The benefits of sports massage in cycling

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Every day, it is more usual to go to the sports masseur to relieve the pains, overloads, contractures, breaks or muscle impingement that we may suffer. However, the vast majority of people only go to the masseuse when the pain is already unbearable or when it has increased more than usual due to cycling, this being a mistake that must be avoided at all costs.

The need for legs fatigue cyclists massage should be understood as something that is part of the actual training of a person who performs cycling on a daily or very frequent basis. You have to be very clear that anticipating pain and preventing it is much better than having to cure it.

What is sports massage?

Sports massage is the physical treatment that is executed, in most cases, with a manual technique with the aim of improving the performance and physical condition of any person who performs sport, although it can also be applied to non-athletes. with the same purpose.

Sports massage is nothing more than a set of manual maneuvers performed by a specialist, with the aim of preparing the athlete’s fabrics for competition (pre-competition massage), to recover the tissues once the exercise is finished (post-competition massage) ) or to heal damaged tissues (rehabilitation massage).

When a sports massage is performed, it differs from the therapeutic massage because it is deeper and more intense. As a general rule, sports massage is based on classic Swedish massage guidelines and incorporates a combination of stretching techniques, compressions, friction, toning and more advanced techniques of pressure points and Shiatsu.

The sports masseuse mixes all the techniques that dominate in a single massage, based on a strict knowledge of the technique applied and providing the patient with all the necessary advice both for the performance of the massage session and for the subsequent treatment.

When to go to the sports masseuse?

Sports massage should be applied to prevent and combat fatigue, increase the working capacity of the musculature and as a support measure in the treatment of injuries. Therefore, there are four situations in which it is highly recommended to receive a massage:

  • Maintenance massage: It is based on performing a regular scheduled massage applied according to the anatomical needs of a person and the muscles affected in a certain sport, more likely to cause problems. In this way the athlete is helped to maintain or improve movement and muscle flexibility.
  • Pre-competition massage: It is used as a pre-test warm-up in order to increase circulation and reduce muscular and mental tension before the competition. It is also based on the needs of the sport practiced, the athlete and the type of competitive event, which can be relaxing or stimulating.
  • Post-competition massage: Its function is to reduce muscle spasms and metabolic waste produced during the practice of intense exercise. It helps the athlete in the recovery process to return to training and competition, reducing the risk of injury.
  • Rehabilitation massage: no matter how hard you try to avoid, cramps, breaks, overloads and contracts that cause pain and even prevent the athlete from continuing to train or compete. With this massage, the healing process is accelerated, reducing pain and providing new solutions during the rehabilitation process.