09 Nov Taking Part in a Challenge – How massage is an essential part of sports training and recovery
In our first blog, Phil Bedford, Remedial Sports Massage Therapist, talked about the importance of preparation in training for any type of sporting challenge right down to the shoes you are wearing.
In the second of a series of 3 blogs, Phil looks at how massage therapy should be a key component to aid your training and for post-event recovery.
Why massage?
Think of yourself as you would a professional athlete. Their training is only as good as how the body performs. This is where massage therapy plays a huge part in easing out muscle tension and tightness after your training.
What type of massage would I need?
There are many variations of massage. In training, most people would turn to a sports massage. This consists of stretching and holding, soft tissue massage for overworked muscles and involving manipulations to the body as required.
What happens to my body when I train?
When we train we accumulate a build of lactic acid in the muscles which is normal. Massage helps to release and disperse this. Training can commence much sooner and the muscle fibres will be much freer and be able to fire better when training.
Having flexibility as well as good muscle strength is as important. Sports Massages focus on giving a greater range of movement. The more space we have in a joint where tendons attach, the greater we can open our capabilities in running or any other sport and have less injury.
How many times should I have a massage?
A massage once a week is ideal, normally at the end of the week when you have a recovery day.
A typical session would be 1 hour long focusing on whole or specific areas that may be a problem.
Look at your body as a machine or a car that needs to stay in a good performance. The finer tuned you are the better you will perform. Your massage therapist is also there to advise you of stretches that will help your post-training.
In the next blog, Phil will discuss the importance of warming up, cooling down and how what you eat and drink provides the best fuel for training.
Phil Bedford has been a therapist for over 25 years training in Birmingham and working both in the UK and abroad including Spain and the United States.
If you would like to contact Phil Bedford for further advice on training or to book in for a Remedial Sports Massage drop an email to info@handsonatwork.co.uk