Massage therapy has its roots dating back centuries in history and is still practiced today — and for a good reason. Massage offers are excellent for recovering from numerous muscle and tissue injuries, especially for athletes who regularly experience intensive workouts and rigorous physical activity. To learn more about how it can help you, here’s an overview of the four benefits of massage therapy for sports injuries.
Improved Recovery Time
No athlete wants to stay out of the game for a prolonged period of time because they were hurt during practice or a match — but thanks to massage therapy, they’ll have a higher chance of returning sooner rather than later. One of the major benefits of massage therapy for sports injuries is that it can help speed up the athlete’s recovery by supporting their body’s natural healing process.
Massage therapies improve blood flow in the targeted area, increasing circulation to that particular region. This allows oxygen and nutrients to arrive at the injury much faster than usual, allowing the recovery process to advance at a quicker rate. Additionally, massages can also stimulate tissue metabolism in the body, which combines with improved circulation to make injuries heal quicker than they would otherwise.
Easing Pain and Tension
Another notable benefit of massage therapy for sports injuries is how it can ease the patient’s pain, tension, and fatigue. Massages can ease tense muscles, which constrict blood vessels and cause pain and inflammation in the process. Further, massage therapies will promote the relaxation of hurt muscles by breaking apart any adhesions, which are a condition that happens when collagen fibers become stuck to nearby tissues. In doing so, the patient will be granted increased flexibility and range of motion, allowing them to begin working out again sooner.
Another reason why fatigue relief is among the many benefits of massage therapy for sports injuries is that the process can remove one of the problems that cause it. Following physical activity, muscles can create carbonic and lactic acid as byproducts, which are considered notable contributors to muscle fatigue. Thanks to the improved circulation brought about by massage therapy, these unwanted acids can be flushed away faster.
Preventing Future Sports Injuries
Seeing a professional massage therapist can even help lower the chances you experience another injury in the future. By stretching out the body’s connective tissues and increasing blood flow, a therapist is also promoting the continued health of your muscles and tissues. This boosted circulation will make it more likely for chemicals that aid in the body’s natural recovery process, like nitrogen, to be excreted. Another benefit of massage therapy for sports injuries is that it can help promote the creation of white blood cells, helping patients stave off infections more easily.
Versatility
The benefits of massage therapy for sports injuries apply to a wide range of conditions. This is because massage therapies are flexible and capable of addressing a multitude of different sports injuries. For example, massages can be personalized to meet the unique needs of each athlete, such as specifically treating a soft tissue injury. Because a therapist can focus their attention on parts of the body that are the most painful and strained, athletes are able to get a lot out of their treatment.
To Experience the Massage Therapy Benefits for Sports Injuries Yourself, Call Us Today
At Dr. David W. Nadler & Associates, you can schedule a variety of professional deep-tissue massage therapy treatments. In addition, we also specialize in focused shockwave therapy, which offers its own unique advantages as well. Whatever you believe works best for you, we’ll be happy to help you recover — for more information and to schedule an appointment, contact us today.