THE BENEFITS OF MASSAGE FOR SPORTS INJURIES

Today we have a guest post by Virginia Cunningham. She is a freelance writer in Southern California who specializes in health topics. She enjoys getting a massage after an injury, and finds the results to be very effective.

Playing a sport on a regular basis is an incredibly effective way to get your exercise. In fact, many people find it much more beneficial than doing exercises like jogging or going to the gym – especially individuals that can’t seem to find the motivation for pure exercise.

While sports are great for staying in shape, they can unfortunately result in injuries. Most sports-related injuries are relatively minor, but they are be painful and sometimes result in missing regular, day-to-day activities.

To counteract some of the pain from sports injuries and help you get up and moving around again, massage is a particularly beneficial treatment, especially when combined with conventional medicinal techniques and other therapies and pain management techniques.

Massage Improves Flexibility

Muscles that get used frequently via sports often become less able to relax, even as they are growing stronger and more effective. Unfortunately, this is problematic for some people when injuries occur, as decreased flexibility can make muscle soreness worse.

Massage therapy – even basic types of massage like Swedish massage – can help to improve your flexibility. In the short term, improved flexibility can result in less pain and a reduced chance that you’ll injure yourself further while performing simple daily tasks, still with an injury.

Improving your muscles’ flexibility also decreases the likelihood that you’ll get injured once you return to the sport of your choice after your injury heals.

Massage Reduces Scar Tissue

When it comes to sports injuries, deep tissue massage is often the most beneficial type of treatment for muscle-related injuries. While some people may find deep tissue massage uncomfortable, particularly when they have an injury, deep tissue massage loosens muscles and actually breaks down the formation of scar tissue that tends to make getting injured again much easier.

The discomfort that many people feel after getting a deep tissue massage will also subside in about 24 hours or so as well. After that, most report that their muscle injuries feel much better during the healing process.

Massage Increases Circulation

Injured muscles commonly feel tight, which alters the way people move when they’re injured. Unfortunately, that can actually result in further pain and injuries – even when you’re already injured.

However, massage can improve oxygen circulation and blood flow in the body, making the muscles feel less tight and constricted after exercise or when injured. Improved circulation also helps your body wash away waste products that can cause muscle pain and make healing even more difficult for your body. 

In many cases, getting a massage when you have an injury actually feels good. In fact, some people even enjoy deep tissue massage.

If actually feeling better isn’t enough reason to seek out a massage when you’re injured, the fact that you’re less likely to reinjure yourself, or make your injury worse, should be.

Talk to your doctor and massage practitioner about what type of massage could be most beneficial for you. Most of the time there is a particular massage which targets your injury and is most effective for healing and recovery.