SPORT MASSAGE

Benefits and effects of sports massage

Sports massage should play an important part in the life of any sportsman or women whether they are injured or not. Massage has a number of benefits both physical, physiological and psychological.

Massage will:
1. Maintain the body generally in better condition.
2. Prevent injuries and loss of mobility.
3. Cure and restore mobility to injured muscle tissue.
4. Boost performance
5. Extend the overall life of your sporting career.

PHYSICAL EFFECTS ARE:
Pumping: The stroking movements in massage suck fluid through blood vessel and lymph vessels. By increasing the pressure in front of the stroke, a vacuum is created behind. This is especially important in tight or damaged muscle tissue as a tight muscle will squeeze blood out like a sponge, depriving the tissues of vital nutrients and energy to repair.
Increased tissue permeability: Deep massage causes the pores in tissue membranes to open, enabling fluids and nutrients to pass through. This helps remove waste products such as lactic acid and encourage the muscles to take up oxygen and nutrients which help them recover quicker.
Stretching: Massage can stretch tissues that could not be stretched in the usual methods. Bundles of muscle fibers are stretched lengthwise as well as sideways. Massage can also stretch the sheath or fascia that surrounds the muscle, so releasing any tension or pressure build up.
Break down scar tissue: Scar tissue is the result of previous injuries or trauma and can affect muscle, tendons and ligaments. This can lead to inflexible tissues that are prone to injury and pain.
Improve tissue elasticity: Hard training can make tissues hard and inelastic. This is one reason why hard training may not result in improvements. Massage helps reverse this by stretching the tissues.
Open micro-circulation: Massage does increase blood flow to tissues, but so does exercise. What massage also does is open or dilate the blood vessels and by stretching them this enables nutrients to pass through more easily.

PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS ARE:
Pain reduction: Tension and waste products in muscles can often cause pain. Massage helps reduce this in many ways including releasing the body’s endorphins.
Relaxation: Muscles relax through heat generated, circulation and stretching. Mechanoreceptors which sense touch, pressure, tissue length and warmth are stimulated causing a reflex relaxation.

PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS ARE:
Anxiety reduction: Through the effects mentioned above relaxation is induced and so reduces anxiety levels.

Invigorating- if massage is done with brisk movements such as what would be done before an event then this can produce an invigorating feeling.

SPORTS MASSAGE CONTAINDICATIONS:

A contraindication is something that should not be massaged. If you do, then further injury may be caused or even death! You should never have a sports massage if you have any of the following conditions:

Open wounds: Any cuts, lacerations or grazes. Obvious really, but it has to be said. You should wait until the scar has properly formed. This is usually between one and two weeks.
Muscle ruptures: in the acute stage these may still be bleeding. Massage will increase bleeding and tissue damage and prolong recovery. After the initial 48 to72 hours massage may be possible but it will depend on the extent of the injury.
Tendon ruptures: The above also applies to tendon injuries. Complete ruptures will need surgery, not massage.
Contusions: These are impact injuries causing bleeding within the muscle. Massage to a contusion may cause further damage and may lead to Myositis Ossificans (bone growth within the muscle).
Burns, chilblains and broken bones: Massaging all of these will hurt and cause damage. Don’t do it.
Periostitis: this is inflammation of the sheath that surrounds the bone. Massage directly to the bone may cause irritation. You may be able to massage the surrounding muscles but stay well clear of the bone.
Rheumatoid arthritis and gout: These are inflammatory conditions. The same rules apply here as to acute injuries. Massage may cause further inflammation.
Bursitis: Inflammation to a bursa. Bursa is a small sack of fluid that helps tendons passes over bones at joints. If there is pain, swelling and redness over the skin then massage should be avoided.
Myositis ossificans: A bad contusion or muscle rupture may begin to calcify (grow bone). Massage will make the damage worse.
Infection of the skin and soft tissue: Bacterial infections, viral infections and fungal infections can be spread to other areas of the body by the therapist. Pain may also result from the infection, not an injury so massage will not help.
Thrombosis: this is rare but potentially lethal blood clot in a vein. It is common in the calf muscle area. A deep, sore pain in the belly of the muscle may be a thrombosis. If this is massaged, it may dislodge, travel up the veins and damage the heart.
Artificial blood vessels: implanted through surgery.
Bleeding disorders such as hemophilia: Massage may cause damage to tissues and bleeding.
Tumors: If you are unsure of any lumps and bumps in the muscle or skin then leave well alone. Most often these lumps are muscle spasms or fatty tissue.

Ayurvedic herbal oils are recommended to do sports massage and panchakarma treatments. It includes Abhyanga, (gentle oil massage), Udwarthanam (poly herbal powder massage), Pizhichil (luke warm herbal oils dripped all over the body) Kizhi, Dhara.

Types of oils vary for each individual according to nature of person, fitness status and the event in which he/she participates. This can prevent muscle injury, soreness, tiredness and highly beneficial for muscle strength and power. Some studies are also proved that oil massage will fasten the muscle contraction and for generating explosive power, and improving flexibility.