Sports massage is one of the recovery types and can helps with:
➡️Relieving tightness/tension – A sports massage will stretch and lengthen your muscles in a much deeper and possibly more specific way than when you stretch after your run.
➡️Improving blood flow – when blood flow to a particular area is increased and improved, healing can take place and so the fatigued or injured muscles are rejuvenated.
➡️Increasing flexibility – with increased flexibility your range of motion and the mobility in your joints will be improved. This could well then reduce the chance of an injury occurring or re-occurring.
➡️Breaking down scar tissue – when scar tissue is left to repair by itself it will form a criss-cross pattern rather than the healthy linear formation.
Massage can be utilised to promote the healthy formation of scar tissue so that it forms in a natural, strong linear pattern. A build-up of scar tissue can cause tightness and weakness in the muscles. Massage will help to break down the scar tissue, promoting correct, strong scar formation in the muscle.
➡️Lymphatic drainage – this helps to reduce inflammation and swelling. It can also help with the removal of lactic acid and other waste products caused by slight tears or overuse in the muscle.