A sports massage is a great way of helping your body to heal following intensive exercise. If you are planning to visit a sports physio for a massage, you may be wondering about the steps you can take to prepare for the session. Read on to find out everything you need to know.
Make note of any tight muscle groups
Once you have cooled down from your intensive exercise session, it is worthwhile spending some time noting which muscle groups in your body feel painful or tight. It is these areas that will benefit most from a sports massage, so being able to identify them will help your physio to zone in on them. However, if you experience severe pain, it may be better to book an appointment with a doctor rather than a sports physio.
Have a warm bath
Having a bath before a sports massage is a great way to prepare your muscles. The warm water will help to loosen and relax your muscles in preparation for your massage. When the physio gets to work manipulating your body, they won't have to spend as much time warming up and relaxing the muscles, which means you can enjoy a more intensive massage.
Get some rest before a massage
It isn't a great idea to have a sports massage straight after exercise. It is always better to let your muscles cool down and relax before a massage session. If you have a massage very soon after exercise, it is unlikely that you will feel the benefit of increased blood flow to your muscles or of the relaxing and loosening effect of the manipulation of your body.
Choose some music
When you arrive for your massage, you will have the option of choosing a soundtrack to listen to as the physio gets to work. While most clinics will have a broad range of music on offer, you may wish to make your own playlist that you can bring along on your phone or another mobile device. Ideally, it is best to choose music that is relaxing and that will help you to unwind.
If you are interested in finding out more about the benefits of having exercise physio treatments, you should get in touch with a clinic that offers physio treatments. A member of the team will likely be happy to talk things through before booking you in for a session.
