e can put extra stress on your body and can
result in sore muscles. Massage can be very beneficial in
helping to prepare you before an event and relax your muscles
after strenuous exercise. It can also be used for recovering
from injury and to maintain your muscles for peak performance.
There are several ways that this can be achieved.
Techniques that can be used: There are quite a few different
techniques that can be used; pettrisage, friction, effleurage,
compression, shaking, vibration, cross-fiber friction, direct
pressure, broadening strokes, stretching and range of motion.
Different reasons for using massage – there are different
reasons for massage in sports. It can be used for:
A warm up
To increase blood flow
Stimulate neurological pathways
To help you recover from exertion
Increase flexibility
Improve strength
Improve posture
When massage can be used:
Before an event: The reason for this will be to warm up the
muscles in preparation for the event and increase blood flow.
This in turn will lead to increased flexibility and cut down on
the discomfort that can be experienced with overexertion of
muscles when they are used in strenuous exercises. Techniques
that can be applied may include; friction, compression, shaking
and stretching.
After an event: This will help the body recover from exhaustion
brought on by heavy usage of certain muscles. This will be
important to avoid stiffness and discomfort that can occur with
intense usage of certain muscles. Techniques for this might
include; effleurage, pettrisage, compression, broadening
strokes and range of motion.
Healing an injury: to promote healing and strengthen the
muscles. An injury can be quite mild or a major problem.
Effleurage, compression and cross-fiber friction can be used
with these patients.
Maintaining good muscle tone: massage therapy can be used for
maintenance when an athlete is not in full training. This can
be done in an off-season. It is usually tailored to a
particular athlete on an individual basis. This can be a
valuable time to work on strengthening and healing muscles
after an injury, while the athlete does not need to actively
play their sport.
Massage therapy can be very helpful for athletes. Whether it is
for a warm up and preparing for an event or preventing stiffness
and the after effects of strenuous exercises, massage is very
beneficial for those involved in sports. Even if you just want
to stay fit and are taking minor exercises massage therapy can
still be useful.
About The Author: Zach Thompson is a Glyconutrients
Representative. You can get a free Glyconutrients consultation
by visiting http://www.myglycoshop.net . Clinical studies have
shown that glyconutrients can help balance your immune system.
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