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Wooden Hut

Sports massage

A massage acclaimed by athletes and used by caregivers for the preparation and physical recovery of high-level athletes, essential during competitions and high-intensity practice with repetitive sequences.

 

It improves the physical, emotional and energetic performance of the athlete.

It prevents injuries and allows faster recovery.

 

The objectives, the techniques and protocols implemented as well as its phases of use will depend on the type of sport as well as the characteristics and the phases of training or competition practiced by the athlete.

Sports massage sessions can be practiced either:

  • on demand according to individual needs

  • a program of specific sessions can be set up as part of a follow-up

.

Athlete follow-up

In addition to the work of the physiotherapist, the osteopath and other sports doctors, the sports massage practitioner aims to improve the performance and good health of the athlete. Its role is to follow the athlete in his practice and to establish a program of specific sessions adapted to his needs according to the sport, the phases of training and competition or in the event of injury.

  • Before the competition to promote the athlete's good form

  • During the competition to stimulate the tissues, prepare the structures without losing tone, maintain attention, reduce muscle trauma and release overloaded areas.

  • After competition for faster recovery or in the event of injury in addition to the work done by sports therapists to reduce pain and inflammation, avoid stiffness, atrophy and improve the functionality of injured areas.

Practiced regularly sports massage allows;

 

  • improve performance, position and general health

  • reduce physical and emotional recovery time

  • prevent the risk of injury

  • to avoid aches, contractures and cramps

  • to reduce fatigue and to practice with more intensity and for a longer period of time

  • reduce inflammation and pain

  • free the body from the constraints of stress and muscle tension

  • to prevent overloads

  • to facilitate movements as well as the maintenance of rhythm and cadences

3-step program

The preparation massage

The preparation massage before the competitions (min 2 days before)

Prolonged deep massage session to locate sensitive areas to prepare the athlete and prevent injury

Massages during the competition

  • Prior massage to seek the activation of the proprioreceptive and nervous systems, to stimulate muscle tone.

  • During competition, at breaks or between events to maintain attention, reduce pain, stimulate and prepare structures without reducing tone

  • Interphase competition massage to release over-tensioned areas, reduce body aches, contractures, cramps.

The restorative massage

After the competition

(2/3 h after the competition or 24/36 h if the competition lasts several days)

It restores tired structures and repairs damaged muscles.

The techniques used facilitate the release of muscular, nervous and mental tensions.

This massage has a sedative and analgesic action, reduces muscle hypertonicity

Injury recovery massage will complement the work done by specialist sports therapists to reduce pain and inflammation, maintain cell tropism and improve mobility and functionality of injured areas.

The properties of massage

On the skin

Increased vasodilation, Hyperemia

Increase in flexibility

Improved cellular nutrition

Reduction of pain by saturation of nerve pathways by skin receptors

( Gate control / Gate theory )

On the circulatory system

Before exercise

The mechanical action of the massage warms the treated area and the action of the nerves activates the sympathetic system which is vasodilator. The blood is thus pumped by the muscles which will contract and prepare for the activity

After exercise

The muscle needs to recover and the massage brings it more blood and therefore energy nutrients to restore the reserves and materials necessary for muscle reconstruction.

Before exercise

The mechanical action of the massage warms the treated area and the action of the nerves activates the sympathetic system which is vasodilator. The blood is thus pumped by the muscles which will contract and prepare for the activity

After exercise

The muscle needs to recover and the massage brings it more blood and therefore energy nutrients to restore the reserves and materials necessary for muscle reconstruction.

On the muscular system

Increased elimination of metabolic waste and toxins

Better oxygenation and cellular nutrition

Reduced muscle fatigue and recovery

Reduced occurrence of spasms and cramps

Reduced connective tissue buildup

Pain relief

Improved muscle function

(range of motion, strength, stretching ability)

Decreased muscle tone and contractions

On the nervous system

During sports activity

Lively, vigorous, tonic, intense, rapid movement techniques increase the excitability of neurons and send many messages to the spinal cord

This will anesthetize the pain and relieve the athlete's symptoms through the Gate control effect.

The excitability of the nerves will lead to faster and easier muscle contraction, thus making the athlete's gesture more explosive.

These different techniques will also put the body on alert and release the adrenaline. The body is ready for the fight!

After exercise

Thanks to the slow, ample and relaxing movements, the information reaches the limbic system triggering the mechanisms of satiety / rewards, driving out stress, anxiety.

Restorative massage will relax the nervous system and bring a sense of well-being

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