First Time Clients Receive 35% Off ($78/hour)

How Sports Massage Benefits Many Athletes

Many different groups of people may find great benefits from different massage therapy techniques, and athletes of all varieties are a great example. Among several massage techniques that might be helpful for athletes, perhaps the single most beneficial is aptly named: Sports massage.

At Body Balance Massage and Float, we're here to offer the very best sports massage services available in the Lehi and Orem areas, plus various other massage techniques and float therapy solutions. Here are some basics on sports massage - how it works, the specific techniques used within it, and the kinds of people who can benefit from it (likely a larger list than you may have assumed).

sports massage benefits athletes

Sports Massage Basics and Common Techniques

For those just learning about the concept of sports massage, here's a brief rundown: It is a type of massage therapy designed to help athletes prepare their bodies for optimal performance, recover after a big event, or to simply function at optimum level during training.

This type of massage uses various soft tissue manipulation techniques, including some examples:

  • Effleurage: This form of stroking and gliding is used to warm up the muscles before deeper massage techniques are applied.
  • Friction: Deeper pressure is applied in a circular motion to help break down adhesions in the muscles and tendons.
  • Trigger Point Therapy: Applying pressure to specific points of the body helps release tension, reduce pain and increase range of motion.
  • Compression: This technique helps increase circulation, reduce swelling and flush metabolic waste from the muscles.
  • Percussion: Using a special tool or hands to tap the muscles can help break up adhesions and relax deep tissue layers.

These are just a few examples of some of the techniques used in sports massage.

Benefits of Sports Massage for Athletes

There are several direct ways that sports massage benefits athletes and people who exercise often:

  • Flexibility and range of motion (ROM): Tension in the muscles and connective tissue can limit ROM, but sports massage helps to restore it.
  • Pain relief: Techniques like trigger point therapy can help relieve specific pain points that athletes often experience after intense physical activity or repetitive motion.
  • Reduced fatigue: Massage reduces muscle tension and increases circulation, which helps flush lactic acid out of the body and reduces fatigue.
  • Reduced risk of injury: Regular massage can help keep muscles from becoming too tight or overworked, which helps reduce the chance of injury.
  • Improved performance: By increasing flexibility, reducing muscle tension and improving circulation, athletes often experience improved performance as a result of sports massage.

These are just a few of the many benefits that athletes and sportspeople can experience from regular massage. Whether you're an amateur or professional athlete, you can be sure that at Body Balance Massage and Float, we'll do our best to provide the very best sports massage services in Lehi and Orem. Contact us today to get started!

Is it Painful?

Whether or not sports massage will be painful will typically depend on the nature of the issue being treated, the techniques used and the sensitivity of the patient. Most patients find sports massage to be quite relaxing with some potential discomfort during trigger point therapy, but overall it shouldn’t be overly painful.

In fact, for many athletes, this is often described as a "good pain." That term may seem confusing, but what it means is that athletes are surprised and often impressed by the amount of tension that can be released from their muscles.

So, while sports massage may not always be a comfortable experience, the long-term results in terms of improved performance and reduced risk of injury more than make up for any potential discomfort.

Who Should Consider Sports Massage?

While some people may think that sports massage is only reserved for professional athletes or those who participate in a lot of physical activity, that is not the case. Sports massage can be beneficial for anyone who exercises regularly and wants to improve their performance or reduce their chance of injury.

It's also great for people who experience pain due to tight muscles or specific trigger points. The techniques used in sports massage are designed to target areas of tension and help to reduce pain, so it could be just what you need.

The takeaway here is that anyone can benefit from sports massage, regardless of their fitness level or activity level. So if you're looking for a way to improve your performance, reduce your chance of injury or simply relax after a hard workout, sports massage may be just what you need.

When it comes to sports massage, Body Balance Massage and Float offers the best in Lehi and Orem. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you reach your performance goals!

Copyright © 2024 All Rights Reserved
chevron-down