The stroking movements in massage suck fluid through blood vessels and lymph vessels enhancing circulation. Pressure is increased in front of each stroke while a vacuum is created behind which acts like a pump. This is a crucial process for tight or damaged muscle tissue as a tight muscle will squeeze blood out like a sponge, depriving the tissues of vital nutrients and energy with which to repair.
Deep massage causes the pores in tissue membranes to open, enabling fluids and nutrients to pass through. This helps remove waste products such as lactic acid and encourages the muscles to take up oxygen and nutrients which help them recover quicker.
massage restores muscle length and is more powerful for improving flexibility than traditional stretching methods. Bundles of muscle fibres are stretched lengthwise as well as sideways with massage which also stretches the sheath or fascia that surrounds the muscle, so releasing any tension or pressure build up. This impact on fascia is significant as injury research shows that fascia is responsible for a large percentage of injuries, chronic pain and ineffective response to treatment.
Scar tissue is the result of previous injuries or trauma and can affect muscle, tendons and ligaments. This can then lead to inflexible tissues which are prone to re-injury and long-term pain.
Hard training and long-term exercising can make tissues hard and inelastic and this can reduce the gains expected from training, leading to plateaus and motivational lows. Massage helps to reset and maintain the natural elastic properties of soft tissue.
The management, manipulation and rehabilitation of soft tissues of the body including muscles, ligaments and tendons.
Prehabilitation is a proactive approach to exercise, with focus given to body mechanics and basic human maintainence for the prevention of injury and pain. Together with diet, stress reduction and lifestyle changes, prehabilitation allows individuals to maximise fitness, function, health and wellbeing, regardless of age or physical condition!
Injuries are common place from the uncontrollables in sport as well as being a common issue in day-to-day living. However, reoccurring injuries, intermittent suffering and chronic pain should be and can be prevented through effective attention to detail in the quality of injury treatment and rehabilitation.