Athletes around the world push the boundaries of physical human limitations, training to be faster, stronger, and more agile. Professional athletes cultivate elite athleticism in one sport, while youth leagues allow kids to try out multiple sports and build athleticism as they grow. After high school and college sports, many adults continue to train and condition their bodies in some way. No matter what level of athlete you are, your body works hard to help you perform at your best.
Whether you strength train, run, swim, cycle, train for a sport, or practice yoga or Pilates, movement helps strengthen your body and increase your cardio endurance. The American Heart Association suggests that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity and at least two days of weight or strength training every week. These weekly activities are excellent for health and longevity, but they often introduce a new problem – aches and injuries. The best way to deal with aches and injuries from a balanced exercise regimen is to be proactive: stretching and warming up, taking care not to overtrain, and treating injuries when they arise.
Massage therapy can be an excellent addition to your training program, and can both proactively and reactively treat injuries and overuse. It’s not uncommon to see professional athletes getting massages after particularly grueling matches, since massage helps to increase blood flow to muscles, decrease stiffness, and ease pain. An experienced massage therapist can help you build a schedule based on the type, intensity, and duration of exercise you participate in. For example, a college baseball player would benefit from a different massage schedule than an adult recreational volleyball player or a runner training for a marathon. A good massage therapist will work with you, tailoring your session to meet your needs. She will determine what your session will look like based on whether you would benefit from maintenance care, pre-event care, or post-event care, giving your body what it needs to stay pain-free, prepare for an event, or recover from an activity.
In a small study conducted by S. Leivadi, 30 college-aged dance majors were randomly assigned to either a massage therapy group or a relaxation therapy group. Though both groups reported lower anxiety levels, only the massage group saw a reduction in cortisol (a stress hormone). Both groups had less neck, shoulder, and back pain, but only the massage therapy group saw increased performance markers like neck extension and shoulder abduction. In this study, and in many such small studies, massage has been shown to help athletes reduce stress, reduce pain, and increase performance.
Traditional sports medicine and massage can work hand-in-hand to support athletes, no matter the athlete's level of competition or stage in life. Working with a good massage therapist can help athletes to manage and address muscle issues before they compound into more complex problems. Massage therapists have a thorough education in anatomy and physiology to direct clients to seek help from a sports medicine doctor if the problem requires further intervention. Similarly, a good sports medicine doctor will encourage athletes to employ non-invasive techniques like massage to treat muscle aches and spasms.
Whether you are a current, returning, former, or future athlete, it’s important to know how to take care of your body. Consider adding massage therapy to your regimen to help you go farther, faster and stronger.
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