Whether you’re a professional athlete or just enjoy playing sports occasionally, chances are you’ve at least heard of sports massage. Sports massage is a type of massage that’s specifically tailored to the needs of athletes, and it can be a great way to help prevent and treat injuries. If you’re interested in giving sports massage a try, here are five tips to help get you started.
1. Research On Sports Massage Before Actually Getting One
This enables you to know what sports massage actually is. It also helps you be aware of the potential risks involved with getting a sports massage and how much it should cost you so that there are no surprises later on.
In keeping with research, you should also always make sure that the sports massage therapist is qualified and experienced in what they are doing. You want to make sure it’s someone who can actually help your problem areas or injuries instead of just a masseuse who thinks all bodies work the same way. You also don’t want to get one from an unlicensed person because this could lead to injury while not helping at all with your pain issues.
The best therapists will have specific training on how to deal with athletes and their needs rather than working on regular people as well or vice versa. They need particular knowledge about muscles, connective tissues, bones, etc.
Before coming for a session make sure that your potential sports massage practitioner has completed formal training at an accredited school and holds valid certification from either one of these organizations:
- National Certification Board of Sports Massage Therapists (NCBTMB)
- American Organization of Bodywork Therapies in Asia (AOBTA)
- Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP)
Make sure that their license number appears on the card they will be giving you when making an appointment. Along with this information, there should also be proof of insurance coverage displayed in each office.
2. Discover The Many Forms Of Sports Massage
Sports massage is a great way to help prevent and treat injuries. It can also improve performance and increase range of motion. However, before you go out and get a sports massage, it’s important to learn about the different types of sports massages so that you can find the one that will best meet your needs.
There are three main types of sports massage:
- pre-event
- post-event
- Maintenance
Pre-event massages are given before an event in order to help prepare the athlete’s body for competition. Post-event massages are given after an event in order to reduce muscle soreness and inflammation. Maintenance massages are given on a regular
The different types of sports massage have their own benefits and purposes. Knowing which type of sports massage is right for you can help ensure that you get the most out of your massage. Different techniques target different areas of the body, so it’s important to understand what each one does before getting a sports massage.
3. It Is Important To Understand That Sports Massage Is Different From Regular Spa Massage
Because sports massage is specifically designed to meet the needs of people who are physically active.
Regular spa treatments can help you relax and pamper yourself, but they won’t necessarily improve your range of motion or decrease muscle tension. Sports massages will do both those things because they’re tailored for athletes’ specific physical issues. It’s important not to confuse sports massage with deep tissue massage, however—they have different goals!
4. Can You Drink And Eat Before, During, And After A Sports Massage?
You should not eat a heavy meal before a sports massage. Eating a large meal will only make you feel uncomfortable and bloated during your massage. Try to eat light snacks or nothing at all before your appointment. You will enjoy the massage more if you are not weighed down by the food. The sports massage therapist will also be able to work more efficiently if your stomach is not full.
Be sure that you eat a healthy meal after the sports massage! Eating too much, especially junk food, can make you feel tired and lethargic for several hours afterward. Also remember that it takes about an hour for carbohydrates from foods to turn into glucose in the bloodstream, which provides us with energy – so don’t dine immediately following the sport’s massage.
Eat another small snack about two hours later instead of eating a big dinner right away. This way your body will have the energy it needs to recover.
Do not drink too much water before or during a sports massage! Some people mistakenly believe that drinking plenty of water is good for you after exercising, but this can actually be harmful. If you are dehydrated when your muscles are massaged, they may absorb more fluid than usual since they expect there isn’t enough in the surrounding area; this causes them to swell and feel stiffer than usual.
Drinking lots of fluids right before receiving a sports massage can also cause bloating, which makes it harder for the therapist to work on your knotted muscles effectively due to all the extra tissue in their way. You should only take sips while getting a sports massage if needed – about one cup every 20 minutes.
5. It Is Best To Wear Loose, Comfortable Clothing Around Sports Massage Therapists!
Wearing baggy clothes can make it easier for your therapist to work on your body since their hands will not get caught up in tight fabric as often. It also helps them know where different muscle groups are located under the skin or at least how they appear.
Try avoiding wearing t-shirts with large logos across the front – these stretch out too easily and may cause discomfort during treatment if you’re lying on that area of your torso. However, feel free to keep a cloth or towel draped over sensitive parts like lower backs or stomachs unless otherwise specified by your massage therapist. They should always check before touching any part of your body after working on your back to make sure their client is comfortable.
Sports massage is an excellent way to get your body back in shape and feel good again. If you’re not sure how sports massages work, or if they are right for you, we have some information about it. It may seem like a strange topic at first but there are actually many different forms of this type of massage that offer varying benefits depending on the person and their goals! For example, some people want relief from sore muscles while others need help calming down after stressful periods of time; both can be achieved through sports massage therapy. So before diving into what exactly these massages entail, let us explore why you might consider getting one in the first place.
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