When you think of massage, you may think of having a white towel over you while gentle music plays and a massage professional does their magic. But I’m here to tell you that massage can do more than just make for a relaxing spa day!
Many athletes use massage regularly to help them recover and boost their sports performance, and you should, too. There are a lot of benefits you can gain from massage when it comes to your next game day, and regular massage will help you feel better overall.
Helps your lymphatic system out
Essentially, your lymphatic system doesn’t have a “pump” of its own. For your body to get rid of the things that are lymph-related, you have to do something that gets your blood moving. Exercise, of course, works well, but so does massage, which may help reduce swelling you are experiencing related to your lymphatic system. Of course, another side bonus is that massage boosts your circulation overall, and great circulation is something we all benefit from.
Ease some of your stress
You can carry your stress in your body in physical ways. It can, for example, leave muscles tense and less primed to move. Massage is known for helping people to relax and work out all of those troublesome knots that may impact your performance. Another upside here is that when you feel less stressed, you’ll be able to focus on your game more for better performance results.
Relieve migraines and headaches
Your neck is a wondrous thing, made up of 26 muscles. These muscles do more than turn your head–they help you swallow, lift your rib cage when you breathe in, allow you to tilt your head and more. It’s not uncommon for people who regularly have headaches or migraines to also have tense neck muscles, which may be a contributing factor. When you have a massage that works out some of your tightness in your upper back and neck, it may help ease your headaches or migraines, too, and it’s much easier to have a great game when your head is clear of pain and discomfort.
If you are not making massage a regular part of your recovery and pre-game day routine, now is the time to start. There is more than one type of massage, so try the different kinds available to determine which methods work best for you.
