Some Straight Talk About Massage & Athletes
Every athlete faces the daunting fear of injury. Injuries may impede an athlete's performance, cause delays in training, can be expensive to treat, and above all, they hurt!
It can be frustrating, expensive, and exhausting to deal with pain and endure limited mobility & capability after sustaining a severe injury as an athlete. An injury may take its toll on the body but it can also take a toll on your mind. Your damaged tissue may heal, but when your muscles are tasked continuously due to engagement in high-performance activities, it may lead to a permanent condition, especially when the injury is lingering and reoccurring.
Massage therapy has evolved over the years from simple, fluff spa treatment to therapy for relaxation to other specialized massage therapy such as prenatal massage, sports massage, and preventive medicine.
Benefits of massage therapy for athletes
The benefits of massage therapy for athletes cannot be overemphasized. Massage therapists in Amarillo are trained in carrying out massage for athletes, and the benefits are numerous. Let’s highlight the immense benefits of massage therapy in Amarillo in regard to sports and athletes. They include the following:·
- Pain relief
Athletes are at risk of sustaining an injury at one point or the other. Injuries may be accompanied by pain, which may be chronic or severe. One very effective therapy in reducing or eliminating pain is having a proper massage. ·
- Massage therapy helps athletes in stress management
Massage therapy helps the body to release neurotransmitters referred to as endorphins. The hypothalamus and pituitary gland in the brain produces endorphins, which act as natural pain relievers. Endorphins produced after a massage can help athletes to decrease anxiety, improve mood, relieve pain, and improve an athlete's general well being. ·
- Prevent Onset Muscle Soreness
Muscle soreness is said to develop about 12 to 14 hours after a rigorous exercise. An athlete may experience the most pain between 24 and 72 hours after a high-intensity sporting activity. Massage therapy helps to reduce delayed onset muscle soreness by promoting lymph and blood flow as well as reducing muscle fatigue. ·
- Massage therapy reduces injury recovery helping
Amarillo massage therapists are experienced in helping athletes to recover quickly from injuries. Injuries to ligaments, tendons, and muscles heal faster after undergoing massage therapy by promoting the growth of new tissues. There is a reduction in unwanted scar tissue and enhances quality tissues. With a quick recovery period, an athlete stays out of action for a shorter period. ·
- Massage therapy helps to improve athletic performance
Massage therapy relaxes the muscles and increases blood circulation. Muscle stiffness or soreness reduces gradually after regular massages. Research shows that a proper massage after an intense workout enlarges the muscles and leads to the growth of new mitochondria Mitochondria serves as the powerhouse of body cells and helps convert nutrients into useful energy. Research also shows that deep tissue massage therapy can enlarge the muscle and may lead to the growth of new mitochondria, more than when exercises are carried out without massage. An increase in mitochondria growth increases endurance performance. It also increases the rate at which the muscles utilize oxygen.
- Massage therapy helps to reduce the effect of repetitive stress injuries
Most athletes are prone to developing repetitive stress injuries, which occurs as a result of repeating a particular type of motion over a period of time. These injuries may be a result of monotonous training or exercise routine or playing a particular sport. Repetitive stress injuries are common among athletes because virtually all sporting activities require a form of motion. Massage therapy reduces muscle tension and increases joint, muscle, and ligament flexibility. Repetitive stress injuries associated with sports such as shin splints, bursitis, tennis elbow, tendonitis, etc. are typically drastically reduced through effective massage therapy.
We are consistently rated as one of the best chiropractors in Amarillo, and our compassionate team will not only help you with the best and most effective chiropractic treatment, but we can also provide you with knowledge on how to take control of your health.
If you are in the Amarillo, TX area, now is a good time to call the only Fellowship-trained chiropractic orthopedist in all of West Texas west of the I-35 corridor.
Our staff is ready and prepared to get you better, faster, for good.
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Dr. Jeff Williams, DC, FIANM is a Fellowship-trained Neuromusculoskeletal specialist and chiropractor in Amarillo, TX. As an Amarillo chiropractor, Dr. Williams treats chronic pain, disc pain, low back pain, neck pain, whiplash injuries, and more. Dr. Williams is also the host of The Chiropractic Forward Podcast. Through the podcast, Dr. Williams teaches fellow chiropractors and advocates weekly for evidence-based, patient-centered practice through current and relevant research. If you have any questions for Dr. Williams, feel free to email at [email protected]
Learn more about Dr. Williams and his practice at https://www.amarillochiropractor.com. Dr. Williams's full-time Amarillo chiropractic practice is Creek Stone Integrated Care at 3501 SW 45th St., Ste. T, Amarillo, TX 79109
