Sport Massage and Exercise
Many studies have been done on the effects of sports massage on athletes. The majority of these studies have produced contradictory results. One study that examined professional athletes against controls found no significant differences in the amount of muscle soreness. Another study comparing professional athletes and controls revealed an improvement in the muscle soreness of those who received massage, however, there was no significant improvement for athletes not receiving massage. Another study that compared active athletes with nonathletes revealed similar results to the previous studies.
There aren't any definitive studies showing that sports massage can actually improve athletic performance, however, a number of studies have shown that it can assist in reducing the recovery time of athletes. In one study, researchers found that massage therapy reduced recovery time of athletes who took part in a vigorous exercise program. In another study, athletes who followed a maximum workload protocol performed significantly better than controls when given an Sports massage. In a different study, the therapists who used sports massage showed a definite improvement in physical performance of overweight adolescent women.
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 who it is being given to. Researchers found that lactic acid production was the highest in the control group during exercise and remained at relatively low levels following the session. However, the injured group had a higher level of lactic acid production, and it continued to increase after the session. This could be due in part to the increased lactic acid production in injured patients may decrease the patient's pain threshold and cause greater exercise perceived exertion.
There are a myriad of theories on the ways that massage can improve performance in athletics. The physiologists have suggested that a thorough stretching of the deep muscles of the legs is responsible for faster recovery from injury. The same theory proposes that athletes will benefit from stretching out the superficial muscles of the shoulders and arms to strengthen them. Another theory is that athletes who participate in intense sports during competition could be able to recover quicker in case their lower muscles are smaller and tighter. A strong core of abdominal muscles can reduce cramps and spasms in athletes who engage in strenuous activity.
Apart from stretching and strengthening of muscles, sports massage could also improve 수원출장안마 athletes' flexibility. Stretching muscles can make them more flexible and open to training and movement. As athletes exercise their muscles get tighter and restrict their movement. To ease this discomfort the athletes must engage in exercises to loosen tight muscle groups. Massage therapy can aid in this.
Research has demonstrated that during times of intense exercise or high intensity, athletes experience a significant increase in the release of cortisol. This is a stress hormone that is a sign of physical stress. And studies show that this increased release of cortisol leads to a greater strength of muscles and endurance performance in times of exercise that are low intensity. In the study endurance performance was assessed prior to and after athletes completed 30 sprints. During the sprints, muscle twitch activity was timed and the results indicated an increase in muscle strength following the sprints.
The strength increase in muscles resulted from the increased quantity of glycogen within the muscles. Glycogen is a source of energy found in muscles following intense workouts. When the body of the athlete is exposed to intense physical exercise it releases large amounts of glycogen to replenish energy lost during sprints. A study by researchers at the University of Northumbria in the UK found that short sprints before a bout of competitive cycling led to an increase in the amount of muscle glycogen.
The results of these studies demonstrate that sports massage may indeed benefit athletes both when they are exercising and after it. However, one must remember that these studies have been performed on healthy non-athletes. If you suffer from any medical condition that affect circulation such as kidney disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure, it's recommended to consult your physician prior to starting any therapy.