5 Ways Athletes can Benefit from Massage

By Beau Jansen, CORE Pro-Elite Trainer

The sound of clinking 45 pound plates, the faint ring that vibrates from a barbell as it clatters to the ground, and the shrill screech of a WOD clock that tells you to pick it back up all can make the silence that fills a massage therapy room seem like an inconsequential break from the important part of getting fit. However, massage therapy can actually accelerate the recovery process. The accrued stress that is put on the body during heavy weight training sessions, endurance training, and the repetition of movement in competitive sporting events can be diminished, balanced out and healed by massage therapy when combined with proper rest and nutrition.

Here are five ways how athletes can benefit from massage therapy

1. Massage helps to aid in muscular recovery.

Massage reduces post-workout tissue inflammation. This is the body’s natural response to the accumulated tissue damage that comes as a result of intense training sessions. Inflammation reduces the rate of recovery and puts the body at risk of injury from overtraining. Massage naturally increases the cell’s production of mitochondria which produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which in turn increases recovery time and aids in muscular function and energy levels.

2. Massage can help to increase Circulation

The manual manipulation of the body that occurs during a massage actually increases circulation. The improved blood flow occurs as a result of dilated blood vessels that allow a greater volume of blood to pass through them. The increased cardiovascular efficiency aids in the transport of oxygen to the cells and the removal of waste and various toxins from the cell. This basically means, healthier cells, healthier body, healthier you!

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3. Massage helps with Relaxation

The de-stressing factor that accompanies the experience of a massage can improve focus and concentration later in the day. The parasympathetic relaxation response also helps in combating catabolism, the body’s natural metabolic stress-response, which over greater durations of time inhibits protein synthesis and healthy hormonal function. Being in a constant catabolic state also means you are not in a state of anabolism, the metabolic condition that promotes recovery and muscle growth, which allows you to get back training faster!

4. Massage can help to reduce Pain

A major cause of pain in the human body comes as a result of inflammation which we already know massage reduces. Another way that massage helps reduce pain in the body comes as a product of the cardiovascular response it elicits, that not only helps to detoxify the cells but also releases endorphins. Endorphins are Endogenous Morphine which are produced by the central nervous system and the pituitary gland and are the key component in “runner’s high”. Endorphins decrease stress, which can keep the body in an anabolic state as-well as acting as powerful organic pain relievers.

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5. Massage helps increase flexibility

Adequate range of motion is required to maximize strength, speed and efficiency. Each sport requires a healthy range of motion in each muscle and joint, not only to be efficient and effective but also just to prevent injury. A massage session can lengthen the muscle and increase total body flexibility in just one visit. This can prevent future injury as well as reducing the pain of former injuries, allowing the athlete to get back on the field, back in the gym, or back on the trail faster and with more confidence.

With all of the varieties of massage out there, there is something for everybody. Whether you’re looking for relaxation or recovery, massage is something that should be incorporated in to everybody’s monthly or weekly routine.