Exercise and massage for sports
Many studies have been done on the effects of sport massage on athletes. Many of these studies have produced contradictory results. One study that examined professional athletes against control subjects found that there were no differences in the amount of muscle soreness. Another study which compared professional athletes and controls showed significant improvement in muscle pain for athletes who received massage. However, there was no significant improvement in the condition of athletes who did not receive massage. Another study comparing active athletes and non-athletes produced similar results as the previous studies.
There aren't enough studies that show that massage can actually improve athletic performance, but a few studies suggest that it could aid in reducing recovery time for athletes. Researchers found that athletes who were involved in high-intensity exercise programs were less likely to recover from massages. In another study, participants who performed the maximum workload exercise showed significantly better performance over those who were not given a Sports massage. In yet another study, therapists who performed sports massage were able to show a marked improvement in the physical performance of overweight adolescent girls.
A study that examined lactic acid production in the injured and control groups did not find any difference between the groups. However, researchers concluded that the effects of massage depend on the individual that it is being administered to. Researchers discovered that lactic acids were produced at a higher level in the control group than they were in the exercise group, and remained significantly lower after the session. On the other hand the production of lactic acid was observed to be higher in injured group during exercise, and increased after the session. A possible reason for this finding is the increased production of lactic acid may decrease the pain threshold of injured patients and cause a greater perception of exertion during exercise.
There are many theories on how massage might improve the performance of athletes. Scientists have speculated that a thorough stretch of the muscles deep in the legs is the reason for athletes' quicker recovery from injuries. The same theory suggests that athletes would benefit from stretching the superficial muscles of the arms and shoulders to strengthen their muscles. Another theory suggests that athletes who participate in intense sports during competition might be able recover quicker if their lower muscles are more tense and shorter. A strong abdominal core can prevent spasms and cramps that happen to athletes during intense exercise.
Apart from stretching and strengthening of 수원출장마사지 muscles sports massage may also increase athletes' flexibility. Stretching muscles can make them more flexible and willing to move and train. However when athletes continue to exercise their muscles, they eventually become tight and begin to restrict their movement. To relieve the pain in their muscles the athletes must engage in exercises to stretch out muscles that are tight. This is where massage therapy can play a significant role.
Research has shown that during periods of intense exercise the athletes experience a significant increase in the production of cortisol. It is a stress hormone that is a sign of physical stress. Research has shown that this increased release of cortisol leads to greater muscle strength and endurance performance during periods of moderate exercise. In the study endurance performance was assessed prior to and after the athletes completed 30 sprints. During the sprints, muscle twitch activity was measured, and the results indicated an increase in muscle strength following the sprints.
Muscles that have Glycogen increased their muscle strength. Glycogen is a source of energy in muscles following intense workouts. When the body of an athlete is exposed to intense physical activity and it releases large quantities of glycogen to replenish lost energy during the sprints. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Northumbria in the UK revealed that a series of sprints prior to an event of competitive cycling resulted in an increase in muscle glycogen.
The results of these studies show that massage therapy for sports can be beneficial to athletes during and after intense exercise. The studies were done on healthy non-athletes. If you suffer from any condition that affect circulation , like kidney disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure, it is best to consult your physician prior to starting any treatment.