Exercise and Sports Massage
Numerous studies have been done regarding the effect of sports massages on athletes. The majority of these studies have resulted in contradictory findings. One study which compared professional athletes to control subjects found that there were no differences in muscle soreness. Another study that examined professional athletes against controls showed a significant improvement in muscle pain for athletes who had massage. However there was no signifi cant improvement in the condition of athletes who did not receive massage. Similar results were also observed in another study , which evaluated active athletes against non-athletes.
There are no definitive studies showing that sports massage is beneficial to athletic performance, however a variety of studies have shown that it can aid in reducing the time to recover for athletes. Researchers discovered that athletes who had been engaged in intense exercise programs had a lower chance of recovering from massages. In another study, athletes who performed an exercise with a maximum workload were significantly more efficient over those who were not given a Sports massage. In yet another study, the therapists who used sports massage were able to show a marked improvement in physical performance of overweight female adolescents.
A study that compared the production of lactic acid in injured and control groups found no difference. However, the researchers concluded that the effects of massage may be dependent on the person who the massage is given to. Researchers found that lactic acids were released at a greater degree in the control group than in the exercise group, and remained quite low after the session. However the injured group had a higher level of lactic acid production, and it continued to increase after the session. The possible reason for this finding is the elevated lactic acid production could reduce the pain threshold of an injured patient and lead to greater perceived exertion during exercise.
There are a myriad of theories on how massage therapy can improve athletic performance. Physiologists have speculated that a full stretch of the muscles in the deep of the legs is responsible for athletes' faster recuperation from injuries. This theory also suggests that athletes can gain strength in their arms and shoulders by stretching the superficial muscles. Another theory is that athletes who engage in intense competition may be able to recover faster in case their lower muscles are more tense and shorter. A strong abdominal core muscles can prevent cramps as well as spasms in athletes who engage in intense activities.
Massage therapy can aid athletes increase their flexibility and muscle strength. Stretching muscles can help them become more flexible and open to training and movement. However, as athletes continue to exercise the muscles will eventually become tight and begin to restrict their movement. To ease discomfort in the muscles, athletes should do exercises to stretch tight muscles. Massage therapy for sports can help with this.
Studies have revealed that athletes experience a significant rise in cortisol levels while exercising or performing high intensity. This stress hormone signalizes physical stress. Research has shown that this increased cortisol release leads to greater muscle strength and endurance performance during periods of moderate intensity exercise. In the study endurance performance was evaluated prior to and after the athletes completed 30 sprints. During sprints, muscle twitch activation was measured and the results showed an increase in muscle strength after the sprints.
Muscles that have Glycogen increased their muscle strength. Glycogen is an energy source that muscles use during intense exercise. When an athlete is subject to intense physical strain large amounts of glycogen are released by the body. This allows the athlete to replenish energy 수원출장마사지 lost during the sprints. Researchers from the University of Northumbria published a study that revealed that short sprints prior to cycling competition resulted in a significant increase in muscle glycogen.
The results of these studies demonstrate that massage therapy can benefit athletes both when they are exercising and after it. However, one must remember that all of these studies have been conducted on healthy people who are not athletes. If you suffer from any condition that affect circulation such as kidney disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure, it is recommended to consult with your physician before starting any form of therapy.