Let’s skip over the generic benefits of massage like increased blood flow to muscles and lower cortisol levels. You can get those results from any massage and any location. What we want to focus on is the performance-based results massage can give to the active and engaged individual.
1. Sports massage for muscle adhesion separation and reduction. To sum up a great deal of information you can do some research on; as muscles a.) Grow and b.) Dehydrate, c.) Are injured, the fascia that encases every muscle (and bone) can become sticky and create adhesions. Bringing hydration and movement to an area that is in this state through myofascial release allows the muscle area, as a group, to move more freely. If you have not felt the same power or range in a muscle group and it correlated to a challenging workout, competition, or injury, this type of fascial adhesion may be identified and resolved through Myofascial Release in a sports massage.
2. Sports massage for joint mobilization. Proper movement of the hips, the shoulders, the ankles, etc. are critical for full range of motion in an activity. Using muscle activation, eccentric engagement and traditional muscle release combined with positional stretching; the therapist can bring your range of motion in line with the goals of increased mobility, decreased muscle restrictions, and improved muscle range for better overall body performance.
3. Sports massage for aggressive and competitive training. Are you training for a marathon, triathlon, competition? Do you engage in tennis, golf, basketball, cycling, etc. more than once or twice a week? Chances are you are feeling the effects of repetitive use muscle aggravation setting yourself up for potential injury. Massage with a trained therapist in your sports or exercise field is your first line of defense to keep your muscle from dysfunctional patterns incurred from single use engagements and prepared for your next workout or match.
4. Sports massage for injury recovery. You’re injured, now what? You are cleared for limited use from the doctor but you’re not ready for full strength engagement of your injured area? Sports massage can help. Massage can be applied to the area without causing irritation and inflammation. In fact, massage is known for bringing nutrient rich blood to the area thereby speeding recovery time. By addressing the body above, below and across the injured area, it can keep protective patterns like guarding and limping from causing domino pain patterns in other areas.
5. Sports massage for maintained stability. You work your body hard. You train, you compete. You dedicate time and energy to master your skills. To maximize the time you spend improving and conditioning, your body will thank you for the time you spend on the recovery side of your training. Sports massage will focus on your overworked areas, your patterns of repetition and dysfunction to maintain balance, mobility, and strength through your muscle engagements. Each sports massage session is tailored to the needs you have in the moment, but also directed to the challenges you face in the future.
I include a success story from a loyal client to close this article on the benefits of sports massage (which you can see expands beyond just sports!).
“About three years ago I was confirmed to have an anatomically shorter leg. I was most likely born with it. By my 40s this leg length discrepancy resulted in structural changes of my body that rotated my pelvis, twisted my torso and misaligned the head.
I was a fitness trainer back then and was very physically active. Exercises of various modalities, foam rolling and stretching routines were parts of my daily life. But despite all my knowledge in musculoskeletal anatomy and corrective exercise, my best efforts to combat the results of my condition could not fully address the changes in my posture and joints misalignment. I decided to try adding a manual fascia release and went to different massage therapists hoping that I would find someone able to understand my needs. Well, to find such a specialist did not seem very likely. All massage therapists I went to nodded their heads when I mentioned fascia and what is going on with mine, but in reality they did not have the actual knowledge nor the skill to work with my requests.
This is when I started looking for a massage therapist who would extend their professional advancement beyond massage school basics and go into the latest findings and methods. Having very little hope to find one, I came across Frisco Massage Therapy and Aqua Webb. Her education, work philosophy and approach seemed to be what I was looking for, and I was right!
It has been over 2 years since I started trusting my muscles, joints and fascia to Aqua’s skilled and caring hands. Nothing but professionalism, attention to my needs and the highest quality of service is what I get at Frisco Massage Therapy every single time.
Regular sessions with Aqua allow me to participate in my favorite classical ballet classes, week after week trust my body and handle the physical demands, as well as properly recover after.
My endless gratitude to Aqua for creating and leading the most innovative massage therapy place in the area. If you haven’t tried it yet – I highly recommend it. You will feel the difference.”
– Renata D., Loyal Customer