Athlete's key to flexibility, recovery and pain relief and you'll LOVE it!

In a recent article in Lifestyler, the many benefits of massage to sports enthusiasts and athletes are highlighted. Amongst the many discussed the top three I would have to say are flexibility, recovery & pain relief.

Here is some valuable information Josie McKenlay shares regarding how massage can increase your flexibility, help you recover from intense workouts and injury as well as reduce pain.

Flexibility

This is something most sports people lack. Overused muscles tend to become short and tight, creating muscle imbalances which eventually lead to injuries. The effects of this tension in the muscles may include disturbances of collagen scar tissue and development of various adhesions where the muscle, fascia and other tissues stubbornly stick together.

Recovery

During intense physical activity, tiny tears occur in muscles and fascia. The stroking movements in massage suck fluid through blood and lymph vessels. This is especially important in tight or damaged muscle tissue as a tight muscle will squeeze blood out like a sponge, depriving the tissues of vital nutrients and energy to repair. So massage improves blood circulation which means that nutrients and oxygen are carried more efficiently to the injured areas to help them heal and recover quickly. Tight muscle will restrict blood flow, so by releasing and relaxing the muscles, blood may flow freely. Waste products such as lactic acid will also be removed as the lymphatic system get a boost.

Pain

Obviously, the source of severe pain needs to be investigated and dealt with, but the pain of sore, overworked muscles can be greatly relieved with a good massage. Sore, tired, overworked muscles will have a negative impact on performance for the athlete, so it is important that pain is dealt with and alleviated. This may mean rest and other forms of treatment too, but for most, a massage will help greatly. The common DOMS (delayed onset of muscle soreness) many of us experience after an intense training session can be reduced during massage.

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