Benefits of Massage Therapy For Sports Injuries in Olympia WA

We all enjoy being active. In fact, with the sedentary way of living, being active and partaking in physically exerting things is very important. Sports are a fun and easy way to get a lot of enjoyment while getting your dose of physical activities.

The problem with any type of physical activity is there are possibilities of injuries and sports activities include an array of ways to end up with injuries.

Injuries that occur during sports or exercises and are part of the musculoskeletal system are called sports injuries.

There are different types of sports injuries that include sprains, strains, knee injuries, fractures, tennis and golf elbow, plantar fasciitis, back injuries or pain, concussion, etc.

Sports injuries in Olympia WA are most often caused by overuse, direct impact, application of force greater than the body part can withhold, improper form, accidents, not stretching, poor training, weaknesses in certain body parts, unsafe environments, and due to the way certain people are built, like uneven leg length, flat feet, etc.

Two types of sports injuries in Olympia WA:

• Acute: This refers to sports injuries that are the result of impact or accident which causes noticeable symptoms like swelling. For example: slipping, tackling, falling, etc.
• Chronic: This refers to long-term injuries that don't heal completely or require very extensive treatment. These are usually caused by overuse, sudden use, or improper form.

Sports injuries can be sudden or gradual. This detrimental state of most injuries leaves the sportsperson causing serious damage to their body.

Sudden injuries, like fractures, are serious from the get-go and force the players or sportsperson to submit and get treated.

But, simple injuries like sprains, painful falls, etc. These get brushed off and the players push on and they end up overusing and further damaging their already injured body parts. Cases like this can even result in permanent damage that can restrain many movements and require the upkeep of a whole new lifestyle.

The best plan is to take proper precautions to prevent sports injuries but if you do get them, the different types of injuries require different treatments. Some will require basic icing and pain medications. Some will require surgeries and physical therapy.

But, most sports injuries can be prevented, controlled, or treated entirely by massage therapy.

Massage therapy refers to the branch of complementary and alternative medicine, which involves manipulating the muscles, tendons, tissues, ligaments, etc. under the skin to relieve pain and promote healing by the body in an entirely non-invasive way.

The benefits of massage therapy for sports injuries:

• Reduces pain and inflammation
• Increases recovery rate and blood circulation
• Improves body immunity and resistance to future damage
• Increases range of mobility and flexibility
• Improves sleep and provides relaxation
• Alleviates psychological tension and improves mood
• Suitable for people of all ages and most health conditions
• Non-invasive and cost-effective
• There are no side effects

Massage therapy at Evergreen Family Chiropractic can be the best alternative to most treatments of sports injuries. So, if you've just got a sports injury or are trying to prevent yourself from getting one, get yourself down to your nearest licensed massage therapist, after making sure that you are suitable for it.

Happy healing!