Massage and Athletic Performance
Can regular massage improve my athletic performance?
Massage therapy for athletes:
Having worked with a diverse range of athletes over the past 28 years, I've conducted what feels like a successful personal study on the impact of massage on athletic performance. In support of my observations, I've researched the topic and found numerous articles that back up my findings, though there are also a few that do not. I believe the conflicting results from these studies stem from uncontrolled variables such as the therapist's expertise, the massage techniques applied, the timing relative to workouts, and the athlete's health. For instance, if an athlete is dehydrated, no intervention can counteract the negative effects more than proper hydration.
Here's what I firmly believe: massage is effective! The athletes I've worked with experienced enhanced mobility, reduced scar tissue, decreased fluid retention, and a profound relaxation of muscle fibers. This led to reduced recovery times, allowing them to train more intensively and with shorter rest periods, which, in my view, equates to improved performance.
by Julie Brown
