Massage therapy

A quick search on Google tells us the following about massage. Namely that scientific evidence supports massage in providing a range of benefits for athletes.
Such benefits include:

• Decreased Muscle Soreness:

A study in the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy found massage therapy can reduce muscle soreness and improve recovery after exercise. This study was supported by the 2020 review by Davis et al

• Reduced Risk Of Injury:

The use of massage therapy can help prevent injuries, doing so by improving flexibility, reducing muscle tension and promoting improved recovery after exercise… While there is still more research needed to fully understand mechanisms and benefits of sports massage, existing evidence suggests sports massage can be a valuable tool for athletes who are looking to improve both performance and recovery.

• Increased Blood Flow:

Massage therapy has been shown to increase blood flow to muscles massaged, this increased blood flow can help improve circulation, nutrient delivery, as well as reduce inflammation.

• Improved Flexibility:

A study in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine found massage therapy can increase flexibility and joint range of motion. These things may lead to improved athletic performance. A systematic review (Davis et al, 2020) in the BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine journal also found the use of sports massage could help improve tissue flexibility.

• Reduced Anxiety:

A study in the International Journal of Neuroscience found massage therapy can improve mood and reduce anxiety in athletes.

• Improved sleep:

A study in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine found massage therapy can improve the duration of sleep and sleep quality in athletes.

• Post-Competition Massage
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At Normaltonic Physio Clinic we often recommend the use of  massage therapy in the 24 hours following competitive events. Massage used in this way can help capitalise on all the physiological benefits I have listed above. Relevant events could include things like a marathon or ultradistance event, endurance ocean swim, football finals that move into extra time, powerlifting competitions… It these situations considering the use of sports massage post event to assist in relaxation and recovery.

The use of massage to promote relaxation, relieve pain and reduce stress is nothing new, and has been used for centuries. There several proposed mechanisms for how massage can improve pain and some scientific evidence to back it. However, massage is a challenging therapeutic approach to create high quality studies on due to it is hard to reproduce the exact same delivery to each research participant and impossible to create a double blind situation to give the study its powerful validity.
The proposed mechanisms on basis behind how massage therapy can provide pain relief include:
Reducing inflammation. A study in the International Journal of Neuroscience found massage therapy can reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and increase the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system, the system that is responsible for reducing inflammation.
Increased blood flow. The use of massage can also increase blood flow to the affected area, which in turn can help reduce pain and promote healing. A study in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies found massage therapy to increase blood flow to muscles, which can help to relieve pain and soreness.
A review of 60 clinical trials, published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews found massage therapy is effective for relieving pain in different conditions, including neck pain, headaches, and back pain. However, more research is needed to fully understand mechanisms through which massage can help alleviate pain.
What this does mean is that massage can make a great complementary therapy but should not be considered a substitute for medical advice and treatment.
It is important to note that massage should not be used as a substitute for medical treatment, but rather as a complementary therapy to help manage pain and recovery.