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“The scientific manipulation of soft tissue for injury prevention
and therapeutic purposes, involving the restoration to normal functional
activity of the various structures of the body”
Sports Massage should play a very important part in any athlete’s
training programme alongside warming up and cooling down. Through
massage the Therapist can remove the build up of general aches and
pains that most sports persons normally seem to accept. The Therapist
can use their hands to explore the tissues, find these problems and
deal with them accordingly. This will not only improve performance
and endurace but also prevent injuries and loss of joint mobility
in potential trouble spots.
Perfect synchronisation must occur within
muscle groups ‘Reciprocal
Inhibition’ to allow the body to complete co-ordination and
freedom of movement. Certain factors will influence this, like
muscle fatigue, lack of flexibility and technique resulting in
muscular
strain. The only difference between one muscle strain and another
is the extent of the damage and its location.
After the initial
inflammatory stage, Sports Massage Therapy is a superb form of
treatment simply
because it works with the body’s own healing processes. Improving
the circulation and manipulation of the injured tissues will result
in preventing adhesions forming, realigning scar tissue and a much
faster return to activity. |
A muscle spasm is nothing more than a contraction that has failed
to release. Muscles normally spasm to protect other damaged tissues,
the more damage the more spasm, again this will inhibit the mobility
of joints. Sports Massage induces relaxation and desensitisation
of the muscle spindles that will lead to a release of spasm and improve
joint mobility as well as lowering the stress levels placed upon
the body.
Eventually every sports person will reach their peak. Physically
the muscles tighten and resist maximum effort. Nevertheless, with
Sports Massage the Therapist can extend this barrier and the overall
life of their athletic career and in doing so help to maintain the
entire body into a better physical condition. Also, more importantly,
you do not have to be a sports person to receive the benefits of
Sports Body Massage.
The principle of any treatment is to pay particular attention to
reducing pain, bleeding, swelling and muscle spasm.
The aim of rehabilitation
is to maintain and increase fitness and improve all round physical
ability, with particular emphasis on restoring
the injured limb to normality. To achieve this the Therapist will
work on improving: joint mobility, strength, flexibility, proprioception,
cardiovascular fitness and confidence.
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