Whether you’ve pulled a muscle or you’re determined to flip into a backbend as effortlessly as your eight-year-old niece, a sports massage can help you limber up. Using techniques from Swedish and shiatsu massages to rub away aches and pains, it’s adaptable, versatile and feels great afterwards.
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1 1. It can make you more flexible
Sports massage uses strong pressure to get right into problem areas deep within your muscles. By giving them a really good stretch, it helps lengthen the fibres. This will help your muscles relax, giving you better range of movement and improved flexibility. If you want to be the yoga teacher's pet, start here.
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2 2. It shortens your recovery
We're all for an excuse to lie around on the sofa for a few days after pulling a muscle, but the guilt slowly creeps in. A sports massage can get you back in the gym more quickly. When your therapist works your muscles, it opens up pores in deep tissue membranes. This helps get rid of built-up lactic acid and lets fresh oxygen and nutrients in, which speeds up recovery.
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3 3. It stops injury in its tracks
Sports massage increases the elasticity of your muscles and can heal damaged tissue. When you're relaxed, you have a better range of motion, which reduces the chance of getting injured. A lesson we love to preach (even if we've not quite learned it yet): prevention is better than cure.
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4 4. It can improve your endurance
If your workout has left you scared to sit down, we feel your pain. Getting a massage a day or two before a fitness class increases blood flow across your whole body. Extra oxygen flow can stop you getting out of breath so quickly. Just know when to stop in the spin class next time.
FAQs
How does a sports massage help improve your flexibility?
A sports massage lengthens muscle fibres and allows for better stretching, making you more flexible. Strong pressure targets problem areas deep within muscles and helps them relax, leading to a greater range of movement for everyday activities or fitness routines.
What techniques can be used during a sports massage?
Sports massage may use techniques from Swedish and shiatsu massages to address aches and pains. These methods are adaptable, versatile and aim to provide relief, comfort and enhanced mobility following the session.
Can a sports massage help speed up muscle recovery?
Sports massage can shorten your recovery time after pulling a muscle or strenuous exercise. By opening pores in deep tissue membranes, it helps flush out lactic acid and brings in fresh oxygen and nutrients, which supports faster healing and less downtime.
Is sports massage effective for preventing injuries?
A sports massage increases muscle elasticity and promotes healing of damaged tissue, reducing injury risk. Improved relaxation and greater range of motion lower the chance of muscle strains or other common exercise injuries.
How can sports massage improve your workout endurance?
Scheduling a massage a day or two before a workout can boost your endurance. Enhanced blood flow throughout your body provides extra oxygen, making it easier to sustain activity and preventing rapid breathlessness during exercise.