In many years practising sports and therapeutic massage, the overwhelming majority of new clients arrive at my door proudly sporting an acute injury which they need fixing urgently, before hitting the gym floor once again to go large on the weights. Regular clients? Not so much – they’ve learnt to listen to their bodies’ early warning systems and head off issues at the pass.

So, what’s the difference between a body that is well-trained but poorly maintained, and one that is looked after, well rested, and well exercised? Simples: the first one has been taken for granted, and we all know what happens when we take something for granted. Trouble.

We don’t expect our cars to motor along at peak performance sans oil and the correct fuel, so why do we believe our poor ageing bodies should behave any differently? Everything in life has an equal and opposite reaction – a Ying and a Yang - so after powering up and working our bodies it makes complete sense to power down and allow for rest and healing in order that we can perform optimally the next time. Ask any professional or even semi professional athlete: their physio / massage team is every bit as important as the coaching staff.

But sports massage is more than just giving you space for relaxation. It can be a powerful tool to help you take charge of your health and wellbeing. Here are some of the top benefits:

• Early identification of areas of strain which could present as problematic further down the line if not dealt with and exercise modified accordingly.
• Reduction in muscle tension, which will help prevent overtraining injury.
• Improved circulation – by warming and stretching the body, releasing the fascia, and addressing any trigger points which may be preventing free flow of blood and nutrients in the system.
• Drainage, clearing and stimulation of the lymphatic system – our ‘second circulation’, responsible for detoxification, .
• Stress reduction – ‘turning down’ the sympathetic nervous system (the fight, flight, freeze response), and ‘turning up’ the parasympathetic system (the rest and digest response, essential for healing).
• Lowering the heart rate.
• Improving the immune response.
• Relaxation and to a great degree freedom from pain.
• A clearer and more positive mindset and greater alertness.
• Increased joint mobility and flexibility as massage works into the skin, muscles, tendons and ligaments, reducing stiffness and bringing better range of motion.
• Improved breathing as diaphragm release enables a deeper and fuller breathing pattern.
• Improved skin tone as blood is brought to the epidermis and toxins are eliminated.
• Improved recovery of soft tissue injuries – healthy tissue will repair better and more quickly.
• Better sleep – and so much of it!

 

Remember when looking for a therapist to ask or search for their qualifications, their experience, their certifications, the cost and whether your insurance will cover some of this (therapists should be a member of a recognised body such as the IMTA), how long the session will last and what types of treatment are on offer. You will be asked a detailed series of questions in order to treat you safely and appropriately, and all Covid 19 strictures should be adhered to. A good therapist will also follow up with specific exercises, stretches or advice to enhance your therapy still further and prevent injury in the future.

Remember – this is not a self-indulgent spa treatment – this is a very valuable tool to keep your body and mind healthy, focused, and able to withstand whatever life decides to throw at us next…