Sports massage is used by athletes of every kind, from world-class professionals to in the home. The variations of the massage technique are specific to the athlete’s sport of choice and are often focused on a particular area of injury.

Massage is gaining popularity to balance the bodys functionality. Sports massage can be used as a means to enhance pre-event preparation and reduce recovery time for maximum performance during training or after an event. Athletes have discovered that specially designed massage promotes flexibility, removes fatigue, improves endurance, helps prevent injuries, and prepares them to compete at their absolute best.

Veda Aid has taken the massage process and recovery one step further, by specially selecting herbal oils that improve circulation and aids recovery from injury, strains, sprains and muscle injury.

Types of Sports Massage

• Pre-Event
• Post-Event
• Prevention
• Rehabilitation
• Techniques in Sports Massage
• Benefits of Sports Massage
• Physological effects
• Rugby Clubs currntly testing Veda Aid Solutions
• Football Clubs currently testing Veda Aid Solutions.

   

An athlete, before a performance, is under immense stress emotionally and physically and the body is also prone to injuries. Practices before the event lead to constant build-up of tension in the muscles and cause stress on joints, ligaments, tendons, as well as the muscles themselves. Apart from muscle tension, the athlete is also bogged down with fatigue and injuries which may hamper the main performance. Sports massage is the answer to emotional and physical well being for an athlete before, after and during a performance.

Sports Massage is a specific type of massage which is generally rendered before, during, and after athletic events to help prepare the athlete for desired performance, to relax the nerves and prevent injuries. This type of massage can be rendered only by a professional who has a thorough understanding of anatomy and physiology and particularly the muscular and skeletal systems.

Sports Massage works deep to eliminate toxins embedded in muscle fibers, remove adhesions, and minimize scar tissue buildup. Muscle lengthening in sports massage helps restore a range of motion and overall flexibility. Sports massage also leads to improved circulation which aids better cell nutrition, greater elasticity of muscle fiber, and reduced recovery time.

Sports massage is a blend of Swedish massage and Shiatsu specifically designed to cater to the needs of professional athletes. Depending on the needs of the athlete, a variety of techniques are used including classic Swedish strokes, cross-fiber friction, pressure-point work, and joint mobilization.

Types of Sports Massage

Sports massage therapy includes pre-event, post-event, maintenance and rehabilitation techniques that promote greater athletic endurance and performance, reduced chances of injury and faster healing.

Pre-Event

Pre-Event sports massage helps warm up the muscles by stretching them and making them flexible for optimal athletic performance. A pre-event massage using Veda Aid warm solutions may stimulates the flow of blood and nutrients to the muscle, reduces muscle tension, loosen the muscles and produce a feeling of psychological readiness. A pre-event massage is best done between two to eight hours prior to the main event.

Post-Event

Post- event massage focuses on relieving muscle soreness, minimizing the effects of fatigue and reducing the stress levels in the body. Veda Aid cool solutions may help reduce swelling, maintain flexibility, promote blood flow to the muscle to remove lactic acid and waste build-up and reduce cramping. This also helps faster healing.

Prevention

This is more of a maintenance massage which can be done at least once a week as a regular part of athletic training programs. Preventive massage increases the flow of blood and nutrients to the muscle and helps repair small tears due to strenuous physical activity. It also keeps tissue loose so that different layers of muscle slide over each other.

Rehabilitation

Sports massage is also used as a last resort in the event of injury. Sports massage helps rehabilitate by minimizing the adverse effects of scar tissue and adhesions caused to the athlete and helps regain lost flexibility and strength.

Techniques in Sports Massage

There are three main techniques of massage frequently used in sport, namely effleurage, petrissage and frictions. Most of the massage techniques ensure the main pressure is directed towards the heart to increase the venous and lymphatic flow. The strokes also ensure that excess pressure does not cause any damage to blood vessels. While effleurage is a preparatory background stroke, petrissage allows detail work on the body in releasing tension followed by friction.

Benefits of Sports Massage

The benefits of sports massage impact the physical, physiological and psychological levels. A state of well being is achieved only when all the three aspects are in balance. Here is a compilation of the key benefits attained at each level through a sports massage:

Deep massage causes the pores in tissue membranes to open, enabling fluids and nutrients to pass through enabling removal of waste products such as lactic acid; encourages the muscles to take up oxygen and nutrients which promote faster healing

Sports massage stretches muscles to release tension or stress caused due to excess physical activity and helps break down scar tissues which usually affect the muscle, tendons and ligaments which impair performance to aid elasticity of tissues.

Physiological effects:

Sports massage helps reduce pain
Muscles are relaxed after a sports massage

Reduced levels of anxiety and stress caused due to relaxed muscles and nerves stimulating a sense of well being and good health.
A sports massage therapist must be trained & certified in Sports massage therapy.

Other Suggestions

People who suffer from the following conditions or disorders should consult a physician before under going a sports massage:

acute infectious disease
aneurysm
heavy bruising
cancer/hernia
high blood pressure
inflammation due to tissue damage
osteoporosis
phlebitis
varicose veins and certain skin conditions.
Open wounds
Muscle ruptures or Tendon ruptures
Contusions
Burns, Chilblains and Broken bones
Periostitis
Rheumatoid Arthritis and Gout
Bursitis
Myositis ossificans
Thrombosis
Artificial blood vessels
Bleeding disorders such as hemophilia
Tumors
Melanoma