Advanced sports massage techniques to optimise the performance of athletes

Sports massage is a therapeutic technique designed to prepare an athlete's body for physical activity, allowing them to perform better, recover more quickly and reduce the chance of an injury.

Essential for people who exercise daily, sports massages consist of the specific manipulation of the muscles, tendons and tissues, adapting this to the type of sport played and the conditions the person has.

This type of massage has evolved enormously in recent years, and at Telic Fisio&Sport we bring you 5 advanced sports massage techniques that allow athletes to reach their maximum potential, both professionally and as amateurs.

First of all, what is sports massage and how does it benefit athletes?

Sports massage is a therapeutic technique designed with the specific needs of athletes and active people in mind. The aim is not only to prevent injuries but also speed up muscle recovery, preparing the body for intense effort and improving physical performance.

The main difference between sports massage and conventional massage is that sports massage focuses on the muscles most involved in physical activity and that are under the greatest tension. It does this through a series of manipulations that must be performed by a specialised professional physiotherapist who understands both human anatomy and the exercise regime of the athlete in question.

Suitable both before and after physical activity, here are some of the main benefits of sports massages for athletes:

  • Increased flexibility and range of movement: improves muscle elasticity, reducing the risk of injury.
  • Improved blood circulation: advanced sports massage stimulates blood flow, allowing for faster delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles.
  • Muscle recovery: accelerates the recovery process after exercise, eliminating toxins and relaxing the muscles.
  • Injury prevention: keeps muscles in good condition for playing sports, minimising the risk of tears and strains.
  • Improved performance: increases endurance and reduces fatigue, leading to better physical performance.
  • Mind-body connection: fosters greater body awareness, helping to identify potential problems before they become serious.

 

The most advanced sports massage techniques used by professional physiotherapists

 1. Myofascial release

Myofascial release is an advanced physiotherapy technique that focuses on the fascia, a connective tissue network that covers, connects, and supports the muscles, and which when tense or inflamed, can limit the range of motion and cause pain.

This technique helps to break down knots in the soft tissues, improve flexibility, and increase blood flow, providing relief from chronic tension and getting the muscles ready to work hard.

To perform it, the sports physiotherapist applies light pressure to locate the myofascial areas that are stiff, and subsequently performs a manipulation that allows lost elasticity and mobility to be recovered.

2. Active compression massage

Active compression massage is a technique that involves applying pressure to specific areas while the athlete performs controlled movements as instructed by the physiotherapist.

By combining pressure with active movement, this massage increases blood flow in the treated area, helping to eliminate metabolic waste and improve muscle recovery. This is especially useful for optimising performance before a competition.

3. Cupping therapy

Increasingly popular with elite athletes, cupping therapy is a massage technique in which cups are placed on the skin to generate suction and create a vacuum effect with the absorption of internal oxygen in the area to be treated.

This technique was popularised by the swimmer Michael Phelps and has been shown to increase blood flow to specific areas, promoting muscle relaxation, eliminating toxins, and reducing inflammation.

Within our professional treatment product range, we have rubber bulb massage cups that are very easy to use and available in different sizes:

 

4. Muscle percussion (Massage gun therapy)

Muscle percussion therapy is a technique that offers deep muscle stimulation with rapid and repetitive strokes using devices such as massage guns.

This muscle stimulation promotes blood flow, reduces muscle stiffness, and improves flexibility, making it a very popular option for quick and effective recovery between sessions involving CrossFit training or other high-intensity sports.

5. Neuromuscular massage

Neuromuscular massage is a technique that treats muscle trigger points, which are areas of chronic tension in the muscles that can cause pain or acute myofascial dysfunctions.

The neuromuscular technique offers pain relief, improves mobility, and restores muscle balance through trigger point therapy, craniosacral therapy, and the release of myofascial tightness, proving very effective for athletes suffering from body imbalances or recurring tensions.

 

As you can see, advanced sports massage techniques are very effective tools for optimising an athlete's performance and, at the same time, offer significant benefits in terms of preventing injury and recovering after exercise.

At Telic, we have a wide selection of sports massage products in the form of creams and gels, designed to prepare muscles for exercise, as well as to improve muscle recovery and, ultimately, allow athletes to improve their performance.

 

SOURCES:

https://centrodemasajesarnica.es/index.php/2024/05/29/tecnicas-avanzadas-en-masaje-deportivo-para-atletas-profesionales/

https://www.efisio.es/3-tipos-masaje-deportivo-mejorar-rendimiento/

https://institutoneo.edu/tecnicas-de-masaje-deportivo/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/es/diseases-conditions/back-pain/expert-answers/myofascial-release/faq-20058136#:~:text=La%20liberaci%C3%B3n%20miofascial%20es%20una,conectan%20y%20sostienen%20los%20m%C3%BAsculos.

https://www.gmovesuit.com/es/compresion-activa-para-el-bienestar-de-todos/

https://www.sport.es/labolsadelcorredor/que-es-el-cupping-y-sobre-todo-es-efectivo/

https://www.vitonica.com/entrenamiento/pistolas-masaje-muscular-para-terapia-percusion-asi-como-funcionan-para-ayudarte-a-descargar-tus-musculos

https://clinicavass.com/tecnica-neuromuscular/