The secret to being a good sport

Massage therapy offers many benefits to athletes, including improved performance, faster recovery from injury
and injury prevention.  Whether you’re a high performance athlete or simply a wanna be All Black, chances are a good massage will help you get where you want to be athletically.

What is Sports Massage?

Therapeutic sports massage is a specific massage technique that uses some of the methods found in deep tissue massage. It concentrates mainly on the soft tissues, addressing any injuries, aches and pains.

Research has shown that a session of deep massage after an intense workout can  benefit muscles by causing them to enlarge and grow new mitochondria. Mitochondria are the parts of the cells that convert nutrients into energy.

A study carried out at McMaster University,Canada, got men to exercise to the point of exhaustion on stationary cycles. After this the participants were given a deep tissue massage on one leg only. Interestingly, muscle biopsies showed that the deep-tissue massage increased the size and number of new mitochondria more than exercising without massage.

The pressure that’s involved in a sports massage stimulates blood flow, which warms your muscles up during and after your massage session. Massage is also a great way to de-stress after working out and goes a long way to improving your mood (if those exercise endorphins haven’t already sorted you out!)

Why sports massage?

Positive effects of sports massage include:

• Reduced muscle tension
• Better muscle tone
• Increased range of motion
• Improved soft tissue function
• Decreased muscle stiffness
• Less muscle fatigue after exercising
• Lower chance of injury

Professional and recreational athletes often make massage therapy an essential part of their regime, and we encourage you to do so too. Take advantage of the benefits of a targeted sports massage today and take your exercise routine to the next level.