Soft tissue treatment is a vital part of recovery, whether you're a casual gym goer or a serious weightlifter. Regular massage therapy is a great investment when it comes to treating your muscles properly. All too often, massages are brushed off as superfluous or too expensive.
However, it's crucial to realize just how beneficial massages can truly be, especially for tired and sore muscles.
Benefits of a Massage
We all know that massages relieve tightness and soreness throughout the body. They also promote relaxation and healing. As it turns out, massages offer numerous benefits, some of which you may not have heard of before. Additional benefits of a massage include:
Circulation: According to breakingmuscle.com, consistent training, especially among weightlifters, leads to micro-trauma within the muscles and fascial tissue. Over time, this microscopic damage caused by training (and not allowing sufficient recovery time) requires increased blood flow to fully repair itself. Massage aids in circulation, which in turn enhances the blood flow. Better circulation means a faster recovery as waste buildup is removed from overworked muscles.
Improved Sleep: The same source suggests that massage therapy is optimal for better sleep patterns. It's possible to improve the quality and quantity of one's sleep through a massage thanks to a deeper and longer sleep cycle. On the contrary, going to bed with a nervous and high-tension state of mind often results in abrupt sleep cycles, waking up often during the night, or waking up too early.
Inflammation: It's no secret that working out and exercising on a routine basis results in inflammation. According to the New York Times, researchers keen on studying the ways in which a massage helps heal sore muscles discovered that massages lower the body's production of cytokines. These compounds are an important part of inflammation. Additionally, the researchers found that massage also helps stimulate mitochondria, or small powerhouses within cells that turn glucose into energy for cell function and repair.
Having a regular deep tissue massage promotes healthier muscles and better flexibility, along with other health benefits. In addition, it can lead to a more relaxed state of mind and a better sleep cycle. A good massage can even speed up recovery after a workout.
Choosing a Massage Table
While massages have a lot to offer, it's nearly impossible to enjoy the benefits without having a proper massage table for the session. There are a number of stationary and portable tables to choose from, along with a range of massage chairs. Options include the most basic tables for massages to ones with additional features such as luxurious cushioning systems, hardwood construction, or patented face cradle technology.
An effective massage table is one designed with function and usability in mind. These tables may have food, head, and arm rests in addition to specially designed memory foam for a comfortable and rewarding experience.
From dedicated athletes to the elderly or those with special needs, finding the right type of massage is ideal. The goal might be to restore function and reduce fatigue for someone with tightness and soreness. Many people find that they can sleep better and carry on with their daily routines a bit better after a good massage session.
