Exercise and Massage Therapy
Numerous studies have been conducted on the effects of sport massage on athletes. Many of these studies have produced contradictory results. One study that examined professional athletes against controls found no significant differences in muscle soreness. Another study that compared professionals with their counterparts showed a significant improvement in the muscle soreness of those who received massage, however, there was no improvement for athletes who didn't receive massage. Similar results were observed in another study , which compared active athletes to non-athletes.
There aren't enough studies that show that massage actually enhances athletic performance, however a variety of studies suggest that it could assist in reducing the recovery time of athletes. In one study, scientists found that massage therapy reduced recovery time of athletes who took part in a high-intensity exercise program. Another study revealed that athletes who were subjected to a maximum workload protocol had significantly better results than those who received a Sports massage. Another study showed that therapists who massaged sports had a significant influence on the physical performance of overweight adolescents.
A study comparing the production of lactic acids in the injured and control groups found no differences. Researchers concluded that the effects of massage depend on the individual that it is being administered to. Researchers found that lactic acid were produced at a higher level in the group that was not being massaged than in the exercise group, and were fairly low after the massage. However, the injured group had higher lactic acid production and it continued to increase after the session. The possible reason for this finding is the increased production of lactic acid could decrease the pain threshold of an injured patient and lead to greater perceived effort during exercise.
There are a variety of theories on how sport massage can improve the performance of athletes. Some scientists have suggested that a thorough stretch of the deep muscles of the legs is responsible for faster recovery from injuries. The same theory proposes that athletes can benefit from stretching out the muscles that are superficial to the shoulders and arms to strengthen the muscles. Another theory suggests that athletes who engage in intense activities during competition could be able to recover quicker if their 수원출장마사지 lower muscles are tighter and shorter. A strong abdominal core can help prevent spasms and cramps that can occur in athletes during strenuous activity.
Aside from the stretching and strengthening of muscles massage therapy may also increase the flexibility of athletes. Stretching muscles can help them become more flexible and open to movement and training. However when athletes continue exercising their muscles, they eventually become stiff and restrict their movement. To ease the pain in their muscles, athletes must perform exercises to stretch muscles that are tight. This is where sports massage can play a significant role.
Research has shown that athletes feel an increase of cortisol when exercising or performing high intensity. This stress hormone signalizes physical stress. The research has also shown that the increased release of cortisol leads to a greater strength of muscles and endurance performance in times of moderate exercise. The endurance of athletes was measured prior to and after they completed 30 sprints. During sprints, muscle twitch activity was timed and the results showed an increase in muscle strength following the sprints.
The increased strength of the muscles resulted from the increased quantity of glycogen within the muscles. Glycogen is a source of energy found in muscles during vigorous exercising. And when the athlete's body experiences a period of intense physical activity the body releases huge amounts of glycogen to replenish lost energy during sprints. Researchers at the University of Northumbria published a study that demonstrated that sprints of a short duration prior to competitive cycling led to a significant increase in muscle glycogen.
The results of these studies show that massage therapy for sports can be beneficial to athletes during and after vigorous exercise. However, it is important to note that all of these studies were performed on healthy non-athletes. Before you start any treatment, talk to your doctor if you have conditions that interfere with circulation, like diabetes, kidney disease, high blood pressure, or any other condition.