Sports massages are a great way to make sure that your body is well-prepared for events, is able to properly recover, and is well-maintained or rehabilitated throughout your life. Many athletes will turn to sports massages before and after big training events or competitions as a means to minimize the risk of incurring an injury and to support and speed up the recovery process. It is also common for those who engage in regular physical activities to receive sports massages in order to help them with joint or muscle tightness. One of the types of sports massages includes rehabilitative massages, which is great for those who have suffered from a sports-related injury to help support the body’s natural healing process in ensuring proper blood flow and mobility to the muscle or joint that has been injured.

Sports massages are known for being a bit more intense than a traditional relaxing massage, causing a bit more trauma to the body throughout the process, which can lead to more intense recoveries from the massage itself. The massage will work fairly deeply into the muscles and joints, which will release toxins into the bloodstream. These toxins can be released from the body as waste, but if you aren’t great about consuming a sufficient amount of water following the massage, it is common to experience lightheadedness, and sensations of thirst, cold, or fatigue. The areas on your body that were the focus of the massage will likely feel a little sore, especially if it was your first time getting this type of massage. The muscles should feel relaxed and you may even experience some stress release, which can also contribute to feelings of fatigue or lethargy for the hours following.

Sports massages function in supporting the bodies of athletes and everyday people through several different physical effects from which almost anyone could benefit. The massage itself the circulation and temperature of the blood, which allows for the tissues being massaged to be more pliable, allowing for the body to have increased mobility and flexibility. This makes stretching much more effective and safer as muscle and joint tightness are significantly minimized, allowing for full movement of the body and decreased stiffness in the joints and muscles. Sports massages performed after a significant event or competition, or as a rehabilitative measure, has shown to help reduce inflammation in the joints, making the recovery time much faster and more effective. The act of receiving a massage in itself can lead to decreased feelings of stress and anxiety, and will often lead to a better overall quality of sleep when received regularly.

Most of the immediate physical effects that are experienced such as soreness or fatigue will last around 24 to 48 hours, but the benefits of a sports massage can last anywhere from a week to a month. Receiving regular sports massages, especially if you regularly exercise or are an athlete, will only provide more and more benefits over time as your mobility continues to improve and your risk of suffering from an injury continues to decrease. With regular massages, the benefits will end up being long-term. Some ways to help prolong the benefits of your sports massage include avoiding consuming caffeine immediately following the session to avoid causing the muscles to become tense, avoiding physical activity immediately following the massage unless otherwise specified (i.e. following a pre-event massage as that is its intent), and consider taking a bath with Epsom salts to help relieve any soreness or aching you may be experiencing in the muscles or joints as well as to prolong the feelings of relaxation.

Sports massage can also aid to increase strength and mobility by minimizing muscular atrophy, soreness, and edema. For more information, contact us today or book an online appointment for a sports massage, or visit our clinic conveniently located at 3002 Kingston Court, Suite A, Marietta, GA 30067. We serve patients from Marietta GA, Roswell GA (East Roswell), Kennesaw GA, Smyrna GA, Vinings GA, Alpharetta GA, and Powder Springs GA.