Sports Therapy & Massage
Sports Massage and Treatment of Injuries
Sports and remedial massage ought to play a part in an active lifestyle, whether you're an enthusiastic amateur, an elite athlete and whether you've suffered an injury of some sort or not. This is because massage has a number of real physical, physiological and psychological benefits.
Sports massage can help maintain the body in better condition, preventing injuries and loss of mobility, cure and restore mobility to injured muscle tissue, boost performance and extend the length of an active lifestyle. The physical effects of sports massage include:
- Pumping
- Increased tissue permeability
- Stretching
- Breaking down scar tissue
- Increased elasticity
- Opens your micro circulation
Let's take a closer look at each of these effects...
Pumping
Tight or damaged muscles squeeze out blood rather like a sponge, depriving the tissues of vital nutrients and the energy to repair.However, the stroking movements of massage suck fluid through the blood and lymph vessels.
Increased tissue permeability
Deep massage causes the pores to open enabling fluid and nutrients to pass through them. Waste products are removed more quickly. Massage accelerates the body's natural healing processes.
Stretching
Massage stretches muscle tissue lengthwise and sideways as well as stretching the sheath or fascia that surrounds it releasing tension.
Break down of scar tissue
Massage releases the tension from inflexible scar tissue allowing for more freedom of movement.
Elasticity
Hard training makes muscle tissue hard and inelastic. The pumping and stretching actions of massage reverse this effect.
Micro-circulation
Massage increases the blood flow to tissues. Opening the blood vessels it enables nutrients to pass through more easily to feed and repair the tissue.
Tel: 07724 598372
Physiological Effects of Massage
- Pain reduction
- Relaxation
Let's take a closer look at each of these effects...
Pain reduction
Tension and waste products in muscle tissue cause pain. However, massage helps to release endorphins that reduce any such pain, and the stretching and pumping involved releases tension too.
Relaxation
Muscle tissue will always respond to, and relax with, heat-generated circulation and stretching. Nerves in the massaged area are stimulated which cause a reflex relation. Massage can help to combat both physical and mental stress.
Tel: 07724 598372
Psychological Effects of Massage
- Anxiety reduction
- Improved mood
Let's take a closer look at each of these effects...
Anxiety reduction
The pressures of everyday life can lead us all to feelings of fear, anticipation and worry. Massage can help lower the blood pressure and the heart rate to alleviate these emotions, allowing us to think clearer.
Improved mood
Massage therapy is generally conducted in an area that is soothing and calm, the ‘feelgood’ hormones or endorphins are stimulated to help us feel relaxed. Massage can also stimulate the production of pain blockers that can reduce the symptoms of chronic pain and can also help to alleviate the symptoms of depression.
Sports Injury Treatment
Many of us lead active lifestyles and exercise has become for most of us part of our work- life balance. Occasionally we suffer injury which prevents us from doing the activities we love the most and that help us relax, whether it's running, cycling, swimming, football or anyone of a whole host of hobbies.
At Life-Balance-Fitness our therapists are highly trained to conduct full assessments to help identify problem areas when you are injured. We offer a comprehensive package of assessment, initial treatment, follow up treatment and maintenance plans to help keep you on track with your fitness goals.
Tel: 07724 598372
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| Sports Therapy and Massage |
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