| It should be no surprise that many athletes | | | | minutes to one hour. |
| benefit from getting a massage since they use | | | | Although these sessions can reduce quite a |
| their muscles in a variety of intense ways. | | | | number of different conditions, they are especially |
| Although the average person might use the same | | | | beneficial to the athlete as just a few Shiatsu |
| muscle groups in their everyday activities, it is the | | | | sessions have been known to stimulate several |
| athlete that benefits the most from keeping | | | | different systems the most important of which is |
| themselves in top shape and part of this | | | | the circulatory, and it has also been documented |
| conditioning involves massages. | | | | that they regulate the automonic nervous |
| The sports massage in particular serves several | | | | system. While this technique targets specific areas |
| purposes. First off, it prevents injuries. Tense | | | | of the body, the Swedish Massage is much more |
| muscles are more likely to suffer injuries during | | | | general. |
| any sporting event, but a massage can loosen the | | | | Detoxify The Muscles |
| body up so that it can perform at a peak level. | | | | The Swedish Massage is all about targeting a |
| And these massages can also be helpful after the | | | | larger group of muscles and working all the |
| games are over to relieve any swelling that may | | | | motions involved with the flow of the blood to |
| have occurred. As well, sports massages in | | | | the heart. There are two main purposes to this |
| particular drain away fatigue and reduce muscle | | | | massage. The first is to increase the oxygen in |
| tension. Still, the main purpose of this type of | | | | the blood and the second is to detoxify the |
| massage is to reduce the tension in the soft | | | | muscles. This technique is somewhat similar to the |
| tissues of the body. | | | | Shiatsu, but it does differ in several important |
| Swedish Massage | | | | respects as there is a definite series of |
| Since there are so many different kinds of | | | | techniques that are practiced in the Swedish |
| activities, there are many different kinds of | | | | Massage. These include both passive and active |
| massage therapies that are used as well. It's | | | | movements like bending and other actions that |
| often up to the athlete to tailor the massage to | | | | are designed to create friction like rubbing the |
| the needs that arise from their respective sport. | | | | palms of the hands together or other kneading |
| However one of the more traditional methods is a | | | | motions. |
| blend of the Swedish Massage and Shiatsu. | | | | Of course there are the kinds of massages that |
| The massage known as Shiatsu is derived from | | | | are a little more mature in nature than the |
| the Japanese word meaning finger pressure, but | | | | straight ahead sports massage, and these are |
| this type of massage therapy includes the use of | | | | generally called the adult massage. While the |
| many other parts of the body like the thumbs | | | | benefits for the athlete have never been well |
| and forearms as well to promote a general well | | | | documented, there is certainly something to be |
| being called the Ki. | | | | said for the relaxation aspects of this type of |
| There are several ways that modern sports have | | | | massage but perhaps this one is something better |
| learned to take the best from older techniques | | | | left to the privacy of the athlete's off duty hours. |
| that have been around for thousands of years | | | | At any rate the benefits of several different |
| and Shiatsu is just one of them. Most of the | | | | types of massages have been well documented |
| session takes place on a padded mat on the floor | | | | as a way of improving athletes'performances in |
| and they usually last anywhere from forty | | | | several different sports. |