Who needs a sports massage?
Do you feel any tension or soreness in your legs and back after a day of sports or exercise? A sports massage may be the perfect solution for you. Or maybe it’s even from sitting at your desk all day.
Sports massage is an effective way to massage and manipulate the soft tissues in your body and specific muscles where you feel pain or tension. Many techniques include effleurage (stroking), petrissage (kneading), compression, percussion, stretching, and more. These techniques are aimed at helping your body maximize its performance and to assist with conditioning and recovery.
One of the common misconceptions about sports massage is that it is only for athletes. According to FHYSIO, a leading Singapore physiotherapy and sports massage clinic, you don’t have to be a professional athlete to benefit from a sports massage. If you have any pain specific to a part of your body, a sports massage is suitable for you. For example, if you suffer from a sore back due to poor posture, a sports massage can help!
What are the benefits of a sports massage?
There have been many reported benefits from sports massage. These are based on both experiences and observations.
The benefits of sports massage include:
- Decreased muscle tension, soreness, and pain
- Decreased neurological excitability (relaxed nerves)
- Decreased muscle spasms
- Decreased recovery time
- Decreased injury risk
- Increased joint range of motion
- Increased flexibility
- Increased sense of well-being
- Increased blood flow
And as most of us will attest, sometimes it just feels great to have a massage. Like other massages, a sports massage can also be enjoyable and relaxing.
If I am an athlete, when should I get a sports massage?
There are a few sports massage types – each with its own purpose. So, depending on your goal, you may find it more beneficial to experience a specific type of sports massage.
The types of sports massage include:
- Before exercise
- After exercise
- Restorative
- Rehabilitative
As you can see, you can find yourself in almost any of the scenarios above. Your therapist can point out areas of concern and help preempt any potential injury. Many athletes seek out sports massage regularly as an effective method of injury prevention.
Finding a sports massage therapist
When someone says, “Sports massage does not work for me,” they have not done their research in choosing a good sports massage therapist more times than not. First things first: You should always ask if your therapist is credentialed. Here are some recommended questions to ask:
- What are your certifications?
- Are you trained specifically to perform as a sports massage therapist?
- Can you address my health and fitness concerns?
- Are you experienced with my condition?
Before you go!
Are you enjoying your new knowledge of sports massage? If you are interested in learning more or want to get started with your first sports massage, FHYSIO has written a comprehensive guide to Sports Massages in Singapore.
Want to become a sports massage therapist? FHYSIO is also the premier sports massage school in Singapore, and many of its graduates have started their own Sports Massage services after completing their courses. So what are you waiting for? Get started today.
