Exercise and Sports Massage
Numerous studies have been done on the effects of sport massages on athletes. Many of these studies have produced contradictory results. One study that compared professional athletes with controls found no significant difference in muscle soreness between the two groups. Another study that compared professional athletes with controls showed an improvement in muscle soreness for those who were massaged, but there was no improvement for athletes who were not receiving massage. Similar results were seen in another study that compared active athletes to non-athletes.
While there aren't any conclusive studies showing that the benefits of sports massage on athletic performance, several studies have shown that it can help athletes recover quicker. In one study, researchers found that massages helped reduce the recovery time for athletes who participated in a high-intensity exercise program. In another study, athletes who followed a maximum workload protocol performed significantly better than controls when given the Sports massage. Another study demonstrated that therapists for sports massage had a significant influence on the physical performance of overweight adolescents.
A study that examined lactic acid production in both injured and control groups did not find any difference between the groups. However, the researchers did conclude that the effects of massage may be dependent on the person the massage is given to. Researchers discovered that lactic acids were released at a greater level in the control group than they were in the exercise group, and remained fairly low after the massage. However, lactic acid production was found to be greater in the injured group during exercise and remained at higher levels following the exercise. This could be because the increased lactic acid production in injured patients could decrease the patient's threshold for pain and result in greater perceived exertion.
There are a myriad of theories on the ways that massage can improve the performance of athletes. Athletes' faster recovery from injuries is feasible according to physiologists. This theory also suggests that athletes could gain strength in their arms and shoulders by stretching their superficial muscles. A different theory is that muscles that are tighter and shorter in the lower body help shorten the recovery time for athletes who participate in intense activities during competition. And a strong abdominal core helps to prevent spasms and cramps that happen to athletes when they are engaged in strenuous activities.
Massages for athletes can help improve their flexibility and strength. Stretching muscles can make them more flexible and willing to move and train. However as Click for info athletes continue exercising their muscles, they eventually get tighter and limit their motion. To ease discomfort in the muscles, athletes should do exercises to stretch muscles that are tight. Sports massage can help with this.
Studies have demonstrated that athletes feel an increase in cortisol while exercising or performing high intensity. The stress hormone signals physical stress. The research has also shown that the increased cortisol release leads to greater muscular strength and endurance during times of moderate intensity exercise. In the study endurance performance was evaluated prior to and after athletes completed 30 sprints. During sprints, muscle twitch activation was timed and the results indicated an increase in muscle strength following the sprints.
The strength increase in muscles was due to the increase in amount of glycogen in the muscles. Glycogen is a source of energy that muscles use during intense exercise. When the athlete is subject to intense physical strain huge amounts of glycogen are released by the body. This allows the athlete to replenish the energy that was lost during sprints. Researchers at the University of Northumbria published a study that demonstrated that sprints of a short duration prior to competitive cycling led to a significant increase of glycogen in the muscles.
These studies have demonstrated that massages for sports are beneficial for athletes, both in the course of and after intense workouts. However, one must remember that all of these studies were conducted on healthy people who are not athletes. Before you start any treatment, talk to your doctor if you have conditions that affect circulation, such as kidney disease, diabetes or high blood pressure or any other condition.