Injuries may be frequent on the sports field, but recovery should be a priority for your next performance. Here are the 7 best massages for sports recovery.
1. Sports massage
Sports massage is one of the best for people in sports and athletes for recovery. The name itself shows how it has been customized for people doing sports. The techniques employed in this massage therapy are specially for injury prevention or to reduce the risk of injury.
The massage is split to suit what athletes need before and after the event for recovery. The pre-event preparation is meant to lose tight muscles, increase circulation, and prepare the body for the performance. Sports massage can be customized for each athlete according to their individual needs.
Understandably, proper preparation reduces the risk of injury during competition.
Intense physical activities often cause inflammation and muscle discomfort to athletes. The post-event recovery massage is done, so it alleviates the symptoms of injuries encountered or from the soreness or pain.
Moreover, the techniques used in massage often include kneading, long strokes, and compression to improve flexibility and blood circulation. Frequently therapists use several methods like myofascial release, deep tissue massage, etc. to break the scar tissues and adhesions formed.
2. Deep tissue massage
Deep tissue massage accounts for one of the top massages for sports recovery due to its ability to speed recovery from injuries. This massage therapy targets the deeper tissue levels and fascia. This ensures faster recovery from injuries for the athletes.
Furthermore, the rigor activity often leads to scar tissues and adhesions in the muscle tissues. Therefore deep tissue massage incorporates firm pressure in the specific areas of injury to break these scars and adhesions. This also promotes flexibility and mobility.
Moreover, intense exercise can lead to inflammation in the muscles. During this type of sports massage, The therapist can use slow strokes and friction to increase blood circulation. This provides faster relief from muscle inflammation.
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3. Swedish massage
Swedish massage may not be tailored for sports recovery, but it does help ease muscle discomfort and cramps. The constant physical activity causes cramps in muscles. Swedish massage uses techniques such as long gliding strokes, kneading, and tapping movements.
These techniques help to improve blood circulation. This ensures the distribution of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles. Thereby the muscle feels relaxed and attains faster recovery.
The massage not only helps muscle recovery but also helps in alleviating the mental status of the athletes. The massage is proven to help release mood-lifting chemicals such as endorphins and serotonin. The better the mind the faster the recovery.
Techniques such as the use of kneading on the sore muscles help to specifically release the pain in those areas or where the athlete feels soreness and discomfort.
4. Foam rolling
Foam rolling also known as self myofascial release is one of the best massages used by athletes or people doing intense physical workouts for muscle healing. The best thing about this therapy is that the athlete can apply pressure on the right areas of pain using a cylindrical form roller.
The methods used focus on the trigger point and muscle knots which are often seen in the athletes after intense workouts or exercises. Using the foam roller, the right pressure is applied on the right areas causing the breaking of scars and adhesions in muscle tissues.
Additionally, the massage serves great for athletes as it improves joint mobility and range of motion by focusing on the fascia and right muscles. This increases the efficiency of the massage as it not only helps in the recovery but also helps the athlete to prepare for their next action.
The foam roller also helps the recovery sooner by flushing the metabolic wastes and improving the blood circulation.
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5. Trigger point therapy
Trigger point therapy is highly beneficial to people in people in the sports field due to its target to alleviate pain in specific areas of discomfort. As the name denotes, the massage strategy focuses on eliminating pain in areas of muscle tension known as the trigger points.
The vigorous physical activity done by the athletes causes areas of muscle soreness and tightness in the areas that have been strained more. This causes more pain in certain areas. Trigger point therapy is an excellent treatment for relieving such conditions.
The main technique employed in this form of treatment is the application of pressure in the right amount. It aids in improving mobility. Thus, the athlete finds more freedom in movement, which can positively affect the overall performance.
Furthermore, the recovery from muscle injuries is sped up by employing trigger point therapy in between the workout sessions and training. And also one of the major advantages of taking the therapy is the prevention of injury in the long term.
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6. Cupping therapy
Cupping therapy is the oldest therapy method which can be a powerful practice used to help athletes recover from injuries due to vigorous activities. The cup creates a suction on the skin, which primarily promotes blood circulation.
The acceleration of blood flow is a positive feature of the therapy session, as it speeds up the recovery of injury in the muscles. By loosening the fascia through cupping, the athlete achieves more mobility and flexibility in the joints, which again is a great outcome.
Not only the cupping therapy heal the muscles but also promotes overall wellness for the body and mind. Reducing stress levels and creating a stable mind are such strengths in optimizing the performance of the athlete.
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7. Compression therapy
Compression therapy is the most widely used method nowadays among athletes or people who are into vigorous physical activities. It includes the application of pressure on certain areas using compression garments or devices.
Improved blood flow is one of the common ways to fasten the recovery process, and compression therapy is on the right track, accelerating blood circulation and flushing out metabolic wastes.
Additionally, The excess swelling and inflammation caused by muscle injury can also be healed using compression garments terminating further risk of swelling. Using compression garments also helps in improving lymphatic drainage and contributes to more recovery.
Also, the compression garment is a great tool to get support during physical activities. It gives space for the athletes to perform more, prevent further injuries, and heal faster.