Can Massage Improve Flexibility?
According to the Mayo Clinic…
Better flexibility may improve your performance in physical activities or decrease your risk of injuries by helping your joints move through their full range of motion and enabling your muscles to work most effectively.
And we could all use more of that, right?
The older we get and the more sedentary we are, the less flexible and more prone to injury we become. Our joints tighten thus restricting range of motion and flexibility.
So, How Can Massage Improve Flexibility?
Massage therapy is one of the best and most beneficial treatments for improving and maintaining your flexibility and motion. By working on tendons, muscles, connective tissues, ligaments, and joints regular massage will:
- improve flexibility
- keep your joints more fluid
- make you less injury prone
When muscles become tight, massage can help by:
Increasing Temperature and Elasticity in Muscle
Temperature increase in the muscles is caused when a massage therapist simulates friction to an area of the body. This increases the number and size of blood flow and allows the muscles to relax, loosen, and expand.
Breaking Down Adhesions
Adhesions are formed in muscles due to tightness and tension. They can cause knots and restrict flexibility. Massage helps to realign the muscle fibers and break down these adhesions. This release restores movement and increases flexibility.
Improving Elasticity in Muscles
Elasticity helps to prevent injuries from occurring and maximizes performance.
Removing Toxins
As muscles tighten due to injury or stress they begin to retain waste products and toxins. Lactic acid is the most common of these toxins. These waste products create tightness, fatigue, and pain in your muscles. Massage naturally stimulates lymphatic drainage which is responsible for flushing these waste products and toxins out of your body. The more your body can flush these byproducts, the more flexible you will become.
Reducing Swelling
Perhaps the most overlooked result of tight muscles is swelling. Not only associated with injuries, minor swelling will occur in many muscle groups due to inflexibility and muscle tightness. Massage helps to flush this excess fluid from the muscles and allows them to release tension.
Decreasing Pain
Most importantly is the reduction of pain through massage therapy. Pain can limit our muscles from stretching properly and flexibility begins to diminish. Massage creates an endorphin rush in our body that aids in recovery as well as motivate our mind to increase movement and agility.
If you are an active individual, consider incorporating massage and stretching as part of your fitness routine.
Benefits include:
- reduce soreness after a workout
- provide greater range of motion
- promote a longer workout
Related Article: sports massage
That’s because stretching beforehand helps to prevent a buildup of lactic acid. A regular weekly massage after your workout will aid in the recovery of your muscles.
So whether you are active or mostly sedentary, a weekly massage can be beneficial to your flexibility as well as your overall health and wellness.
Call 910-208-4161 or Schedule Online to book an appointment with a licensed massage and bodywork therapist at Coastal Massage & Bodywork.
