The Importance of Pre and Post Event Sport Massage Therapy for an Athlete

1. The Importance of Pre and Post Event Sport Massage Therapy for an Athlete  For any sports event, be it the Olympics or any other ordinary one, a sport massage therapist plays an important role in keeping the sportspersons fit as a fiddle.

2. He or she is an individual who has done a certified course in sports massage therapy and possesses a comprehensive knowledge in this field. Pre and post event massage is performed by every sports masseur/masseuse and forms a necessary part of an athlete’s training. A pre event massage is performed before the event and helps to wake up the soft tissues. While a post event massage is performed after the event to help the soft tissues recover from the stress. Both these massages are performed with two common objectives: 1. To prevent injuries 2. To prevent the occurrence of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) Let us delve more into the details of both pre-event and post event massage. What exactly happens in a pre event massage? On the day of the event, a little preparation is necesssary to warm yourself up. Isn’t it? Similarly, your body also needs to warm up before going to the field. The sports masseur/masseuse has to perform this 30 minutes before the event starts to bring out the best performance from the athlete. The main aim of the massage session is to prepare the athlete both physically and mentally. Usually, the muscles are stimulated using some rhythmic and fast movements. As a result, the muscles open up and improve the overall movements of the body. This is the physical benefit of a pre event massage that can only be given by a certified therapist. Besides, this massage also instills confidence; the athlete will have feel-good vibes working throughout his or her body. Automatically he or she will be motivated to give his or her best performance in the event. This is how a sportsperson will be benefitted mentally. Such

3. massage techniques are taught to all the massage therapists who study sports massage courses in London, in a comprehensive way. That is why it is best to have a professional sports massage therapist before any major sports event. Advantages Prevention against injury • Increase the flexibility of the muscles • Enhanced performance • Increased blood circulation • What exactly happens in a post event massage? After the event, an athlete is bound to feel exhausted and worn out. This massage is done to rejuvenate the exhausted muscles and bring back to their original form. It is not so intense and mainly deals with the flushing out of lactic acid and other wastes that may have accumulated during the event. Also, if there is any damaged soft tissue, this massage is ideal to repair it. Using long strokes, the massage therapist reduces muscle fatigue and tension, besides introducing a relaxation process through the massage. Advantages Prevention against DOMS • Tackles fatigue • Reduces tension • Quicker recovery time •

4. Ultimate relaxation • Conclusion- Thus with an expert sports massage therapist, suffering the after-effects of participating in a sports event, is minimum to a great extent. For those who are intend to become a sports massage therapist, can study Sport Massage level 3 course from recognized institutes and have a prospective career in this field, straightaway. Affable Therapy Training Limited Address: 64A George Street, Croydon CR0 1PD Phone: 02083381212 / 07917147302 Email: info@affabletherapy.com Website: www.affabletherapy.com