Sports massage uses massage to prepare the body before exercise or to help the body recover after exercise. It focuses on the use of massage to assist training, prevent injury, and treat sports injuries. During physical activity—especially vigorous—muscle tension builds up in the body’s soft tissues. Due to overextension or overuse, minor injuries and lesions occur in these tissues that can cause a great deal of pain and poor athletic performance. Sports massage helps alleviate pain and prevent such injuries that greatly affect flexibility, mobility, response time, and overall performance in athletic events. Sports massage is generally a firmer massage that works specifically with sporting injuries and ailments.
Sports massage:
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Prepares the athlete for their best performance
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Reduces fatigue
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Relieves muscle swelling and tension
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Reduces DOMS by improved blood and lymphatic circulation & drainage
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Relaxes chronic muscle tightness
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Increases muscle flexibility
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Increases the effectiveness of recovery
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Reduces muscle hypertonicity
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Increases range of motion
*** DOMS - delayed-onset muscle soreness
