Is sports massage necessary for me?

[happythroughout]

I go to the gym for cardio exercises on machines and work out with a trainer on other days. In total, I exercise about four or five times a week between the gym and training.

 

I wouldn't say my workouts are intensive but more for health, toning and sculpting.

 

From articles, I understandthat sports massage is for professional athletes. So do I need sports massage? How do I know whether I need it?

[johan]

Massage is primarily to assist recovery after extended, intense efforts. It takes tightness out of the muscles and works waste products out of the muscle and into the blood stream. I associate it more with endurance sports.

 

My guess is that you aren't working out long or hard enough that recovery is much of an issue.

 

If you are cycling two or more hours a day every day, with two or three days a week over 5 hours, or if you run more than an hour and a half every day, you might benefit from it.

 

The reason pros need it is because they are pros. It is their job to be close to peak performance throughout a long season. To work out every day, three or four times as much as the typical person does. And massage is not the only thing they do to help. Supplements, diet, sleep, ice baths, stress tests, blood tests, coaches and trainers are all part of the equation.

Edited January 17, 2012 by johan

[happythroughout]

Massage is primarily to assist recovery after extended, intense efforts. It takes tightness out of the muscles and works waste products out of the muscle and into the blood stream. I associate it more with endurance sports.

 

My guess is that you aren't working out long or hard enough that recovery is much of an issue.

 

If you are cycling two or more hours a day every day, with two or three days a week over 5 hours, or if you run more than an hour and a half every day, you might benefit from it.

 

The reason pros need it is because they are pros. It is their job to be close to peak performance throughout a long season. To work out every day, three or four times as much as the typical person does. And massage is not the only thing they do to help. Supplements, diet, sleep, ice baths, stress tests, blood tests, coaches and trainers are all part of the equation.

 

In this case, it seems that a regular Swedish massage will do for me.

[johan]

Probably. Your goal seems to be more about well-being. Sports massage is more about making sure you're ready for another exhausting day tomorrow.

[tman666]

As someone who has undergone sports massage in the past, I can tell you this: it is NOT a pleasant, relaxing experience. You'll begin to understand what the steak feels like under the meat tenderizing hammer.

 

Johan pretty much nailed the reasons why someone would need sports massage: enhanced recovery and injury mitigation. If you have the funds, I would recommend it to anyone looking to add to those two items. Just be aware that it's not (at least if it's legit) a "soothing experience" by any stretch of the imagination.