Exercise and Massage for Sports
There have been numerous studies on the effect of sports massage on athletes. Many of these studies have had conflicting results. One study that compared professional athletes with their counterparts found no significant differences in muscle soreness among the groups. Another study that compared professional athletes with control subjects found significant improvement in the pain of muscles for athletes who received massage. However, there was no significant improvements in the health of those who didn't receive massage. Another study comparing active athletes with nonathletes revealed similar results to those of the previous studies.
While there aren't any conclusive studies that prove that sports massage can improve athletic performance However, numerous studies have proven that it can aid athletes in recovering faster. In one study, researchers found that sports massage reduced the recovery time of athletes participating in a high-intensity exercise program. Another study showed that athletes who were subjected to a maximum workload protocol performed significantly better than those who received Sports massage. In a different study, the therapists who used sports massage showed a definite improvement in physical performance in overweight adolescents.
A study that examined lactic acid production in the injured and control groups found no difference between groups. However, researchers concluded that massage's effect may depend on who it is being given to. Researchers found that lactic acid were produced at a higher level in the control group than they were during exercise, and remained fairly low after the massage. However the injured group showed greater amount of lactic acid and it was higher even after the session. The possible reason for this is that the increased lactic acid production could reduce the threshold for pain of injured patients and result in greater perceived effort during exercise.
There are a number of theories on how massage could improve the performance of athletes. The physiologists have suggested that a good stretching of the deep muscles of the legs is responsible for athletes' quicker recuperation from injuries. The same theory suggests that athletes would benefit from stretching the muscles that are superficial to the shoulders and arms to strengthen the muscles. Another theory suggests that the tighter, shorter muscles of the lower body help shorten the time to recover for athletes who participate in explosive activities during competition. A strong core of abdominal muscles can prevent cramps as well as spasms that occur in athletes who participate in strenuous exercise.
Alongside stretching and strengthening of muscles sports massage can also improve athletes' flexibility. Stretching muscles can make them more flexible and more open to training and movement. However, as athletes continue to train and stretch their muscles, they become stiff and limit their motion. To alleviate muscle pain, athletes should perform exercises to stretch muscles that are tight. Massage therapy for sports can help with this.
Studies have demonstrated that athletes experience a significant increase in cortisol levels when they exercise or engaging in high intensity. This stress hormone signalizes physical stress. Studies have shown that this increased release of cortisol leads to greater muscle strength and endurance performance during periods of moderate exercise. The endurance of the athletes was evaluated before and after they completed 30 sprints. During sprints, muscle twitch activity was recorded and the results indicated an increase in muscle strength following the sprints.
The muscle's glucosamine levels increased strength. Glycogen is a major source of energy that muscles produce after intense exercise. When an athlete is subject to intense physical strain the body releases large quantities of glycogen are released by your body. This allows the athlete to replenish energy lost during the sprints. Researchers at the University of Northumbria published a study that demonstrated that short sprints prior to competitive cycling resulted in a significant 대전출장안마 increase of glycogen in the muscles.
These studies have proven that massage therapy for sports can be beneficial for athletes, both in the course of and after intense workouts. The studies were conducted on healthy, non-athletes. Before you start any treatment, consult your doctor if there are conditions that affect circulation, such as kidney disease, diabetes or high blood pressure or any other condition.