| Over the past ten years it has become more | | | | An athlete who goes into a game with muscles |
| common to find massage therapists treating | | | | that are relaxed and toned is in much better |
| athletes using massage therapy. The therapeutic | | | | condition to avoid greater injury to those muscles |
| advantage of massage not only eases the pain in | | | | if they are tense. This is why so many athletes |
| sore muscles, but actually strengthens an athlete | | | | use the benefits of massage treatments, such as |
| prior to a game or event. It is not uncommon for | | | | relaxing spa treatments, prior to sporting events. |
| professional athletes to have their own personal | | | | A good massage therapist can have a thriving |
| massage therapist. | | | | practice in the field of sports medicine if he or she |
| There are many different massage therapy | | | | is well versed in treating athletes. They must |
| techniques used to treat athletes. Many therapists | | | | have complete knowledge of the anatomical |
| use deep tissue massage to treat athletes who | | | | structure of the human body and need to know |
| are injured. Deep tissue massage is often used as | | | | which muscles are most prone to strain and |
| relief for injured muscles. In order to perform a | | | | injury. They not only need to know how to |
| deep tissue massage a therapist must use either | | | | relieve the pain from injury, but also to prepare |
| the fingers, thumbs or even the elbows to get | | | | an athlete so that he or she does not get a |
| into the grain of the muscles. In order to practice | | | | greater injury. Sports massage techniques include |
| a deep tissue massage, a therapist must be | | | | both deep tissue massage and a variety of |
| thoroughly trained as if not done properly, it can | | | | relaxing massages and stretching techniques. While |
| cause additional pain or injury. this type of | | | | a physical trainer works with an athlete to |
| massage is very effective as it works beneath | | | | improve his or her skills on the field, the therapist |
| the surface muscles and is a popular method for | | | | works with the body of the athlete to prepare |
| relieving not only injuries, but also chronic pain and | | | | the body for the exertion it will soon endure. |
| even inflammation. | | | | Treating athletes using massage therapy is very |
| To prepare an athlete, a massage therapist will | | | | common and has been practiced for years. |
| concentrate on the muscles most often used. By | | | | Without the massage techniques performed prior |
| using various sports massage therapy techniques, | | | | to the game, the athlete may not be able to |
| the muscles are relaxed. Being tense will make an | | | | sustain the beatings that some of their bodies |
| injury worse. It is the reason why so many drunk | | | | take during a sports competition such as football. |
| drivers walk away from car accidents while those | | | | This is a growing field and very prosperous for a |
| they hit die. It is because the driver was | | | | person who is willing to learn the proper |
| completely relaxed. The muscles were relaxed. It | | | | techniques. |
| works the same way with an athlete. | | | | |