Sports Massage: Enhancing Performance and Accelerating Recovery

Are you an athlete looking to recover faster after an intense training session? Or maybe you’re a weekend warrior struggling with muscle soreness after workouts? At Zenlife Physiotherapy & Wellness in Calgary, AB, our massage therapists offer sports massage to help you feel good and stay in the game!
Seeing one of our massage therapists can help with injury prevention, recovery, and athletic performance. If you’ve had an injury, our targeted techniques can kickstart your recovery and ensure your tissues are loose and limber, ready to move.
Sports massage is being increasingly offered for a wide range of medical illnesses and injuries alongside traditional treatments to target specific areas of limitation and soreness. Understandably, massage therapy treatment for sports is gaining popularity.
Our goal is to keep you feeling good and performing at your peak in the sport you enjoy. Zenlife Physiotherapy & Wellness encourages you to discover how our massage therapists can improve your game; request an appointment at our Calgary, AB clinic today!
What Exactly Is a Sports Massage?
Traditional massage is often part of alternative and integrative treatments, and most people think of it as relaxation in a spa. This type of massage is full-body rather than focusing on a specific body area.
On the other hand, sports massage is a targeted approach that focuses on specific areas of the body that are painful or restricted. Most massage techniques are used to help an athlete recover after intense training or keep the muscles working at their highest potential before a competition.
There are three primary forms of sports massage:
- Maintenance massage
- Pre-event massage
- Post-event massage
For example, runners training for a marathon will benefit from regular maintenance sessions of sports massage to ensure they minimize their risk of injury.
Pre-event massage is performed before an athlete participates in a competition or event. It aims to warm up the muscles, enhance circulation, and prepare the body for intensive physical activity.
The post-event massage focuses on helping the athlete to recover. It aims to reduce muscle soreness, facilitate faster recovery of the muscles, and alleviate the stress and tension built up during the event. It helps in promoting relaxation and speeding up the healing process.
No matter what type of athlete you are, our team of massage therapists at Zenlife Physiotherapy & Wellness in Calgary, AB can keep your body healthy and strong!
What to Expect at Your Sports Massage Sessions
Your body needs to be in the best condition if you’re an athlete. You want to be able to perform at your optimal level. Dealing with an acute or chronic injury from sports can be exhausting and highly debilitating. No matter what kind of injury you’ve sustained, our massage therapists can help you make a full recovery.
Our sports therapists will evaluate any tension or restriction in your muscles, tendons, or other soft tissues. This will include a thorough history to learn more about your overall health, history of injury, and current training schedule.
Our team understands the benefits of manual therapy include feeling and moving better, but there are also benefits to your overall health and well-being, including:
- Less muscle soreness and tension: Sports massage is an effective tool for alleviating soreness after a workout, and it also helps keep tissues mobile and free of tension.
- Increased blood circulation: Sports massage improves blood circulation, which helps reduce swelling and facilitates the healing process. Better circulation also means that your muscles will work and feel better!
- Free up scar tissue: Sports massage is a targeted form of manual therapy. This intentional approach helps free up adhesions your body forms from injury and repetitive movements.
- Improve your immune system: A sports massage boosts your immune system’s natural defenses. When you get a massage, your body’s immune system will be better equipped to combat hazardous bacteria, germs, and illnesses, which means you’ll be sick less frequently.
A sports massage is essential for athletic participation, and our team has the tools and techniques to help you prevent injury, recover from pain or injury, and keep your body functioning at your highest potential!
Request Your Appointment Today!
If you’re looking for safe and effective solutions for your sports injuries or want to improve your sports performance levels and prevent future injuries, our team can help!
Contact us today to get started or to learn more about how sports massage can help you reach your peak performance!