Remedial /Sports Massage..

Massage, applied skillfully, is the most effective therapy for releasing muscle tension and restoring balance to the musculo-skeletal system.

Received regularly this may help athletes prevent injuries, which might otherwise be caused by a constant build up of tension in the muscles from regular activity that may lead to stresses on joints, ligaments, tendons, as well as the muscles themselves.

Sports massage should play an important part in the life of any sportsman or woman whether they are injured or not. Massage has a number of benefits both physical, physiological and psychological.

 

Physical effects

  • Increased tissue permeability - Deep massage causes the pores in tissue membranes to open, enabling fluids and nutrients to pass through. This helps remove waste products such as lactic acid and encourage the muscles to take up oxygen and nutrients which help them recover quicker.
  • Stretching - Massage can stretch tissues that could not be stretched in the usual methods. Bundles of muscle fibres are stretched lengthwise as well as sideways. Massage can also stretch the sheath or fascia that surrounds the muscle, so releasing any tension or pressure build up.
  • Break down scar tissue - Scar tissue is the result of previous injuries or trauma and can effect muscle, tendons and ligaments. This can lead to inflexible tissues that are prone to injury and pain.
  • Improve tissue elasticity - Hard training can make tissues hard and inelastic. This is one reason why hard training may not result in improvements. Massage helps reverse this by stretching the tissues.
  • Opens micro-circulation - Massage does increase blood flow to tissues, but so does exercise.
  • What massage also does is open or dilate the blood vessels and by stretching them this enables nutrients to pass through more easily.

Physiological effects

  • Pain reduction - Tension and waste products in muscles can often cause pain. Massage helps reduce this in many ways including releasing the bodies endorphins.
  • Relaxation - Muscles relax through heat generated, circulation and stretching. Mechanoreceptors which sense touch, pressure, tissue length and warmth are stimulated causing a reflex relaxation.

After care advice for Massage

Massage unlocks toxins and releases stress and tension held within the soft tissues of the body. As your body is experiencing heightened toxicity after a massage, it is important to:

  • Drink plenty of water to assist the flushing out of toxins and waste products
  • Eat a light meal after a massage, as your body needs to concentrate its efforts on detoxification and natural healing
  • Due to the increase in toxins circulating in the body, alcohol and smoking should be avoided.
  • Rest as much as possible after a treatment to assist the healing process and to benefit from the effects of the relaxation and stress reduction
  • In order to benefit from the positive effects of massage, having regular treatments will help to maintain your physical and emotional wellbeing