Any type of exercise or physical activity comes with pain and soreness. It’s natural for our bodies to go through the wear-tear-recovery process of our muscles, especially for athletes and avid hobbyists like cyclists. To cope, they need regular sessions of sports massage to speed up injury recoveries, increase blood circulation, as well as reduce future injuries.
Rigorous activity is expected from cyclists, which is why getting a sports massage after a hard day of training is also an excellent method to reduce stress on the mind and the body. To add, frequent sports massages with your physiotherapist/massage therapist can reduce the long-term effects of sporting injuries.
To know more, read on to learn about the benefits of sports massage therapy for cyclists:
Benefit #1: Increased Blood Flow
General healing can be quick through sports massages because it releases tension and toxins, as well as fights chronic inflammation from your muscles. With every session of athletic massage, your muscles receive an increased amount of oxygen and nutrients, allowing the body to recover considerably faster. Additionally, this reduces muscles pulling on tendons and ligaments providing less stiffness and more mobility during your cycling performance.
Benefit #2: Injury Prevention
Injury has already been normalized, especially for those that lead very active and adventurous lifestyles. However, we should take measures to prevent them. Make sure to receive professional service from a massage therapist who can detect early indications of injury through imbalances of the muscle tissues.
In case there are minor or major findings, you will be referred to a physical therapist to avoid further muscle or bone damage. Note that your massage therapist will be the first to notice any muscular imbalance or area that raises concern, which is crucial in keeping injuries from worsening.
Benefit #3: Muscle Relaxation and Better Mobility
Cycling is an activity that offers stress relief and exercise while making you physically and mentally fit, however may lead to muscle knots, tightness, tension, increased pain from the back to the legs and knees, and in some cases, all over the body. This could be due to poor overall posture, which is among the common physical strains of the sport.
Such muscle stress can severely affect your movements, and this can make it more challenging to engage your muscles at the appropriate moment. Thankfully, sports massage therapy is excellent for your well-being because it warms up your muscles before your training. It also relaxes them after, improving mobility and performance for both the short and long term.
Benefit #4: Specific and Targeted Treatments
Massage therapists are professionals, and more often than not, they’ve treated athletes from various sports fields throughout their careers. Experienced therapists can tailor-fit your sessions for you, targeting areas that need attention and healing through careful examination, stretches, and decompression techniques. When there is a better balance between the muscles the body can perform at a higher level. Beyond this, specialized treatments can also help address your chronic needs, such as sore muscles and fatigue reduction.
Conclusion
Cycling is a demanding activity and can therefore be tough on your body. If you’ve just suffered bicycle fatigue and soreness or even an injury, you should not only seek medical attention but also the assistance of a qualified sports massage therapist. Choose a massage treatment that will allow you to heal fast, decrease further injury, relax your body and mind, and cut your muscle recovery time all at the same time.
Are you looking for ways to recover after a bike event? Meg Parker is a skilled massage therapist and intentional health coach working on aging athletes at all levels of performance. Contact her today and get started on your new holistic wellness lifestyle!
