chscrew144, I hope this entry will help answer your questions. Massage therapy is a fantastic addition to all sports conditioning. But it is important to break sports massage up into two catigories: one- Pre and Intra sports massage and, two- Post event massage. Before and during a sporting event, I never perform deep tissue work or massage work longer than a few minutes. The reason for this is the "Relaxation Response". The body produces chemicals that balance our emotions. When a person receives a traditional "relaxation massage," the body responds by releasing the appropriate chemicals. This can be dangerous for the athlete. It slows your reactions, which can lead not only to poor preformance, but also to injury. Therefore, before a game I only do quick, brisk massage of short duration, often using percussion techniques. This type of massage helps the body to release the chemicals that will aid in increased levels of adrenaline thus increasing reaction time. After a game, a relaxation massage is great. This is down time for the athlete when the body needs to recover. Massage increases the blood flow, helping the muscles to recover much quicker than they would without massage. If you are competing in a tournament where you will have to perform again, wait until the tournament is over to get a massage. Only get a post-event massage if you can get a good night's sleep. This way you'll be ready to perform at your best the next day. These same principles apply to practice and non-practice days as well. If this doesn't answer your questions, please feel free to contact me at
jeff@jpfitness.com
Jeff Strain LMT
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