If you have only thought about Massage Therapy as a reward for your hard training, think again.  Massage Therapy is an integral part of any intense athletic regimen. Massage has become a necessary ingredient for a complete workout. More and more people are realizing that a complete workout routine includes not only the exercise itself, but also caring for the wear-and-tear and minor injuries that naturally occur with strenuous movement. The benefits are more both physical and psychological which are key ingredients to completing a race at improved times.

Incorporating massage in to your conditioning program has many benefits. It helps you get into good shape faster, and with less stiffness and soreness. It helps you recover faster from heavy workouts, and relieves conditions which may cause injury.

Sports massage may involve prevention and maintenance programs, on-site treatment before and after an athletic event, and rehabilitation programs for those who are injured during the program. There are 3 categories of incorporating massage into your training regimen.

Maintenance Massage

A therapist trained specifically in sports massage has the knowledge of knowing which muscles are used in a given sport and which are likely candidates for trouble. By focusing in on particular muscle groups and working specific tissues, the treatment can help improve range of motion and muscle flexibility. The objective of a maintenance program is to help the athlete reach optimal performance through injury-free training. (Don’t forget to request a therapist who specializes in Sports Massage).

Event Massage

a.        Pre-event sports massage is given within the four hours preceding an event to improve performance, help decrease injuries and help calm a nervous athlete. It is used as a supplement to an athlete's warm-up to enhance circulation and reduce excess muscle and mental tension prior to competition. It also improves tissue pliability, readying the athlete for top performance.

b.       Inter- and intra-event massage is given between events or in time-outs to help athletes recover from the preceding activity, and prepare for the activity coming up. It is also short, and focuses on the major muscles stressed in the activity.

c.        Post-event sports massage is given after a competition and is mainly concerned with recovery. It is geared toward reducing the muscle spasms and metabolic build-up that occur with vigorous exercise. Recovery after competition involves not only tissue normalization and repair, but also general relaxation and mental calming.

Rehabilitation Massage

Even with preventive maintenance, muscles cramp, tear, bruise and ache. Sports massage can speed healing and reduce discomfort during this process. Techniques employed by sports massage therapists are effective in the management of acute and chronic injuries. For example, adding lymphatic massage stage of injury will improve control of secondary, hypoxic injury and enhance edemas fluid removal throughout the healing cycle. Trigger point techniques reduce the spasms and pain that occur both in the injured and "compensation" muscles. Cross-fiber friction techniques applied improve the formation of strong and flexible repair tissue, which is vital in maintaining full pain-free range of motion during rehabilitation.

  How often should you receive massage?

Massage is most beneficial when receiving it on a regular basis, especially if you are in either in training mode or rehabilitation mode. The most common amount is once per week in order to see results.  It takes some time to break down the layers of the muscle so frequent visits allows your Massage Therapist to get to your goals. The goal is to make a big difference, improve your healing or performance, and it takes time to do that.  With such frequency required and the large financial obligation of the sport it would be best to find an affordable method for massage therapy and find the therapist that meets your needs and stick with them so they can see to it you are getting to your overall goal.  For an affordable method of massage, Massage Envy in Fairfield offers affordable massage with their wellness program.  $59 a month includes one-hour massage. Any additional massages are discounted at $39, which is unlimited.  When requesting a therapist specific to sports massage request Curt, Martha, Greg, or Denise.

Massage Envy 2279 Black Rock Tpke. Fairfield CT. 203-333-ENVY (3689). www.massageenvy.com