While you might have heard of sports massages before, you might not know what they are and how they can help you. From helping athletes prepare for competitions to providing pain relief from past injuries, sports massages can be right for a myriad of people. In this article from The Hillsborough Chiropractic Clinic, you can find everything you need to know about sports massages and how they might be beneficial for you and your body.
What is a sports massage?
Specifically designed to meet the needs of active persons, sports massages focus on preventing injuries, increasing performance quality and aiding in recovery processes. Unlike ordinary massages, sports massages are arguably tailored more towards performance and comfort over relaxation. Read on to discover more about sports massages.
What is involved?
To help relax the body and encourage the release of pain, sports massages are a popular choice for many athletes. Generally, a professional sports massage should begin with a consultation, followed by the appointment itself. The consultation will be used to determine whether the appointment is appropriate for your needs, while the session itself will consist of the sports massage itself.
The Appointment
During a sports massage, you may receive multiple types of massaging techniques, helping you to achieve the relaxed body that you might be after. The techniques vary, some are designed to deal with problem areas while others are designed to increase mobility and flexibility.
When to Get a Sports Massage
Sports massages can be beneficial during any season of the year. They’re excellent for helping people to prepare for large exercise events, as well as dealing with the aftermath. In this section, you can learn about some reasons why you should consider getting a sports massage.
Preparing to Exercise
Many people choose to compete in large and competitive sports and events. More often than not, these challenges are designed to test the athlete, pushing them to the limits of their abilities. Many athletes like to therefore prepare for exercise with a sports massage, helping them to put their bodies in the best position for competition.
After Exercise
While soreness is expected after exercise for those of all fitness levels, it can be worsened if you’re trying a new activity or pushing yourself harder than usual. This soreness can be uncomfortable for days afterwards, making it worthwhile to receive a sports massage from a professional. They can help to reduce this discomfort with their expertise.
During Rehabilitation
Unfortunately, sometimes athletes can become injured during physical activity. From completing solo exercises to competing in competitions, there are many situations in which athletes can become injured. Often, it’s recommended for those injured to receive assistance with the rehabilitation process from therapeutic massage services.
The Benefits of a Sports Massage
Advantageous and helpful, sports massages are a popular choice for a reason. In this section, you can find out more about the specific benefits of receiving a sports massage and why it may be right for you.
Range of Motion
Not able to reach for items without pain? A full range of motion is more important than you might think. Without it, it can be easy to put off doing the things you love, including certain sporting activities. Regular sports massages can help people retain their range of motion as they age, preventing tasks from becoming more challenging.
Reduced Muscle Tension
Spasms happening in your body can be uncomfortable, disturbing your day-to-day life. Thankfully, sports massages can help ease these pains. Sports massages can help with increasing the blood flow to specific areas, increasing recovery times significantly.
Better Mental Health
Constant aching and tiredness can take a toll on more than just your body. Taking actions to better your mental well-being can include meditation and baths, but it can also include getting cared for. Sports massages can relieve you of pain, helping you to feel less irritated by discomfort. This promotes greater happiness overall.
Prevents Injuries
Injuries caused by sports can be painful and debilitating, preventing you from going about your day. Potential injuries caused by sports include breakages, sprains and bruises. Often, sports massages can help to prevent strains and sprains, by helping to improve blood circulation and relax muscles to allow them to become more flexible.
Decreased Soreness
Tired of feeling sore after exercising? Soreness can make daily activities challenging, preventing you from getting out and about or deterring you from returning to the gym. Sports massages are useful for reducing aches and pains built up by exercise. Try choosing a sports massage before exercising heavily or after training to encourage your muscles to relax.
Better Sleep
Soreness in your muscles can be uncomfortable both during the day and the night. Sore muscles can make it difficult to drift off to sleep at night, making you more tired the next day, and impacting your overall mood. Sports massages can be used to address the pain and ease tension and aches within your muscles to allow you to sleep in whichever position is most comfortable for you.
Attending Your Appointment
If you have booked a sports massage appointment, there are a few ways you can prepare yourself for your session. Read on to find out how you should prepare for attending your session.
Discussing Existing Health
Before receiving your massage, it’s important to inform your massage clinic of any existing health conditions you have. The person providing your therapeutic massage should take anything you have informed them of into consideration, determining whether the massage is safe for you to proceed with. It can be worthwhile letting your sports massage clinic know of any previous injuries too, helping them to tailor their work.
Discussing Your Goals
To get the most out of your sports massage, it can be helpful to discuss what you would like to get out of your session. This could be dealing with certain problem areas, or working to become less sore after regular exercise. Whatever your goals might be, the person providing your sports massage should be able to consider this in both your consultation and your session.
What to Wear
It can be intimidating to attend your very first sports massage session. To help you feel prepared for the appointment and lessen your concerns, it can be helpful to know what you are expected to wear to your session.
As many of your body parts will need to be accessible during your session, it’s often best to wear loose clothing to your appointment. Generally, what you should wear to a sports massage session includes:
● Loose fitting tops
● Loose fitting bottoms
● Easily removed footwear
● No jewellery
Ultimately, what you wear to a sports massage clinic depends on the area of your body that is being massaged and the personal recommendations of the clinic itself. So, if you’re still unsure of what you should and should not wear, simply get in touch with your massage clinic first and foremost.
Our Services in Sheffield
Interested in arranging a sports massage today? Our specialists at The Hillsborough Chiropractic Clinic would be happy to help you, providing you with the support you need through sports massage services. These services can help you steadily recover from a sports injury, as well as prevent potential injuries from happening afterwards.
At The Hillsborough Chiropractor Clinic, we take the health of our customers seriously. If you’re worried about attending your consultation, please read our guidance to help you prepare for your first appointment on our website.
Contact Us Today
At The Hillsborough Chiropractic Clinic, we offer a range of services designed to help our customers feel better in their bodies. From sports massages to our chiropractic treatments, you can find the services you need with our friendly staff. Please visit our website to learn more about our team and our services. Alternatively, feel free to get in touch with us directly for further advice and support.
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