Exercise and Massage Therapy
There have been many studies on the effect of massage therapy on athletes. Many of these studies have yielded contradictory results. One study that compared professional athletes to controls found no significant differences in muscle soreness. Another study comparing professionals with their counterparts showed a significant improvement in muscle soreness in those who received massage, however, there was no improvement for athletes who https://tellingmassage.com/ were not receiving massage. Similar results were found in another study , which compared active athletes to non-athletes.
There aren't any definitive studies that show that sports massage actually enhances athletic performance, however a variety of studies have shown that it can help reduce recovery time for athletes. Researchers found that athletes who were involved in high-intensity exercise programs were less likely to recover from massages. In another study, participants that completed a maximum workload program showed significantly better performance over those who were not given a Sports massage. In yet another study massage therapists showed a definite improvement in the physical performance of overweight adolescent girls.
A study that compared the production of lactic acids in control and injured groups found no difference. However the researchers did conclude that the impact of massage might depend on the person the massage is given to. Researchers found that lactic acid were released at a greater amount in the control group than during exercise, and were relatively low after the session. However the injured group had higher lactic acid level and it remained higher following the session. This could be because the higher lactic acid production in injured patients may reduce the patient's threshold for pain and result in a greater perceived exertion.
There are a myriad of theories on how sport massage can improve the performance of athletes. The physiologists have suggested that a good stretch of the deep muscles of the legs is the reason for athletes' quicker recovery from injuries. This theory also suggests that athletes could gain strength in their shoulders and arms by stretching their superficial muscles. A different theory is that muscles that are shorter and tighter in the lower body help shorten the recovery period for athletes who perform explosive sports during competition. And a strong abdominal muscle core helps prevent cramps and spasms that happen to athletes when they perform strenuous exercise.
Massage therapy can aid athletes improve their flexibility and strength. It has been known that muscles get limber and more receptive to training and movement when they are stretched. However, as athletes continue to exercise their muscles, they eventually become tight and limit their motion. To relieve this pain in the muscles the athletes must engage in exercises to stretch out tight muscle groups. This is where massage therapy can play an important role.
Studies have shown that athletes experience an increase in cortisol while exercising or performing high intensity. This stress hormone is a signal for physical stress. Research has shown that cortisol improves the strength of muscles and endurance during low intensity exercise. The endurance of the athletes was measured before and after they completed 30 sprints. The sprints were recorded to measure muscle twitch activities. Results showed an increase in muscle strength after the sprints.
The muscle's glucosamine levels increased strength. Glycogen is a source of energy found in muscles during intense training. When the body of the athlete goes through a period of intense physical exertion it releases large amounts of glycogen to replenish the energy lost during sprints. Researchers from the University of Northumbria published a study that revealed that short sprints prior to competitive cycling resulted in a significant increase of glycogen in the muscles.
The results of these studies suggest that sports massage may indeed be beneficial to athletes both in and after vigorous exercise. All of these studies were done on healthy, non-athletes. If you suffer from any health condition that impact circulation, such as kidney disease, diabetes or high blood pressure, it's recommended to consult your physician prior to beginning any therapy.