How Therapeutic Massage Can Give You the Competitive Edge Playing Sports
Are you looking for a way to keep you on the field and maximize your ability to compete? Have you been dealing with nagging aches and pains interfering with your training? Our physical therapists are skilled in manual therapy techniques at Hope Physical Therapy. We can help alleviate your pain and prime your muscles to work at their peak potential!
Modern-day athletes dedicate time and energy to training to get their bodies ready to perform. It’s no secret that extensive training requires dedication, proper nutrition, and mental fortitude. It is also essential to have a team that understands the body so you can stay healthy when preparing for a big game, competition, recital, or marathon.
Unfortunately, pain and injury are part of the game, and most athletes will likely encounter some roadblock along the way due to sore or overworked muscles.
At Hope Physical Therapy, our physical therapists understand the toll training takes on the body and can help you keep your body functioning at a high level with therapeutic massage. Therapeutic massage relieves pain and loosens tight muscles, allowing you to recover faster and return to the game.
If you want to know more about how therapeutic massage can help you perform better, contact Hope Physical Therapy immediately!
What is therapeutic massage?
Therapeutic massage describes any massage treatment used to relieve pain, reduce stress, and work on a specific problem. Physical therapists use many manual techniques to complement other therapies and ensure results.
Our body is made up of connective tissues like muscles, tendons, and ligaments, which are also known as soft tissues. Therapeutic massage is used to impact these tissues and help an athlete function at their highest potential. The goal of therapeutic massage is often to free up restrictions that may be inhibiting these tissues from functioning normally.
Specific stresses, particularly those caused by repeated actions in athletic activity and prolonged training sessions, can negatively affect your soft tissues. Restrictions can make you more susceptible to injuries like sprains and strains and, in extreme cases, tears and ruptures. Therapeutic massage can help by relaxing the muscles, improving circulation for healing and recovery, and freeing up restrictions to prevent injuries.
Therapeutic massage is not about a spa treatment, but more about helping your muscles and other soft tissues stay healthy and prepared for the demands of athletic competition. At Hope Physical Therapy, our therapists will guide you through a comprehensive program of exercise that includes warm-ups and cool-downs as well as therapeutic massage to help keep your body primed and ready to compete!
- How therapeutic massage can help your performance
Athletes can benefit from therapeutic massage both before and after training. Your physical therapist may recommend the following types of therapeutic massage for your specific needs:
- Myofascial release. This massage frees tissues from constriction caused by distortions or fascial adhesions.
- Deep tissue massage. This type of massage loosens up your muscles and their connective tissues.
- Trigger point release. A trigger point in a muscle can impair the mobility of your soft tissue and joints, leading to pain. This type of massage targets areas of tight muscle fibers that may or may not be sensitive to touch
One of the many advantages of therapeutic massage is that it aids in the natural healing process of your tissues, allowing you to recover more quickly and return to your sport prepared and ready to go. Therapeutic massage works to relax, loosen and mobilize any problematic areas, reducing your chances of developing an injury that will keep you out of the game for an extended period of time.
Your soft tissues are responsible for ensuring that your body functions properly. As a result, it is critical to keep your soft tissues as strong and healthy as possible.
Request an appointment at Hope Physical Therapy!
Do you want to improve your athletic performance and ensure your soft tissues are healthy and functioning at their peak ability? At Hope Physical Therapy, our therapists can get you back to your favorite sport in no time!
Please contact us to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists and see if our therapeutic massage treatment plans are right for you!