The Winter Olympics finished earlier this year in Vancouver, and one thing prevalent at the games – besides terrific performances by the world’s best athletes – was massage therapists, and a lot of them. The Games did not see a lack of professional therapists or sports trainers. According to a British Journal of Sports Medicine study, sports massage therapy is a major form of treatment that athletes get at international, national and global sporting events.
It is easy to see why sports therapy has become so popular. In the journal of Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise, an article published in 2008 demonstrated sports therapy’s extensive benefit for athletes, with therapy being credited in reducing levels of swelling while increasing levels of muscle strength after periods of strenuous exercise. The same research also showed that sports therapy can reduce the energy required to repair damaged muscles.
This is what all of this means.
This means the best professionals athletes in the world will still use massage therapy during competitions at the highest levels. It also means that all athletes may be interested in therapy as a way to help them and their team members train and compete.
What can massage therapy do specifically for athletes?
Therapy can ease muscle pain during training. Therapy is also a great way to keep your muscles healthy and flexible during training or lighter days.
It is a great way to improve performance. Sport massage can be used before competing to energize the muscles, and help with stretching and warm up exercises. This can help reduce pain or injury from strenuous events.
It may improve your health. The benefits of massage therapy have been demonstrated to increase circulation in the body, which is crucial for the detoxification and maintenance of a healthy immune system.
All sports can benefit from massage therapy. Sports therapy is a wonderful way for athletes to achieve their best health during competition and training. Nearly half of professional therapists are trained in sports therapy. Sports therapy accounts for nearly half the treatment provided to athletes competing at international majors. The simple truth is that it works.