Massage May Be the Missing Key to Your Fitness Gains
“A massage? Come on, man. I don’t need a girly spa experience; I’ll tough it out.”…..If we had a dollar for every time, we heard that sentence or something similar from an athlete or anyone who works out on the regular, we’d be rich!
If there is one common denominator for people who work out, it’s that they will do almost anything to see faster progress in their workouts, and even more so for their body’s aesthetic.
They have no problem spending hundreds of dollars at their local vitamin shop for supplements, pre-workouts, protein powders, and the like—so why pause at the suggestion of massage therapy?
What if we told you the thing that may be stopping you from achieving your optimal “gains” could be something as simple as a monthly massage?
Mark Allen, the six-time winner of the Hawaiian Ironman Triathlon, believes that massage was an indispensable part of his training. Just as athletes need hard work to excel, they also need a massage to quicken recovery between workouts, prevent injuries, and reduce stress.
NBA stars and legends such as Grant Hill, Steve Nash, and Kobe Bryant, have all used sports massage as a means to stay healthy on and off the court. World Series champs, the 2005 Chicago White Sox, relied heavily on the team’s massage therapist to experience peak performance.
Most NFL teams also have a massage therapist on staff. And according to Forbes, James Harrison, the famed Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, spends around half a million dollars per year on bodywork, which includes massage therapy.
So, how exactly does massage affect recovery and performance?
1. Massage speeds up your recovery time
Massage increases blood flow to the whole body. When blood flow circulates well, your muscles and tissues receive much-needed oxygen and nutrients. Adding a post-workout massage helps restore your range of motion, and helps you perform exercises more efficiently. This increased range of motion can improve your speed and strength during workouts.
2. Massage decreases muscle soreness (or DOMS)
The increase of muscle enzymes in the blood after exercise causes damage to the muscle fibers and cell membrane. This damage is responsible for localized pain, tenderness and swelling associated with DOMS. Prevent post-workout pain, tight muscles and trigger points by enjoying a massage after your workout.
3. Massage increases lymph flow and helps remove toxins
Lactic acid accumulates when we exercise and contributes to post-workout muscle soreness. A massage after working out helps break up and remove lactic acid from muscles, as well as promote lymph movement.
4. Massage improves flexibility
Muscles may feel tight and constricted after intense workouts. Post-workout massage helps release the tightness and improves flexibility. Muscle recovery means it will be easier to do everyday things that require your body to be flexible. Runners who focus their post-workout massage on their hamstrings find they gain endurance and speed when running.
With years of study and hands-on experience with athletes of all ages and levels of fitness, you will be sure to find the perfect massage therapist and customized treatment plan at TheraKneads Wellness Center.
From sports massage, deep tissue massage, assisted stretch sessions and foam rolling demo—we have something beneficial for all kinds of athletes.
Give us a call, check out our offerings or book online here: https://therakneads.com/massage-eldersburg-sykesville-maryland.