When?
Post event massage can be performed from 30 minutes up to 48 hours after intense exercise.
Why?
Massage can be used post event to remove muscle waste and stretch the tissues. The main focus is recovery, and massage should be given as soon as possible to flush blood through the micro-circulation. It aims to increase the body’s rate of recovery by reducing inflammation in the muscles. It also aims to increase vascular and lymphatic activity, helping the body’s natural process of removing waste products after exercise, such as lactic acid. Lactic acid is produced in the muscles during exercise and contributes towards delayed onset muscle soreness, fatigue and stiffness.
How Does It Help?
Post event massage helps by flushing out waste products, stimulating the body’s healing process and relieving tightness. It helps flush waste products and toxins out of the body as massage transports lymph flow in an upwards direction to drain out toxins. Post event massage also helps to increase the healing process of damaged tissues as it increases fresh blood to an affected area, delivering more oxygen and nutrients which help repair and heal damaged tissues or muscle fibres. Massage helps to reduce tight muscles by increasing temperature of soft tissues and promoting relaxation.
Benefits
- Prevent and reduce delayed muscle onset soreness
- Decreased pain
- Improved recovery
- Reduced chance of injury