If you are an athlete, you know the amount of dedication that it takes to be good at your sport. You have to train your muscles and tissues to perform in the ways you want them to, which can ultimately lead to pain and soreness. It helps in loosening up any tight areas and making recovery quicker and easier β so you can get back on track to accomplishing your end goal.
Your muscles are made up of many small, thin fibers that contract on command, working together to mobilize your muscle groups. These muscles are attached to your bones by connective tissues, called tendons, enabling them to move your body parts. Your bones are then connected by tough bands of connective tissue, called ligaments, for added stability. Your ligaments are covered by yet another connective tissue called fascia. Soft tissues help in mobilize your joints and give your body the strength it needs to perform tasks.
These can be damaged by certain stresses, especially those caused by the repeated actions within athletic activity. A tear in the tendon can lead you with a significant amount of swelling and inflammation. Many athletes also experience sprains, which is caused by a ligament stretching farther than intended. These injuries may occur in response to the intensity of your sport, but they can also occur if muscles simply are too tight before you begin one of your workouts.
Therapeutic massage can help with this, as it loosens up the muscles, and may even prevent some of these injuries from occurring. Therapeutic massage can be extremely beneficial for athletes, both before and after their training process.
Your physical therapist may also recommend other types of massage to complement your physical therapy treatments, including:. Therapeutic massage promotes tissue healing, so you can get back to your sport of choice as quickly as possible. Sports massage therapy can also be used before you even begin your rigorous exercise regimen, targeting the specific muscles and tissues that see the most use for your sport.
