Why is Sports Massage Important for Better Performance?
Just imagine training and practicing for years for the sport you love and not being able to perform for the competition due to a minor injury. It can be the worst nightmare for any athlete.
Getting injured is one of the biggest and worst fears that every athlete fears. Injuries can impair your performance, delay training, and affect your pre-planned schedules.
If you want to stay away from the consequences of a sports injury and you want to up your performance, then a sports massage can help! When done right, a sports massage can provide you with many benefits.
Boosts Your Energy
As an athlete you need to work hard day and night. You need to practice regularly, which also means you might miss out on sleep when the competition or game nears. Not sleeping enough, having stress, and working too hard are the energy zappers. Sports massage is great way to relieve tension held in the body and to clear the mind as well. It leaves you stress-free and mentally recharged, thus contributing to better performance.
Benefits the Muscles
Every athlete needs coordination between both body and mind during any sports competition. In terms of body, muscles are the richest benefactors of a massage. When your muscles are relaxed, you are relaxed too. This also results in reduced stress and stabilized blood pressure. Relaxed muscles provide an increase in flexibility and a better range of motion. Massage also releases a brain chemical called endorphins that boosts dopamine and serotonin levels. These hormones tend to help you physically as well as mentally throughout your practice and competition.
Increase Flexibility
High volume training sessions and competitions usually lead to increased muscle tension. For an athlete to achieve optimal performance, they must exhibit a high degree of flexibility demanded by the sport. Muscle tension and muscle knots can be the obstacles for the flexibility of the muscle. Sports massage therapy stretches the muscle fibers and eliminates the knots, promoting and maintaining flexibility. Overlooking muscle tightness can cause a permanent imbalance in the muscles.
Better Sleep
Lack of sleep can leave you feeling groggy and increase the levels of the energy-zapping stress hormone called cortisol. Sports massage decreases the levels of cortisol and increases the levels of serotonin (a contributor to feelings of well-being and happiness) which produces melatonin (a sleep-promoting hormone).
