5 Reasons Triathletes, Crossfit, and Multisport Athletes Need Massage Therapy
When you think of massage, you imagine a luxurious spa environment with nature sounds gently piping into the room and the scent of lavender filling the air. You may consider it an indulgence, a leisurely activity or even a waste of time.
However, sports massage is different, and many top athletes rely on it as a fundamental part of their conditioning to remain in peak performance. For all you triathletes, multisport athletes and CrossFit athletes out there, here are five reasons why massage can help you no matter your sports of choice.
- Train Harder
As an athlete involved in multiple sports, you know that you work more muscle groups than the average athlete. While these different activities may have cross-training benefits, they can also lead to more injuries, soreness or fatigue. Regular massage is a natural complement to your intense training regimen.
By recognizing that massage is more of a necessity than a treat, you’ll be taking care of your muscles, fascia, ligaments, and joints. When you take care of your body this way, you’ll be able to train harder.
- Recover Quickly
As a high-caliber athlete, you know that recovery is just as important as the effort you put in during training. Exercise breaks down your muscles and recovery build them up again.
Massage has been shown to help athletes recover quicker after periods of exercise. If you get a massage within two hours after working out or competing, it can help get the blood flowing, care for injured tissues and limit delayed-onset muscle soreness by as much as 30%. Rather than taking an anti-inflammatory medicine after working out, massage may be able to deliver similar anti-swelling effects.
Remember, the faster and more effective for your recovery period, the sooner you can get back to training and competing.
- Prevent Injuries
As an athlete, you have an intimate knowledge of how your body’s muscles and joints work. You can tell day-to-day if you’re going to have a good training session or if you’re feeling off. As an athlete, especially a multi-sport athlete, you’re highly susceptible to muscle strains and sprains. While you likely have a strong warm-up and cool down routine to help avoid these injuries, regular massage can also help.
Massage is intended to release stiffness in muscles. This can help improve your overall range of motion. Keeping your body limber is often key to avoiding common sports injuries. It will take more than one session for a tight knot to loosen up. As with the other benefits of massage, the cumulative effects of massage are what help you avoid injuries.
- Reduce Pain
In addition to preventing injuries, sports massage and deep tissue massage can be effective ways to reduce pain, whether from an injury or a chronic condition. When you have stiff muscles, not only can the muscles ache but the joints, ligaments, and nerves around them could be pinched by this tightness.
Manipulating soft tissues and applying pressure to muscles and ligaments can help reduce spasms and contractions in muscles and relax everything around them. Massage can also soften fascia and remove adhesions between fascia and muscles; adhesions restrict joint movement and can lead to pain. As these areas become more relaxed, it’s possible for pain to fade. It often requires multiple sessions to ease particularly tight or inflamed areas that are causing pain.
- Improve Focus
Even though sports and deep tissue massages are known for their intensity, you can still come out of a session feeling relaxed. This state of relaxation can help you reduce stress and anxiety, stabilize cortisol levels, lower blood pressure and improve your mood. When you reach this state of ease, you’ll be better able to focus on your upcoming competition or intense period of training.
As a multisport athlete, your body takes a beating. Regular massage can help you recover quicker, train longer, and promotes better sleep habits — you know how important rest is to your game!
Get Started with Massage Today
For the best results, massage therapy, specifically deep-tissue massage therapy, should be an ongoing part of your training routine. Scheduling a massage a few days before a big event and after the competition can keep your muscles and mind in optimal condition. At each session, your massage therapist will adjust the bodywork to make sure it targets your specific areas of need. After just a few sessions, you’ll wonder how you ever managed to compete without it!
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