Sports massage

Appendices

Before starting the procedure, it is important to clarify its purpose:

• A pre-event massage can be administered prior to an upcoming physical exertion, be it a competition, an active training session or another form of intensive exertion for the athlete. In this case, the aim of the massage is to complement the warm-up and prepare the body for the anticipated physical and psycho-emotional strain, in order to prevent unnecessary loss of the energy required for the competition. This type of treatment is administered immediately before the intense physical activity.
• Sports massage is another type of treatment used during periods of active physical training. During the training process, athletes are subjected to intense physical and psycho-emotional stress, which in many cases leads to significant fatigue, overexertion and even injuries to the musculoskeletal system. Training massage serves to prevent these conditions and to achieve better physical performance and athletic form. The aim of this type of massage is to prepare the athlete for peak sporting performance in a short space of time. It tones the muscles, improves joint flexibility and muscle elasticity, enhances the body’s functional capacity, supports the regulatory activity of the central nervous system and aids the internal organs. Training massage can complement training and/or replace it when, for whatever reason, the athlete is unable or should not train.
•   The final type of sports massage is the recovery massage – it is administered immediately after the end of a competition or intense physical activity. Its aim is to restore all vital functions in the athlete’s body as quickly as possible, to replenish energy and to eliminate accumulated fatigue. It helps to reduce neuromuscular tension, accelerate blood and lymph circulation and the elimination of metabolic waste products, and stimulate the body’s recovery processes.

If you are actively involved in sport and wish to improve your performance and physical condition, sports massage is an excellent way to help you achieve your goal. By relieving fatigue, you’ll improve your endurance, protect your body from injuries and maintain good physical condition.