If you’re someone who works out regularly then you will be all too familiar with the dreaded DOMS. Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness. DOMS are both a blessing and a curse. They are a sign that you have done a good workout and your body is rebuilding itself. Becoming stronger. But the soreness can be a major inconvenience.
Properly stretching before and after a workout is an effective way to reduce DOMS. But it isn’t 100% effective every time. Sometimes you need to go a step further. And that is where a sports massage comes into play.
What Is A Sports Massage?
When you think of massages you likely think of a relaxing environment where your body will be pampered. All the stress and tension hidden within your body melts away. A sports massage is a much more specific type of massage. Focusing on the muscles and soft tissues involved with exercise. It is less about relaxation and more about strengthening and healing your muscles.
Sports massages are typically more specialized and, at times, more painful than a regular massage. Most people assume sports massages are only for professional athletes. But this isn’t true. Even if you only work out infrequently, a sports massage can completely change your life! South Korea is one of the massage capitals of the world. So you’d be foolish not to take advantage of the myriad amazing sports massage centers on offer. But how exactly does a sports massage help?
Injury Prevention
One of the most significant upsides to getting a sports massage is injury prevention. Whether you’re someone who does a lot of working out or someone who works a job involving a lot of manual labor.
After our muscles have been worked out they become tighter. Restricting our range of movement and putting extra strain on the muscles when we do move. Which can lead to injuries such as muscle tearing. A sports massage will relieve that tension far more effectively than stretching and allow you to regain a full range of movement.
Boosting Your Energy
A sports massage will help increase your body’s blood flow massively. This is especially useful if you are spending most of your day at a desk for work.
Improved blood flow will allow your muscles to relieve more oxygen and nutrients as well as increasing your energy levels. It also helps prevent soreness and muscle fatigue. Getting a sports massage before you go to the gym will allow you to workout for longer and more efficiently.
Boosting Your Confidence
While DOMS are a sign that you have done a solid workout, they can also be a sign that you’re not caring for your muscles enough. Without proper stretching and care the muscles won’t heal as effectively. Meaning you won’t see results as fast as you are meant to.
A sports massage will speed up the recovery process and help you see physical results a lot quicker. And this can have a huge impact on your confidence. Studies have shown that seeing positive results from a workout encourages you to maintain the habit. And this, in turn, produces better results in the future.
If you really want to make your body glow you should consider pairing a sports massage with a fish pedicure and a Korean massage. A fish pedicure is when you bathe your feet in water while a swarm of small fish nibble away dead and cellulose skin. While a Korean massage is more focused on relaxing your body and helping you relieve pain and stress. Companies like https://fish-massage.com offer both these services. But sports massages are often carried out at more specialized facilities.
Improved Sleep
People often think that you only need to get enough sleep at night to feel well rested. But the quality of your sleep is just as important as the quantity. Muscle tension and fatigue can severely impact the quality of your sleep. Due to how much we move in the night. If your body is sore, your brain isn’t going to be able to slip into the various sleep stages as effectively.
Regular sports massages will vastly improve the quality of your sleep. While also making it far easier to fall asleep. A massage will naturally release endorphins in the brain. And the increased blood flow from the massage will help your muscles relax more when it is time to sleep. So if you’re someone who suffers from insomnia, you should definitely consider trying a sports massage.
I’m Dr Justin Boey, an Aesthetic Doctor in Singapore. I believe in open sharing of knowledge and skills to patients, blog readers and fellow doctors alike.
