Therapeutic massage is for athletes
It takes dedication and work to excel at your sport. Whether you’re a professional athlete or a weekend warrior, your are putting in the work to prepare for your big event – a marathon, competition, recital, or match. Your muscles and soft tissues train just as hard as you do, which can lead soreness and even pain. Even if you consider pain a minor setback, your training process is still impacted.
Therapeutic massage is a treatment performed by our team of licensed physical therapists on athletes whose muscles may have experienced extended periods of overuse. Therapeutic massage is able to loosen up any tight areas and speed up your recovery. We can help you get back on track to achieving your goal. Contact Progressive Medical Fitness today to learn how therapeutic massage can benefit you!
Soft tissues facts
Muscles are comprised of many small, thin fibers that contract on command, working together to engage your muscle groups. You are able to move your body parts by using your muscles and tendons (connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone). Bones are connected by ligaments, tough bands of connective tissue, that add stability. A final set of connective tissue, called fascia, covers the ligaments. Collectively, connective tissue can be referred to as “soft tissues.”
Soft tissues help to mobilize your joints and provide a support structure that strengthens the body so it can perform tasks. Your soft tissues allow the body to do many amazing things; however, these structures also limit your body from pushing itself too far.
Soft tissue can be damaged by certain stresses. Particularly repetitive motion activities that are common in many sports. Think of the tennis or golf swing – a repetitive action performed hundreds of times during practice or a game. A torn tendon causes swelling and inflammation.
Sprains are also common among athletes. Sprains caused by a ligament stretching farther than it is intended to stretch.
Soft tissue injuries may occur in response to the intensity of your physical activity, but these injuries can also occur if muscles are too tight before beginning a workout. A key benefit of therapeutic massage is loosening up the muscles – it may even decrease your risk of future soft tissue damage or injury.
Therapeutic massage improves performance
Therapeutic massage provides a multitude of benefits for athletes, before, during and after training. Your physical therapist may also recommend other types of massage to supplement your physical therapy treatments, including:
- Deep tissue massage – relaxes tight muscles and connective tissues.
- Myofascial release – frees soft tissues from constriction by releasing tissues that may be trapped by distortions or fascial adhesions.
- Swedish massage – relaxes muscle stiffness or tension, allowing increased blood flow and fluids to drain from swollen areas.
Therapeutic massage promotes healing of the soft tissues, so you can return to your sport or activity as quickly as possible. Sports massage therapy can also be preventative, targeting the specific muscles and tissues that will be impacted by a rigorous exercise regimen. Before training, you can help your muscles remain limber through therapeutic massage treatments meant to mobilize, loosen and relax the muscles. Therapeutic massage also decreases your risk of future injury, such as strains, sprains, or ruptures.
Your soft tissues work hard so you can work hard on and off the field. It is important to help optimize their health and function to keep you performing at your best. If you are an athlete in Northport, NY seeking therapeutic massage treatment, contact Progressive Medical Fitness today. Our licensed physical therapy team are available to discuss the benefits to your physical performance of our massage service. You and your physical therapist are a team – keeping you in the game and in peak condition!