I think I’m brave enough to go out on a limb and say we can all put our hands up and agree that at some point in our lives we’ve woken to an aching and stiff body following overuse of muscles from the day before.
A day of decorating? Gardening? Moving heavy items? Long flights? The list is quite extensive.
On a daily basis we demand a lot from our bodies, but during our youth we probably wouldn’t have felt the niggles, tweaks and soreness. However, as we age the body starts to send signals that our muscles require some attention..or is perhaps looking for a reward!
A reward? It may sound a little silly to think that our body needs a reward but just think about what we ask it to do, day in, day out asking more and more as we put ourselves through an array of challenges. If we don’t take time out for our body, it will retaliate.
Have you heard of DOMS? It means the Delayed Onset of Muscle Soreness.
Overuse of muscles with repetitive movement combined with resistance/weight is a perfect recipe to wake with DOMS. Imagine the constant contraction and relaxation of a muscle which is being required to perform above its normal range. The muscle will tire and produce metabolites – better known as, lactic acid.
Sports Massage is designed to reduce the muscle soreness and tension, and move the waste product into the lymphatic system, so it can be filtered, then flushed out naturally from the body, hence you should drink lots of water after treatment.
Sports Massage is tailored to work at the appropriate depths and open up the tissue and encourage the muscle to a normal state of play. Multiple stretches should be included during a treatment to aid the elasticity and improve joint mobility.
Are you an office worker? Sit in front of a screen for long periods of time? Suffer with neck tension? Headaches?
Then Sports Massage is great for reducing the tension that has been created.
You’ll find it even helps promote a better sleep pattern.
Do you find yourself relating to any of the above?
If the answer is yes, then take some time to get yourself back on track. Visit Caroline Hide, Sports Therapist at Central Health for Sports Massage and to help improve your wellbeing.
Please call 0800 6444 201 for an appointment
Blog compiled by Caroline Hide, Sports Therapist, Central Health
