  • Less muscle tension
  • Decreased muscle spasms
  • Better sleeping patterns
  • Increased range of motion
  • An improvement of flexibility

What Does the Research Say?

Studies show participants that who underwent a therapeutic sports massage felt less fatigued, had a faster recovery, and were less likely to experience delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). As the tension and stress were worked out of their body, participants saw an improvement in their sleeping patterns. As a result, anxiety lowered, and they had an overall boost in mood. However, there are a few benefits that have yet to be supported by research like increased blood flow and elimination of lactic acid. Past studies found blood flow was obstructed during the massage and a possible reason why lactic acid removal was unachievable.

Finding the right Sports Massage Therapist

If you are considering a sports massage in El Segundo, schedule your appointment with our trusted team at Premiere Chiropractic. Sports massage has been highly valued and practiced for many years. If you need long-term relief for aching muscles, this might be the right treatment for you!