Role of massage in sports performance and rehabilitation

Massage has been known for its benefits for hundreds of decades Over a period of time it has evolved with many branches in itself Some of them are Ayurvedic Swedish and sports massageThe difference between Ayurvedic and Sports massage is that the Ayurvedic massage ends at your fingers indicating that all the negative energy should come out from your fingers However in sports massage it is towards the heart for flushing out waste metabolites Also Ayurvedic is more in tandem with superficiality while Sports massage is known for reaching out to your deep tissuesSports massage has gained its popularity over the past decade This is due to the sports culture which involves crickets football Kabaddi etc However sports massage is not only for Athletes but also for the general population who want to reduce the stiffness in their tight muscles probably for the people in the corporate sectors whose jobs requires them to sit and work for hours It is also for people who have just started doing exercises or have been doing it for years Sports massage therapy is gaining popularity as it has proven to be a necessary component in a balanced training regime Sports massage therapy can be used as a means to enhance preevent preparation and reduce recovery time for maximum performance during training or after an event Athletes have discovered that specially designed sports massage promotes flexibility reduces fatigue improved endurance helps prevent injuries and prepares their body and mind for optimal performanceA sports massage therapist should be well versed with the Anatomy and physiology of massage and their effect on particular soft tissues Muscles Tendons etc Dr Nilesh Makwana Senior physiotherapy at The Heal Institute says sports massage has its benefits at various systems of the body Here are a fewMuscles Sports massage specially done with grade 2 or 3 levels helps in reducing the stiffness of the muscles relaxes the muscles and also helps in quick recovery postevent or exercisesJoints Normally messages are not recommended on joints or ligaments However indirect massage on muscles helps in improving joint range of motion which increases the flexibility to certain extent Although this massage is not an alternative to flexibility trainingNervous system Some techniques of Massage helps to stimulate the nervous system which stimulates the muscles and gives a sense of preparedness However massage is just an adjunct to warm up and cannot be replacedBlood flow Massage is useful to flush out the waste metabolites and reduces soreness pain or stiffness pain in muscles or tendonsRelaxation Massage is known for its relaxation techniques massage releases many good hormones which is directly related to the moods of an human being after massage one can feel the sense of relaxation which also reduces stressAll the above benefits are a direct indicator of increasing sports participation and improving rehabilitation outcomeSo what does research tells us One of the key benefits of Sports massage therapy compared to other modalities is its ability to target muscletendon junctions A 2010 study in the journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that even a 30second massage improved hipflexor range of motion Another study conducted by Margaret Jones PhD of the American College of Sports Medicine demonstrated a notable trend toward decreased muscle soreness in the athletes who received massage either before or after exercise As study done in 2008 shows the massage enhances the recovery by means of physiological and psychological benefitsAn ideal sports massage therapist The sports massage therapist should be certified to be massage therapist Every sports massage therapist should know the location of Muscles Tendons and Nerves for full efficacy of the massage Every client should ask their massage therapist if they are certified by any certifying agencies As Rubbing the body is not massage a therapist should locate the stiff areas of the muscles and effectively use the techniques like effleurage friction etc to reduce the stiffness or painful area in muscle A massage therapist may also use some tools like silicon cups trigger point release tool etc for effectiveness in their massage session If the person who is getting a massage is a first timer in receiving a sports massage he or she should know the bodyrsquos limitations of taking the pressure Communicate whenever necessary Just like exercises it takes 3 days to recover from sports massage Therefore twice in a week taking full body massage is ideal for anyone Every session should last for minimum of 45 minutes to 90 minutes depending on the body If any medical condition like osteoporosis or eye issue exists it should be informed about to your therapist before you take the session as certain positions or pressures are not suitable for some medical conditionsSports massage is good for anyone who wants to relax or reduce their muscle stiffness however a proper dose is very important and that should be properly directed by your massage therapistTop News Stories of The DayMumbai Engineer caught stealing laptops from girls hostel in DindoshiMahim abduction case Drunk Samaritan says he gave child juice chipsMuseum lift vendor blame each other after freak mishap kills dentistMumbai Crime Man loses Rs 1 lakh on digital wallet platformWestern Railway IITB on track to avoid waterlogging mess this yearMumbai RPF has code band plan in case of monsoon tragediesChembur woman wins RTI battle against Mumbai copsCSMT bridge collapse 709page charge sheet only against auditorFuture of silk town Mubarakpur in tattersMumbai 270 Government Law College students at risk of losing a yearOpen spaces cant be sacrificed for developmentWoman tries to throw slipper at Navjot Sidhu Twitter has mixed reactionsCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates