Sports and Massage!

     Training for MMA and Sports jiu jitsu is some of the most grueling in the world, and participating in an MMA fights and long tournament weekends for jiu jitsu can tax even the toughest of bodies. The ankle locks, arm bars, axe kicks, elbow strikes, guillotines, neck cranks, and more, can all subject the body to incredible amounts of torque, stress, and muscle mayhem.

     Massage is not just beneficial for those fighting or wrestling. It also helps athletes training for races, cross fit competitions, and many other sports where the body pushes its physical limitations. When we push the body to those limitations we need to reward the hard work with some much needed therapeutic muscle relief. Our bodies have their own way of healing and that build up in the tissues needs help to remove the toxins so healing can occur.  

     Therapeutic massage is one of the best methods for counteracting the destructive effects of these moves and restoring the body to health. As with any sports massage, using the proper massage techniques will ensure the best results; not all massages are for every application. 

The intense training that an MMA fighter undergoes can injure tissues, due to hypoxia and micro-trauma, which causes scars to form. Intense training can also trigger headaches, knee problems, shoulder pain, sciatica, and more. Several forms of massage can help with these issues. 

     Traditional massage techniques are appropriate for athletes and can improve focus and mental clarity as well as promote proper body function. Before a workout, a sports massage will use various techniques, such as cupping, tapping, slapping, and rocking, to warm up the tissues, in addition to a dry myofascial massage, which will loosen the fascia. The fascia is a flexible, web-like substance just under the skin and it covers the entire body. When it becomes stiff due to damage or misuse, a fighter can lose flexibility; myofascial massage will restore flexibility to the muscles and tissues surrounding.

     Sports massage will also use compression, range of motion, and stretching techniques to keep muscles limber before a training session. Receiving regular massage during your heavy training season can minimize the stress placed on muscles and may cause scar tissue to form. Therapeutic massage will help lessen the scar tissue and encourage blood flow to the area, which will encourage healing. Massage also promotes activity of the lymphatic system, which will help the body eliminate the metabolic toxins that occur when the healing process takes place.

     It’s important to avoid getting a therapeutic massage for at least a couple of days before a fight, match, tournament, race or any other event your competing in for your sport.  The Swedish massage process uses long, sweeping strokes that encourage production of serotonin, which is a hormone that causes the body to relax. The effects of a massage can last for 24 to 72 hours, depending on the individual, and there can be some soreness, so a Swedish massage will be counterproductive before a big event. 

     Relaxing massages are most beneficial after an a tough training or after a big event. The serotonin produced will help you relax both physically and mentally. MMA, sports jiu jitsu, and marathon training is some of the most intense training on the planet and the muscles build up a considerable amount of lactic acid. Massage facilitates the removal of the lactic acid and keeps the muscles, and the fascia that covers them, loose and flexible.

     Many professional and amateur athletes have regular massages during training, but avoid them for one to two days before the event, and only resume them after the event is over. Trigger point massage, compression, stretching, range of motion, and so forth, can promote healing on muscles that have been effected by the stress of the event. Massages can cause discomfort but you shouldn't feel the pain is unbearable, if at any point you feel the pressure is too much its best you have the therapist back off.

Remember: Drink water, and when you think you have had enough water drink some more. This is important to help flush any toxins out of the body and to keep you hydrated during your training season. 

Massage as a back-pain killer 

     A regular massage is often considered to be a treat, rather than a necessity. Most people believe that having a massage is good for aches and pains, or can help if they’ve overdone the exercise. Not everybody realizes that massage therapy is also a powerful painkiller that can even be used to help people with back problems to reduce the amount of medication they must take.

      Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on back pain and if you’re one of the 31 million Americans who suffers with back pain at some point in their life, you’ll know how miserable it can be. If you are dealing with chronic back pain – which is pain that’s lasted more than three months and less than six - it can impact on your daily life, and stop you doing things you want to do. You could be reliant on drugs to keep you mobile or help you sleep.

The vicious pain cycle 

     If you can no longer exercise pain-free, you might end up in a vicious cycle of inactivity which makes your pain worse, which stops you being active. Or you could just increase your meds but that just masks the problem. Also, some strong pain meds contain painkillers opioids like codeine which can lose their power over time as you build up a tolerance to their effects. They can also have unwanted side effects.
   
     What you need is a way to manage your back pain that is effective but doesn’t have the side effects. Wouldn’t you know it, research has shown that regular massage along with your prescribed medication and any other advice from your healthcare supplier can be so powerful that you might be able to decrease the number of painkillers you need to manage your back pain and start to live a more active life.

How massage can help beat back pain 

     A massage session doesn’t just relax you, it can help to promote tissue repair, improve the blood circulation and does wonders for your stress levels and mood. Recent research showed that regular massage therapy combined with exercise helped people suffering from chronic back pain to feel less anxious about their condition too. The study, which took place at a pain management clinic in Western New York, involved sixty chronic low back pain patients who were split into two groups. One group received regular massage therapy, twice a week for four weeks, along with their regular treatment, and one group only carried on with their prescribed treatments.

     The participants all recorded their own pain levels before and after having massage therapy on a scale of one to ten. There was a significant difference between the pre-and post-treatment pain rating in the group that had regular massage, but the control group who carried on as normal reported no changes to their pain levels.

     If you suffer with back pain and want to try something different – book that massage session now.

Cupping Massage

All About Massage Cupping

     Massage cupping, or just ‘cupping’ crops up in the news and celebrity pages every now and again, as there are some well-known fans of this treatment, which is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) techniques. It’s a massage technique that’s becoming popular in spas and clinics over the country, and it’s one that can be really great for your overall health.

     So, what exactly is massage cupping? It’s a healing therapy which was developed thousands of years ago, and involves placing glass, bamboo or plastic jars onto your skin, creating a vacuum which sucks the tissue underneath into the jar. The suction is designed to help boost circulation, relieve pain, and help to stimulate removal of toxins.

     Despite having the word ‘massage’ in its name, it’s actually the opposite of normal massage. In traditional massage, a therapist will apply different types of pressure to your muscles and connective tissues. With cupping, the therapist uses suction instead, which pulls skin, muscles and tissues upwards.

  What happens during a massage cupping treatment?
   
     Cupping works well on fleshier areas of the body so it’s common for a treatment to involve the back. It’s supposed to be pleasant and relaxing so you shouldn’t feel any discomfort. As the cup is placed on your body, you may feel a tightening sensation, but if you do start to feel any discomfort at all, your therapist will move the cups around elsewhere. Depending on the reason for your treatment, the cups are left in place for varying amounts of time. A cupping treatment is unique to your needs on the day you have it, so your ‘routine’ may well change as different health needs arise.
   
     After a cupping session, your skin may turn red, purple or blue – this is more likely if you have any kind of energy blockage in that area. It usually only lasts a few days but it can last longer, even up to a few weeks if there’s an injury, but it shouldn’t hurt. Once the marks have disappeared, you can have another session, until the health issue you’ve been treating is resolved.

Are there different types of massage cupping? 
   
     Yes, there are a few different methods, but the two you’ll be most likely to come across are fixed cupping and moving cupping.
In fixed cupping, the cups are placed on one area of your body and not moved once they are in place.
     Moving cupping has more of a massage element as the therapist will use massage oil or cream along with the cups, placing the cups over the areas to be treated and then sliding them around – this type of session is often used for a back treatment.

What is cupping good for?

     Cupping is a good all-round spa therapy and is great if you suffer from:
• Stress and/or anxiety
• Pain – especially back pain
• Allergies
• Fatigue
• Colds and flu
• Muscle aches and pains

How often should you get a massage?

How Often Should You Get a Massage?
     Every day! Well, maybe that’s not practical, even though it would be nice. This is one of the most common questions clients ask about massage therapy, and it really all depends on WHY you get massages. Do you get massages for health benefits? Or, to help you relax and handle the stress of everyday life? Most likely it’s a combination of the two, so let’s look at some of the most common reasons to get regular massages:
Relaxation & Stress Relief
     One of the very best reasons to get a massage is for relaxation. Relaxation massage helps to support your body, including blood circulation and flexibility of joints. Regular massage can help prevent pain, muscle tension, and stress points from building up and causing problems. Why wait until you have a problem to get a massage? Massage is perfect for preventing issues with your tissues. Relaxation massage is usually recommended at least once per month, or as often as you want!
     
     There may be times in your life where you experience higher levels of stress and more muscle tension than normal. It is especially important to practice good self-care during these times. When we “don’t have time” for a massage, is usually when we need one the most. Make yourself a priority even during stressful times, your health is worth it.

     If you are in a high-stress job or you work in an environment where you stay in a certain position for a long period of time (at a computer for example), you may begin to develop tight or “knotted” muscles. This will frequently occur in your shoulders, arms, and back. All of this increased muscle tension will make movement harder and can cause a great deal of pain. Regular massage can help to keep you loosened up and will help to prevent pain and stiffness.

     Living with high levels of stress for a prolonged amount of time increases the risk of contracting heart disease and other diseases. It has been estimated that 75 – 90 percent of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress related problems. The good news is, massage can help! Just knowing your massage is coming up in a few days can help to relieve stress, and a massage every 2-4 weeks will help with stress related tension.
Sports Recovery
     Are you a weekend warrior, or do you just like to stay in shape? Either way, massage can help with sports performance and recovery. Many athletes and physically active people receive sports massage because it enhances their performance, prevents injury, and speeds up their muscles' recovery. Competitive sports can put a lot of stress on a person's muscles! Research conducted at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging at McMaster University in Ontario shows that massage reduces inflammation and stimulates the growth of new mitochondria, the energy-producing units in the cells, after strenuous exercise. This means that massage can help relieve pain, build muscles and help with muscle recovery too! For these benefits it is recommended that you get a massage up to three times a week or at least three times a month.
Chronic Health Conditions
     People with ongoing health issues often find massage very helpful to alleviate symptoms. Chronic health problems that greatly benefit from massage therapy include back pain, joint pain, and localized inflammation. If you get therapy for specific issues, the frequency of getting massage therapy varies with the type of condition you have and how severe it is. Relief from pain can usually be achieved with 2-4 massage sessions per month. Your massage therapist will work with you to help you get on the best schedule for your body.
Pregnancy
     Pregnant women can greatly benefit from massage therapy! Prenatal massage is popular among expectant mothers, who often experience a lot of aches and pains as their pregnancy progresses. Many women suffer from back pain, hip & sciatic pain, headaches, and tired legs & feet. But you don’t have to, a certified massage therapist can help to relieve those discomforts.

     Going to your massage therapist once or twice a month can help with the symptoms caused by pregnancy, and it can even help you sleep better. Of course, it’s always a good idea to check with your doctor and your massage therapist to ensure that you don’t have any pregnancy related conditions that would contraindicate massage therapy for you. Most women experiencing a healthy pregnancy can and should enjoy regular massage sessions.