How Deep Tissue Massage Aids Workout Recovery
Massage has become widely integrated into the fitness world, and is increasingly a necessity for recovery. Adding regular massage into your fitness recovery routine has many benefits. Our partner Bri Carrier, Owner of Massage Modalities, shares some of the most important below!
What Causes Muscle Soreness After a Workout?
When we exercise our oxygen levels temporarily decrease, which is why we can sometimes feel out of breath with over exertion. When our metabolic oxygen levels are reduced, the pyruvic acid that fuels our mitochondria (powerhouse of the cells) with energy is converted to lactic acid. This lactic acid can remain inside the muscle tissue after a workout, causing inflammation and soreness, and reducing the muscles ability to repair completely. Massage increases blood flow into the muscles, delivering the oxygen necessary for the lactic acid to convert back into pyruvic acid and begin fueling the muscles again.
Does Massage Help More Than Just Sore Muscles?
The sympathetic nervous system is active when we are active. It aids the function of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, allowing us to push harder during workouts, breathe correctly, and raise our heart rates to appropriate fitness levels. It feels intense! Massage helps the body shift from high activation of the sympathetic nervous system to the parasympathetic, which controls our bodies maintenance functions, such as digestion, rest, and relaxation. This is when our bodies can recover from physical exercise.
Can Massage Make you More Flexible?
The force exerted by muscles during a workout causes the muscle fibers to contract and shorten, therefore putting strain on the tendons that attach those muscles to the bones and joints. When a muscle recovers from the exercise, it has collagen and elastin that allow it to return to its previous state fairly quickly, however the tendon tissue does not have that same elasticity. When tendons are tight, movement of joints can be restricted. Massage aids in restoring range of motion by taking pressure off the tendons and relaxing the muscle tissue. It also helps increase production and flow of synovial fluid in the joints, keeping them properly lubricated and moving freely.
How Can Massage Help Manage Aches and Pains?
The body has several types of receptors that all respond to different types of pain. Massage can help reduce and manage pain by activating endorphins and facilitating relaxation. It can also decrease pain by assisting the flow of fluids that run through and around the muscles and joints, reducing inflammation, stimulating autonomic processes, dilating vessels to reduce blood pressure, generating heat in the muscles, loosening fascia, and breaking up adhesions. For any athlete, repetition of specific movements is part of the routine. Even in daily tasks at work or at home we repeat movement patterns. Any muscle undergoing repetitive movement is subject to needing maintenance. We cannot expect our muscles to function optimally if we are not repairing them as often as we ask them to work. Massage, with its combination of stretching and compression, is one of the most effective forms of rehabilitation and recovery. It is the equivalent of hitting a reset button after pushing the body to its physical limits. Keeping the muscular system active and aligned is one of our best chances and long-term health and wellness.
Recovery shouldn’t just be an afterthought. It’s an essential part of a well-rounded fitness routine. At Limitless, we believe in a balanced approach that supports both strength and restoration. That’s why we’re proud to partner with wellness professionals like Massage Modalities to help our clients move, feel, and perform at their best. If you’re ready to experience the Limitless Fitness difference, schedule your free consultation today!