With any physical activity, injuries are always a possibility. If you love sports enough, this is something you learn to deal with. The fast-pace, heavy impact and direct blows that are par for the course with certain sports can cause various injuries, some minor and some life-changing.
If you’re an active person, sports injury treatment should be a routine part of your life. The wear-and-tear of the sporting world means it’s crucial to place sports therapy treatment on the same level as working out, since both condition and strengthen your body.
Why Do Sports Injuries Occur?
Anyone who’s played sports understands how easily injuries can occur. Sports are physical by nature, which is part of the fun, but this physical element can cause harm. One moment of misdirected attention can make the difference between a successful move and a hazardous one.
There are two types of sports injuries: acute and chronic. Acute injuries occur spontaneously and suddenly, like a strained muscle or a sprained ankle. This differs from chronic injuries which build up over time from the repetitive overuse of joints or muscles.
What Are Common Sports Injuries?
A vast range of injuries, from mild to severe, can occur while participating in physical activities and sports. Some of the most common sports injuries are:
- Strains
- Sprains
- Dislocations
- Fractures
- Concussions
- Dental damage
- Knee joint injuries
- Swelling
- Cuts
- Bruises
- Muscle cramps and spasms
Many of these injuries can occur anywhere on the body, while others are localised to a specific area. These injuries can also range in severity. Some will require medical attention, others can be nursed along at home with some TLC and RnR, and some require sports injury treatment.
The RICE method is an acronym that outlines a standard routine for minor sports injuries. RICE stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. If you are dealing with a mild injury, this routine can help speed up your recovery and give your body a helping hand.
However, if you have a severe injury that doesn’t feel or appear okay, and you’re experiencing worrying symptoms, it’s essential to seek appropriate medical treatment.
When to Seek Out Sports Injury Treatment?
If you’re injured, you must get the correct kind of help to address common sports injuries. Sometimes it can be hard to identify the root of the problem when the damage is beneath the skin and not clearly visible. Seeing a professional ensures you get the correct treatment and can help answer your questions. This kind of specialised massage is an excellent complementary therapy to address specific sports-related injuries. It’s a unique form of massage that stands apart from others, such as deep tissue or shiatsu.
What Does Sports Massage Entail?
The purpose of a sports massage is to address the soft tissue tension, aches and discomfort that stem from sports injuries. The serene massage setting is also conducive to releasing the stress and muscular tension associated with these injuries, helping an individual on a mental and emotional level as well as the physical.
The following conditions respond to this specialised form of massage:
- Muscle strains
- Muscle sprains
- Muscle pain
- Muscle stiffness
- Muscle soreness
- Muscle tension
- Sore areas
- Swelling (edema)
- Tendinitis
- Repetitive Strain injuries
During a sports massage, the massage therapist uses several different stretches and massage techniques to address muscular tension and discomfort. They use their expertise to assess what kind of motion and pressure is required for your particular injury and should communicate with you, so you feel comfortable, informed and able to give feedback.
The Benefits
Numerous benefits come from addressing sports injuries with specialised sports massage. Some of these benefits apply to massage in general, while others are sports massage specific.
You should experience better sleep, an enhanced sense of well-being, increased flexibility, a decrease in muscle cramping and spasms, less muscle tension, a better range of motion, and more.
All these benefits combine to make you a better athlete, capable of giving a more competent, higher-level performance, which is the ultimate advantage of regular sports massage.
By introducing this into your life, you’re increasing your muscle repair rate, improving circulation, and hasten your recovery from injury.
Using Massage To Address Sports Injuries
To get results, you’ll need to make sports massage a consistent part of your routine and incorporate it into your life. Scheduling your massage appointments just like you would the gym or your sports games provides a counterbalance to the stress and strain of whatever sport you enjoy.
If you want to increase your performance level, you’ll want to schedule regular appointments, so your body has the chance to experience the deeper benefits that come from ongoing sports injury treatment. The best results require consistency.
Alternatively, some athletes choose to seek out massage after an injury, and this works well too. The massage therapist may suggest you have a series of appointments but will base this on the severity and type of injury you’re experiencing. You can talk to the massage therapist about your treatment goals, and they will use this to customise your sessions.
Contact Wayne Massage to Begin Your Wellness Journey
If you want to address minor common sports injuries and incorporate a complementary therapeutic medium into your sports injury treatment protocol, Wayne Massage is here to provide the helping hand you need.
Make an appointment today by calling one of our branches in the Sydney area and begin your journey to better sports performance.
- Hunter Branch: (02) 8073 9376
- Town Hall Branch: (02) 8073 9382
- Kings Cross Branch: (02) 8073 9281
