Sports Massage

Attended my first sports massage at SSMC. Targeted areas were my Quadriceps and ITB. It was the most painful massage i ever experienced, but i think it was worthwhile as i could feel my tight muscles loosen up. Will be going for sports massage once a month as to increase the chances of running injury-free.

What is Sports Massage?

Sports Massage is the term applied to the discipline of using massage for the specific benefit of all sports and exercise participants. It covers the management, manipulation and rehabilitation of the soft tissues of the body eg. muscles, ligaments and tendons.

Sports massage should be tailored to each individual's needs to positively enhance ones ability to perform.

Benefits of sports massage:

• Improve circulation & lymphatic flow
• Assist in the removal of metabolic waste
• Sedate or stimulate nerve endings
• Increase or decrease muscle tone
• Increase or decrease muscle length
• Remodel scar tissue when required
• Assist in mental preparation for sporting participation

Sports massage can be beneficial at various stages of participation. For example:

• The conditioning / training phase
• Pre competition
• Inter competition
• Post competition
• Post travel
• Injury prevention
• Injury recovery

Regardless of whether you exercise or play sport to keep fit, or compete from club to international level, then sports massage may have something to offer you.

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1320372

Mindmap of sport massage using imindmap software

Reference

Understanding Sports Massage (Paperback) by Patricia J., Ph.D. Benjamin (Author), Scott P. Lamp (Author)