Sports Massage

An athlete’s training programme consists of developing skill, strength, stamina, suppleness and speed. The degree to which individual elements are developed depends on the nature of the sport. In order to improve performance, athletes submit their bodies to a programme of gradual and controlled overuse. This overuse places stress on the body. The body’s response is adaptation, so that future training sessions are less stressful. Hence, the athletes performance improves.

However, during the course of training and the resultant adaptation, an athlete may create soft tissue imbalances in the form of increased muscle tone. If these imbalances become chronic, they may hinder improvement and the athlete’s performance may suffer. Additionally, the athlete may be susceptible to more serious conditions. The constant build-up of tension within the muscles from regular physical activity may lead to increased stress on the joints, ligaments and tendons as well as the muscles themselves.

The benefits from massage treatment can aid recovery from injury, helping damaged tissue heal more quickly. Regular massage treatment can help prevent injury by assisting recovery from strenuous athletic activity, relieving stiffness and soreness and keeping muscles balanced.

Massage treatment can help increase an athlete’s body awareness so that they may be more aware of soft tissue imbalances at an earlier stage and thus help prevent injury. Regular massage treatment can help the athlete undertake a heavier training programme with the potential for greater gains in performance

Sports massage should be tailored to the requirements of an individual sports person, their particular sport and the phase of their training/racing programme.

 

 

© Philip Chapple 2004