What is Sports Massage Therapy?

Sports massage therapy is a massage therapy technique that was originally intended for preventing and relieving pain in athletes, it has since become a sought out massage by amateur gym-goers and even individuals who suffer from stress. 

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Sports massage typically focuses on the larger muscle groups, including the:

• Neck

• Back

• Shoulders

• Buttocks

• Thighs

Sports massage is a form of deep-tissue massage that helps athletes protect their muscles and joints. Sports massage earns its name from targeting injuries that are specific to sports, whereas deep tissue massage is more specifically focused on chronic muscle tension and stress reduction.

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What are the benefits of Sports Massage Therapy?

Sports massage therapy is not only for professional athletes, this style of massage is for anyone experiencing physical strains and muscle aches. Often times, sports massages tend to be geared towards to individuals experiencing specific aches and pains. 

 

The benefits sports massage can provide include: 

• Improve Performance

• Prevent Injuries

• Aid Recovery from Physical Fitness Activities

• Releases Endorphins

• Increases 'Happy' & 'Pain Killing' Hormones

• Relieve Pain

The massage therapists at AIM Health are certified and highly skilled at giving deep tissue massage and adapting each session to fit your needs. 

Our team has worked with everyone from top-performing elite athletes, amateur athletes, youth athletes, and anyone suffering from chronic pain, they customize your massage experience to support your best health.

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When should you get a Sports Massage?

Commonly there are four different points where sports massage therapy can aid athletes​

• Before Exercise

• After Exercises

• Restorative 

• Rehabilitation 

 

Many athletes feel the benefits from sports massage when they receive them on a regular basis, sports massage is an effective method of injury prevention. ​AIM Health massage therapist can usually pre-empt injuries in their patients by singling out abnormalities in the muscle tissue and preventively treat possible trouble areas. 

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How is sports massage therapy different from other types of massage therapy?

There are three main differences between sports massage and other styles of massage is the purpose

 

Purpose of treatment

Sports massage primarily focuses on boosting recovery in athletes, improving performance during physical activities, alleviating pain and negative effects that sports have on the body, and prevening doms and injuries during physical activities. Sports massage primarily focuses on relaxing muscles, lubricating joints, warming up soft tissues, encouraging decreases in waste production, increase blood circulation, ease tension in muscle fascia, and increase muscle mobility. The overall goal of a sports massage is to focus on a particular area, and athletes are more likely to reap the benefits of sports massage over other styles. 

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For an expert sports massage, call AIM Health or schedule an appointment online today.