The Effects and Benefits of Sport and Exercise Massage
Physical and Mechanical Effects
Blood and Lymphatic Circulation
Creating and releasing pressure to the blood vessels during a massage improves circulation
by moving blood through congested areas and creating new blood to flow in. The squeezing
and pulling of massage flushes the waste products of exercise such as lactic acid out of the
muscles. These actions also improve the circulation of the lymph fluid which carries waste
away from the internal organs and muscles, resulting in improved body function (Massage
Envy, 2018).
This helps in sports performance by allowing the blood to flow with no restrictions around the
body and to the muscles. This will supply the working muscles with a sufficient amount of
oxygen and nutrients allowing the muscles to work for longer periods of time without
fatiguing. An efficient lymphatic system will also benefit sports performance by flushing
waste products such as lactic acid out of the muscles. This will help the working muscles to
exercise longer without fatiguing.
Tissue Permeability
Massage increases the uptake of substances in the tissues of the body. This happens when
the massage is deep enough to cause the pores in the tissue membranes to open. Nutrients
and fluids can now enter the tissue. As well as massage helping tissue permeability, it also
helps with cell permeability which means the cells are able to absorb substances and also
remove waste products more easily.
This helps in sport performance by removing waste products such as lactic acid. By
removing lactic acid from the muscle tissues, the athlete will be able to exercise for longer or
at higher intensities without fatiguing as quickly. Increased tissue permeability also aids in
the recovery of the muscles as more oxygen and nutrients are being absorbed into the tissue
(Wordpress A, 2013).
Stretching
Muscle fibres can be separated while connective tissue that surround the fibres can be
stretched during deep massage. The usual methods of stretching cannot stretch tissue in the
way that massage can as fibres can stretch in a longitudinal or lateral direction (Wordpress
A, 2013).
This helps in sport performance as by stretching the muscles, flexibility is being increased.
The increased temperature and circulation that massage gives the connective tissues and
fibres allow the tissue to be more flexible. The more flexible the tissues are, the less likely
they are to tear and cause an injury. This also reduces adhesions which are small amounts
of scar tissues inside the body that do not allow much movement and occasionally cause
pain (Wordpress B, 2013).
Reducing and Remodelling Scar Tissue
Scar tissue replaces normal skin as it starts to repair after an injury. Scar tissue can cause
the flexibility of the skin to be reduced as the elasticity of the muscle fibre is lost. Massaging
Physical and Mechanical Effects
Blood and Lymphatic Circulation
Creating and releasing pressure to the blood vessels during a massage improves circulation
by moving blood through congested areas and creating new blood to flow in. The squeezing
and pulling of massage flushes the waste products of exercise such as lactic acid out of the
muscles. These actions also improve the circulation of the lymph fluid which carries waste
away from the internal organs and muscles, resulting in improved body function (Massage
Envy, 2018).
This helps in sports performance by allowing the blood to flow with no restrictions around the
body and to the muscles. This will supply the working muscles with a sufficient amount of
oxygen and nutrients allowing the muscles to work for longer periods of time without
fatiguing. An efficient lymphatic system will also benefit sports performance by flushing
waste products such as lactic acid out of the muscles. This will help the working muscles to
exercise longer without fatiguing.
Tissue Permeability
Massage increases the uptake of substances in the tissues of the body. This happens when
the massage is deep enough to cause the pores in the tissue membranes to open. Nutrients
and fluids can now enter the tissue. As well as massage helping tissue permeability, it also
helps with cell permeability which means the cells are able to absorb substances and also
remove waste products more easily.
This helps in sport performance by removing waste products such as lactic acid. By
removing lactic acid from the muscle tissues, the athlete will be able to exercise for longer or
at higher intensities without fatiguing as quickly. Increased tissue permeability also aids in
the recovery of the muscles as more oxygen and nutrients are being absorbed into the tissue
(Wordpress A, 2013).
Stretching
Muscle fibres can be separated while connective tissue that surround the fibres can be
stretched during deep massage. The usual methods of stretching cannot stretch tissue in the
way that massage can as fibres can stretch in a longitudinal or lateral direction (Wordpress
A, 2013).
This helps in sport performance as by stretching the muscles, flexibility is being increased.
The increased temperature and circulation that massage gives the connective tissues and
fibres allow the tissue to be more flexible. The more flexible the tissues are, the less likely
they are to tear and cause an injury. This also reduces adhesions which are small amounts
of scar tissues inside the body that do not allow much movement and occasionally cause
pain (Wordpress B, 2013).
Reducing and Remodelling Scar Tissue
Scar tissue replaces normal skin as it starts to repair after an injury. Scar tissue can cause
the flexibility of the skin to be reduced as the elasticity of the muscle fibre is lost. Massaging
