5 Reasons To Try Sports Massage

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It is a common misconception that sports massage is only for athletes While this type of massage can improve the performance of an athlete, it can be beneficial to anyone who suffers from chronic pain, muscle aches, and restricted range of motion.

What is a Sports Massage?

Sports massage is a form of massage that involves different techniques that focus on the manipulation of the soft tissue of the body. Soft tissue includes skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia. Sports massage is designed to correct imbalances in soft tissue caused by strenuous physical activity or trauma. 

Sports massage is particularly tailored to different sports and sporting injuries. It is targeted to support fitness, enhance performance, reduce chances of pain or injury, and shorten recovery time. Sports massage is enormously beneficial for athletes, bodybuilders, and anyone that lives an active lifestyle.

Types of Sports Massage 

  1. Pre-event sports massage: Pre-event sports massage is done to prepare athletes for competition or training sessions and to help prevent serious athletic injury. It is to prepare the body for the upcoming event. 
  2. Post-event sports massage: Strenuous exercise creates tiny tears in the muscles and creates swelling. Post-event sports massage helps reduce this swelling, loosen tired and stiff muscles, promote blood flow to the muscle to eliminate lactic acid and waste build-up, and reduce cramping. Furthermore, post-event massage speeds recovery and alleviates pulls, strains, and soreness.
  3. Maintenance sports massage: Maintenance sports massage is done post-training and between events to relax the body. It can help boost blood flow and nutrient delivery to the muscles, reduce inflammation and remove lactic acid and other waste products, allowing for faster recovery and improved performance before the next event. Maintenance massage also helps reduce the development of scar tissue while increasing flexibility and range of motion.

Sports Massage Techniques

  • Effleurage (stroking): These are simple strokes done with the hands, fingers, elbows, and thumbs to promote blood flow, and this is usually the first technique used. It relaxes the muscles, identifies trigger points and tender areas, stretches the fascia and tissue, and prepares the body for petrissage.
  • Petrissage (kneading): Kneading movements are done rhythmically to manipulate the muscles. This technique helps relieve sore muscles, removes metabolic waste, loosens muscles, and improves muscle recovery.
  • Tapotement (rhythmic striking): The massage therapist uses light, brisk, rhythmic strokes to stimulate blood flow across the body.
  • Friction: Sports massage therapists often use friction movements for repairing injuries because it targets muscle tissues. This technique involves rubbing the massage site using the thumbs or fingers in a circular or linear motion, which helps break up scar tissue and increase lymphatic and blood flow.
  • Vibration: This technique involves rhythmic shaking of the massage area, which helps relax and soothe the muscles

5 Reasons To Try Sports Massage

You do not need to play sports to get benefits from a sports massage. Whether you are a professional athlete, an amateur, or just exercise at the gym, a sports massage can do a world of good. Here are five reasons to try sports massage:

  1. Improved flexibility: Tense muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other soft tissues can prevent your body from experiencing the full range of motion. Because sports massage focuses on soft tissue manipulation, flexibility is significantly improved, which can optimize athletic performance, range of motion, and comfort.
  2. Reduced muscle pain: Professional athletes and people who train for fitness are often prone to muscle strains and soreness. Intense workouts can cause pain, delayed healing, and muscle fatigue. Deep tissue massage provides increased blood oxygen, which speeds up healing and alleviates pain.
  3. Stress relief: Stress is a natural part of life but can have long-term physical and mental consequences. When done properly, regular massage can reduce stress levels and their symptoms Sports massage helps release endorphins that reduce stress levels in your body, as well as serotonin, which has mood-enhancing properties.
  4. Injury rehabilitationSports massage can be a great way to help with injury rehabilitation. Massaging specific muscle groups of the injured area increases blood flow and eliminates toxins, aiding recovery. Regular sports massage can also help reduce the chance of future injury.
  5. Better sleep: Sleep is vital to one’s health; it helps the body and the mind rest and is beneficial to overall well-being. Sports massage techniques can help relax the body, which helps promote better sleep.

5 Massage Tools You Might Be Interested In 

1. Norco Mini Vibrator Manual Massager

Sports massage therapists often use vibration therapy to help relax muscles, relieve stress, improve circulation, and increase energy levels. Norco Mini Vibrator works on the principle of vibration and is great for scar massage, desensitization, muscle stimulation, oral stimulation, and sensory re-education. It is small and portable, perfect for in-home use and on the go.

This personal massager comes with three natural silicone tip attachments and a cap to produce different types of targeted vibration. The silicone heads help massage small muscle areas like hands, fingers, feet, knees, elbows, or neck that might otherwise be painful when using a full-size massager. The massage cap is useful in massaging broader muscle areas. You can enhance the massage session by using massage creams or lotions.

How to use Norco Mini Vibrator?

  • Turn the battery cover on the bottom of the massager counterclockwise. 
  • Insert the size “C” battery with the positive side towards the top cover. 
  • Twist the battery cover clockwise to secure it.
  • Choose between the rounded, spot, flat tip, or massage cap to massage the targeted area.
  • Remove the vibrator cover and attach the chosen silicone head in place until it is secure.
  • To change the tip, simply pull the attachment piece until it comes out.

Customer reviews on Norco Mini Vibrator Manual Massager

5 Star Reviews on Norco Mini Vibrator Manual Massager

 

09/08/21 by Mary S. I’ve had a North Coast (n/k/a Norco) Mini Vibrator for years and have used it for multiple trigger release scars. It really softens the scar better than just massaging with my finger. I put on a dab of vitamin e cream and rub it in a bit before going over the scar with the vibrator for a minute or so. It’s great! "

 

2. Hermell Face Down Pillow

Designed with a special U-shaped opening that gently cradles your face while you lie face down on the massage table during therapy. It keeps the spine in the correct position and takes the pressure off your lower back. This prone pillow is also useful for individuals who must keep their face down while recovering from certain eye surgeries.

Features of Hermell Face Down Pillow 

  • Ideal for massage therapy, physiotherapy, osteopathy, and chiropractic treatments.
  • The ergonomic design delivers extreme comfort.
  • Has a contoured surface on one side of the pillow specifically designed for women to lie comfortably. 
  • The reverse side of the pillow is flat for men.
  • The removable, machine-washable white polycotton blend cover keeps the pillow clean and sanitary.
 

3. Scar Tissue Wooden Massage Tool

Scarring can be reduced when scar tissue is broken down through sports massage. This tool is effective in breaking down scar tissue after an injury or surgery and is great for sports massage.  

This personal massager features a wooden handle with a rubber tip that helps pinpoint adhesions. Massaging with this tool relieves pain, numbness, and tingling. The tool movement should be perpendicular to the direction of the scar line to ensure collagen fibers are aligned properly.

Features of Scar Tissue Massage Tool

  • Designed with a rubber tip and a wooden handle
  • Softens scars and desensitizes users
  • Aids in efficient scar reduction 
  • Helps regain sensation and feeling in the wounded area 
  • Available in two sizes

Customer reviews on Scar Tissue Wooden Massage Tool

5 Star Reviews on Scar Tissue Wooden Massage Tool

 

08/23/22 by Olivia G.Scar Tissue Massage Tool is wonderful and makes using it on my hand scars easy. "

 

4. Sealed Ice Polar Ice Foot and Ankle Wrap

Effective in providing pain relief from bruises, sprains, and other sports injuries. Cold therapy plays an important role in the athletic world, whether it is to alleviate muscle soreness, treat a minor fitness injury, or speed up muscle recovery. This ankle wrap with ice packs is simple to use and provides compression and the benefits of cold therapy for soft tissue injuries of the foot and ankle. The polar cold wrap is ideal for post-surgery, rehabilitation, and following physical activity.

Features of Sealed Ice Foot and Ankle Wrap

  • Delivers the benefits of cryotherapy with compression for soft tissue trauma. 
  • Designed to conform to the contours of the ankle and foot.
  • Hook-and-loop straps help securely hold the wrap in place and prevent migration during use.
  • Soft fleece protects the skin from frostbite.
  • Quick refreeze time.

Customer reviews on Sealed Ice Polar Ice Foot and Ankle Wrap

5 Star Reviews on Sealed Ice Polar Ice Foot and Ankle Wrap

 

05/07/17 by StephanieFinally, a way to ice your entire foot all at once! Love this product!! "

 

5. Breg VPULSE Thermal Knee Pad

Designed for cold therapy and compression therapy to reduce pain and swelling. This knee pad is intended to treat post-surgical and acute injuries to reduce pain and swelling where cold and compression are indicated.  It is used with the VPULSE Cold Therapy System.

Features of Breg VPULSE Thermal Knee Pad

  • Compatible with the Breg VPULSE cold therapy unit.
  • Used to treat arthritis, tendonitis, strains, and post-op recovery.
  • Designed for home and hospital use.
  • Reduces pain and swelling post-activity.
  • Relieves surgery site discomfort and inflammation. 
  • Aids in the prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Sports massage is one of the best things you can do for yourself for a healthy mind and body. It can help you to experience more flexibility, less pain, fewer injuries, better performance, reduced mental stress, and better sleep.

Rehab Store carries a vast selection of self-massage tools from top manufacturers at the best prices.

 

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