A Guide to Pre-Event Massage Therapy for Top Performance

When you have a competition or sporting event, or if you are preparing for a workout or even the Gate River Run, you want to be able to perform at your best. This means that your muscles need to receive the full preparation they need to keep you going, but you may not know the best way to make this happen. A pre-event massage takes place on the day of the big game or competition and should be finished 30-60 minutes before the action begins. While you are not trying to fix or improve the muscles or ligaments, your massage therapist will be working to prevent injury and prepare your body for top performance. Here is the ultimate guide to pre-event massage therapy in Jacksonville, Florida.

What Are the Physical Benefits of a Pre-Event Massage?

It is important to know that a pre-event massage can work wonders in helping you prepare to do your best, and you need to be mentally and physically ready for the activity that is about to take place. Your therapist will focus on warming up and stretching your muscles, enhancing flexibility, and increasing blood flow, helping you to feel focused, energized, and ready to go. It also supports quicker recovery times after physical activity and reduces muscle soreness. Most people who make a pre-event massage a regular part of their training find that it helps with their well-being, promotes healthier and more regular sleep patterns, and increases energy levels. 

What Techniques Are Used?​

A pre-event massage is shorter and more specific, and a range of different techniques are used. Athletes should know that the massage is not applied to the entire body but only to the muscles that will be specifically used in the sport, so always communicate your plans and goals with your massage therapist. 

• Effleurage is when the therapist uses a circular stroking motion while applying pressure with the palm of the hand. The pressure can be firm or light, depending on your needs and preferences.

 

• Friction is another technique that will be used to warm up the tissue. Your therapist will increase blood flow to the muscles of the legs and hips with compression.

 

•  Shaking or rocking of the arms and shoulders is used to decrease tension.

 

• Tapotement helps to prepare the body for physical activity by using rhythmic tapping movements and stimulating the muscles of the arm and shoulder. The movement helps to stimulate and invigorate the muscles, leading to increased function, reduced pain, and increased range of motion.

 

• The muscles are prepared for the warmup through gentle stretching.

 

• Range of motion of the arm and shoulder joints and the legs and hips decreases tension and stiffness.

Muscle Groups That are Targeted

During a pre-event massage, your therapist will focus on specific muscle groups in the upper and lower body and in the core, depending on the physical activity that you are planning. A runner, for instance, would need increased attention on areas of the legs, such as the quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves, and also the hips and glutes, while a baseball player would need more focus on the arms, back, and shoulders. For the upper body areas, the shoulders, neck, and arms will typically be worked on. The massage therapist will also concentrate on the trapezius and rhomboid muscles, as well as the abdomen and lower back, loosening these areas and alleviating tension for balance and optimal performance.


A Pre-Event Massage Offers Psychological Benefits

While a pre-event massage can work wonders at enhancing an athlete's performance, it is important to know that there are several psychological benefits as well.  An athlete needs to feel confident, prepared, and in full control of their body before any event, and a massage can offer the mental preparation that is needed. A massage also goes a long way in promoting relaxation by helping to reduce stress and anxiety and lowering stress hormones. Athletes often find that receiving a pre-event massage helps with their outlook, mood, and self-image, fully preparing them to embark upon physical activity, stay focused, and perform at their best.
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A pre-event massage is a crucial tool for any athlete and helps to set the stage for success. The right techniques and optimal timing can make all the difference in physical and mental preparation. Athletes near Jacksonville, Florida, surely want to reap the benefits, so be sure to contact us to see how we can help you make massages a vital part of your wellness routine. 

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We are pleased to serve the following Florida communities with massage therapy, chiropractic, organic skincare, acupuncture, red light therapy and more: Jacksonville, Orange Park, Fleming Island, Mandarin, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St Johns, Ponte Vedra and more.

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