Having a massage can feel like a treat and many people don’t do it that often, however having them more regularly can have many health benefits and help progress your exercise performance and injury recovery.

What benefits does massage have?

We all know massage can help us feel good and relax. But it also has numerous other benefits such as:

  • Reduce stress and increase relaxation. 
  • Reduce pain, muscle soreness and tension. 
  • Improve circulation
  • Improve energy and alertness. 
  • Lowering heart rate and blood pressure.
  • Speed up recovery from injury. 
  • Faster recovery from training and ward off muscle fatigue
  • Improve injury recovery

How can massage help with my exercise performance?

If you exercise regularly and you are also doing all the rehab/prehab exercises but occasionally get a little niggle or muscle tightness then having a massage once every 4-8 weeks can be very helpful at staying on top of these and reducing the risk of you having to take time out of your training due to this turning into an injury. The pain caused by the pressure on muscles during a sports massage causes your central nervous system to produce more pain-relieving chemicals and tissue-healing chemicals. This may reduce pain and speed up the healing of overworked muscle cells. The massage can reduce lactic acid buildup. They also help remove metabolic waste while increasing the flow of blood and oxygen to your tissues. This allows your body to recover faster from training and perform at its peak.

Can massage help me recover from injury quicker?

Yes, and the therapist will use different massage techniques for treating strains, pulled muscles, or tears compared to those used for relaxation. If you experience an injury or joint pain (especially if the problem is long-term or chronic), you’ll also have some soft-tissue restrictions, as the body naturally tightens up to protect the sore area. However, our body often overreacts/ over-restricts and this tightness can remain when the injury has healed. Massage can get rid of soft-tissue restrictions and increase circulation. 

The increased circulation along with the therapist’s hand movements brings fresh, oxygenated blood full of healing cells to the injured area. Massage helps to reduce our stress hormones. So, if your stress hormones are lower, and your pain perception is reduced, therefore you can push your rehabilitation further

By actively massaging out any soft-tissue restrictions, you’re not only helping your current injury but also helping prevent other problems down the road due to residual tightness. 

What can I expect during a massage?

You don’t need any special preparation for a massage. Before a massage starts, your therapist will ask you about any symptoms, your medical history and what you’re hoping to get out of the massage. In a typical massage therapy session, you undress or wear loose-fitting clothing. Undress only to the point that you’re comfortable. You generally lie on a table and cover yourself with a towel or sheet. Your massage therapist will leave the room when you undress before the massage and when you dress after it. Your therapist should evaluate touch to locate painful or tense areas and to determine how much pressure to apply. If the therapist is pushing too hard, ask for lighter pressure. Your therapist may use oil or lotion to reduce friction on your skin so be sure to tell them if you have any allergies. A massage session here at Cambridge Massage Therapy will last from 60 minutes and you should feel calm and relaxed during and after your massage. Breathe normally throughout your massage. Our therapists will be able to give you some advice on  aftercare and any stretches or exercises they feel you may benefit from 

If you would like any more information on how massage may benefit you or would like to book in with one of our therapists in Cambridge please do not hesitate to contact us on offer at 01223 914140 or e-mail us on enquiries@vineryroadstudios.co.uk