San Diego Sports Massage
Massage has become an important part of the athletic regimen from sports medicine clinics, to college training rooms, to professional locker rooms, to Olympic training. More and more people realize that a complete workout includes exercise and caring for the wear-and-tear and minor injuries that naturally occur with strenuous movement. Many trainers believe that massage can provide an extra advantage to athletes who participate in high performance sports. A person can benefit both physiologically and psychologically from sports massage. Massage Extraordinaire has provided therapeutic massage to many athletes in the San Diego area.
Massage can benefit athletes who participate in running, cycling, hiking, swimming, dancing, tennis and other racquet sports, strength training and aerobics. It also benefits mothers with small children, gardeners, and others who have strenuous jobs.
Sports massage can be used in the following three areas:
- Prevention and maintenance programs
- On-site treatment before and after an athletic event
- Rehabilitation programs
Benefits
Increases:
- Blood flow
- Joint range of motion
- Flexibility
- Elimination of exercise waste products (lactic acid)
- Sense of well-being
- Relaxation
Decreases:
- Muscle tension
- Chance of injury
- Recovery time between workouts
- Muscle spasms
- Fatigue
- Anxiety
History
Runner Paavo Nurmi, the “Flying Finn,” was one of the early users of sports massage. It is said that Nurmi used sports massage during the 1924 Olympics where he won five gold medals. Jack Meagher is thought to be the father of sports massage in the United States.
Techniques Used
Some of the different techniques used in Sports Massage are Swedish style massage, effleurage (stroking), petrissage (kneading), compression, friction, tapotement (rhythmic striking), vibration, gliding, stretching, percussion and trigger points.
Length of Sports Massage Session: 30, 60, 90, 120 mins. **Sports Massage is a complement to standard medical care. It should not be construed as medical advice. It should not be a replacement to medical help.**