While the main goal of physical rehabilitation is to increase strength and flexibility, it often ends before the area has been returned to its full pre-injury state.
Massage plays an important role as a supplement to standard injury rehabilitation procedures. By encouraging circulatory movement and relaxing muscles, massage helps the body pump more oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs. This allows the rehabilitating injured area(s) to become more flexible and heal at an accelerated rate.
SPORTS INJURY MASSAGE
From a sprained ankle or twisted knee to muscle spasms or broken bones, massage can provide the opportunity for faster recovery. With the pressure of the therapist's hands improving blood flow, muscles become warmer. By stretching tight tissues and breaking down adhesions, massage can help flush out swelling in joints, allowing for quicker healing.
For hamstring injuries, the effect of stretching out tightness and loosening scar tissue can aid in recovery. And for back and neck spasms or nerve pain, various types of massage can help:
- Swedish Massage -- according to WebMD, the light to medium joint movements of Swedish Massage "can be both relaxing and energizing and…even help after an injury"
- Deep Tissue Massage -- helps flush lactic acid and other metabolic waste from your muscles, allowing more oxygen-rich and nutrient-filled blood to flow in
BROKEN BONES AND BURNS
If you're recovering from a broken bone, you'll want to eliminate stiffness and improve mobility in the problem area. Sports injury massage or any injury massage therapy can help reduce stiffness, restore movement, and provide relaxation that helps you focus on healthy healing instead of soreness and anxiety.
Burn patients studied in the Korean Journal of Hepatology reported that those who received three months of massage therapy during skin rehabilitation experienced less itching and less depression, along with improved skin healing.
Americans, too, "are looking to massage for much more than just relaxation," says Mary Beth Braun, President of the American Massage Therapy Association. The AMTA's 2010 nationwide survey revealed that, in addition to providing stress relief, "Massage therapy can be effective for a variety of conditions, including arthritis, lower back pain, insomnia, headaches, anxiety, circulatory problems and recovery from a sports injury."
YOUR PERSONAL CONSULTATION
Massage is also used to aid in pain management as the injury is nursed back to full strength. By committing to a continual massage program, you can accelerate the recovery process after suffering injuries. If you or someone you know has sustained an injury, a Massage Envy membership might be beneficial.
Your massage therapist wants to help you feel better and the only way he or she can help make that happen is by having you disclose information about any ailments you may have. At Massage Envy, our professional therapists conduct an intake interview with you before your service to determine any possible precautions, and to provide recommendations for the types and techniques of injury massage therapy that will optimize your individual results.