Exercise and Massage Therapy
There have been numerous studies on the effect of massage therapy on athletes. A majority of these studies have given conflicting results. One study which compared professional athletes to controls found no significant differences in muscle soreness. Another study that compared professional athletes with control subjects found significant improvement in muscle pain for athletes who received massage. However there was no noticeable improvement in the condition of athletes who did not receive massage. Another study that compared active athletes with nonathletes showed similar results as the previous studies.
Although there aren't any conclusive studies showing that the benefits of sports massage on athletic performance however, numerous studies have demonstrated that it can aid athletes in recovering faster. In one study, scientists found that massage therapy reduced recovery time of athletes participating in a rigorous exercise program. Another study found that athletes who were subject to the maximum workload program did significantly better than those who received a Sports massage. Another study found that therapists who massaged sports have a significant impact on the physical performance of overweight adolescents.
A study that examined the production of lactic acid in control and injured groups found no differences. But, the researchers did conclude that the effect of massage may be dependent on whom the massage is given to. Researchers discovered that the production of lactic acid was the highest in the control group during exercise and was found to be at a low level after the session. However the injured group had higher lactic acid production and it remained higher following the session. This could be due to the higher lactic acid production in injured patients can decrease the pain threshold of the patient and cause greater exercise perceived exertion.
There are many theories about how massage therapy could improve athletic performance. The physiologists have suggested that a full stretch of the muscles in the deep of the legs is responsible for faster recuperation from injuries. The same theory suggests that athletes would benefit from stretching the superficial muscles of the shoulders and arms to strengthen them. Another theory suggests that the tighter, shorter muscles of the lower body help shorten the recovery period for athletes who perform intense activities during competition. A strong core of abdominal muscles 대전출장마사지 can prevent cramps and spasms among athletes who engage in strenuous exercise.
In addition to stretching and strengthening of muscles, sports massage can also improve the flexibility of athletes. Stretching muscles can make them more flexible and more open to movement and training. However, as athletes continue to exercise the muscles will eventually become tight and restrict their movement. To ease the pain in their muscles, athletes must exercise to stretch tight muscles. This is where sports massage plays a crucial role.
Studies have demonstrated that athletes feel an increase of cortisol when exercising or engaging in high intensity. The stress hormone signals physical stress. Studies have demonstrated that cortisol can increase endurance and strength when exercising at a low intensity. In the study, endurance performance was measured prior to and after athletes completed 30 sprints. The sprints were recorded to measure muscle twitch activities. The results showed an increase in muscle strength following sprints.
Glycogen in muscles increased muscle strength. Glycogen is the source of energy that muscles produce following intense workouts. When the athlete is subject to a high level of physical stress the body releases large amounts of glycogen are released by the body. This allows the athlete to replenish the energy loss during the sprints. Researchers at the University of Northumbria published a study that found that sprints of a short duration prior to cycling competition resulted in a significant increase in the amount of muscle glycogen.
The results of these studies demonstrate that massage therapy for sports can be beneficial to athletes during and after intense exercise. All of these studies were done on healthy, non-athletes. Before you start any therapy, consult your doctor if you have conditions that interfere with circulation, like kidney disease, diabetes and high blood pressure or other conditions.