Sports Therapy Massage
What Is A Good Sports Therapy Massage?
Sports therapy massage has been believed to help athletes
stay healthy and perform at their optimal level.
Sports therapy massage can be used before beginning a sport
to help prevent injury, reduce stress, and increase flexibility.
After the sports, it can drain away the tension built up in
the muscles and alleviate aches and pains.
During the training, massage therapy can help to expand and
extend muscles and to promote relaxation. Before performing
sports therapy massage, you should be knowledgeable about
human anatomy and been trained in basic massage techniques.
Before The Sports
If you are massaging an athlete before a sporting event,
you are there to help him or her prepare for performance both
mentally and physically. Depending on the athlete’s
mood, you might need to help to him or her calm down or get
psyched up and ready to perform.
If the athlete needs to calm down, you can use the Swedish
massage techniques, which is long, slow strokes for relaxation.
If you use aromatherapy together with your massage, you might
want to consider bringing lavender or cedar-scented candles
or incense into the massage room.
If the athlete is in need of quick energy, then massage him
or her with short, vigorous strokes. Mint or citrus scents
will be an ideal choice to compliment the effects of your
energizing sports therapy massage.
The closer you are to the sports time, the shorter the massage
should be. Deep tissue massage should be avoided as it might
affect the athlete’s timing and balance.
After The Sports
After a sporting event, massage can help to reduce the toxins
and help the body to restore. Before beginning work on an
athlete after an event, take a moment to evaluate him or her.
Ask the athlete how he or she is feeling. Are there any spots
that sore? Refer to the doctor if the athlete shows signs
or symptoms of injury, shock, or heat exhaustion.
After the performance, you can use light, gentle strokes
during the sports therapy massage. Smooth, gliding strokes
and gentle squeezing and kneading will promote drainage of
waste products.
Maintenance
Athletes should receive regular sports therapy massages during
training so that they can stay in the best possible condition.
The goal of maintenance massage is to work on broadening and
elongating the muscles, promoting relaxation, and continuing
to flush out built up toxins. Unlike pre- and post- event
massages, maintenance sports therapy massages primarily targets
on deep tissue work.
These three basic sports therapy massages can help the athletes
to reach their peak performances. With training and practice,
you can help the athlete in your life to improve his or her
game.
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