How Can Massage Therapy Improve Fitness Recovery?

March 30th is National Fitness Recovery Day | How Can Massage Help Improve Sports Recovery

Everyone knows that a good workout leaves you feeling sore the next day - but with a good massage, you could be back in the gym in one or two days ready to give your 110% all over again. Massage has always been a key element of fitness recovery, and for good reason. This March 30th is National Fitness Recovery Day, when we raise awareness for healthy methods of fitness recovery to empower at-home athletes and personal fitness journeys everywhere.

At The Wellness Hub, we work with a lot of athletes, both pros and everyday people working hard to stay fit. This is why we are excited to celebrate National Fitness Recovery Day with the people of Jacksonville, FL. Join us as we dive into the important ways to recover from your fitness activities and why massage is one of the best ways to get back on your game with minimal soreness after an intense workout.
Let's talk about the benefits of massage therapy and fitness recovery.


What Is Fitness Recovery?

Fitness recovery is a necessary part of working out. But just why do your muscles get so sore, and why is the recovery cycle so important? It's all about how our bodies are designed to build new muscle. For muscle growth, you need to work out just hard enough that your muscle tissue develops tiny little tears. It's called "Feeling the burn"

That's also why muscles can feel swollen and sore after a really good workout.  What comes next is a healing process that lasts 1-4 days where your body rebuilds the muscle bigger and stronger each time. Fitness recovery is the process of healing quickly, minimizing inflammation, flushing toxins generated during your workout, and getting ready for your next session as soon as possible - while feeling as little soreness as possible.

That's where massage plays an important role in the process, among other useful techniques.

Fitness Recovery Techniques

Many people who work out discover that a good fitness recovery routine can significantly reduce the soreness and increase their recovery rate so they can start another workout with fewer days of rest. There are several important methods that everyone should know when it comes to fitness recovery that you can do at home.
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• Ice and Compression
  • If your muscles feel tender or swollen, use a combination of compression and ice to help you rapidly reduce inflammation and get past the sore phase of the recovery process. 

 

• Epsom Salt Bath
  • Once the inflammation has stopped, take a hot bath with epsom salt. The heat will help relax your muscles and promote circulation for faster healing. The epsom salt will help your cells absorb water and provide hydration to your recovering muscles.

 

• Hydration and Sleep
  • Drink plenty of water and make time for extra sleep while your muscles recover. This will help your body focus energy on building new muscle as quickly as possible.

 

• Stretching and Light Recovery
  • Don't forget to stretch and engage in light exercises on your recovery days. Stretching ensures the new muscle grows long and flexible so you maintain full mobility. Light recovery exercise can help you maintain a cardio routine and encourages your metabolism to focus on muscle recovery.

Of course, one of the most effective ways to speed up your fitness recovery is with a good massage.

The Benefits of Massage for Fitness Recovery

Massage has been part of fitness recovery since the ancient days of Greece and Rome. The very first athletes in the original Olympics would book a massage after workouts to promote faster fitness recovery and greater muscle development. 

• Reduce Muscle Pain from Inflammation
  • Massage can help to gently reduce inflammation in your recovering muscles. This reduces that soreness that often comes after a workout and provides releif from post-workout muscle pain.

 

• Flush Lactic Acid
  • When you burn energy in your muscles by lifting or running, it generates lactic acid which causes a burning sensation. A lymphatic drainage massage helps to flush the lactic acid from your muscles, reducing discomfort and making awy for healthy muscle growth.

 

• Unwind Knots for Flexible Muscle Growth
  • Massage can also make sure that there are no knots or tension held in your muscles as new muscle tissue grows, ensuring more flexible muscle development.

 

• Promote Circulation for Rapid Recovery
  • Lastly, massage naturally promotes better circulation, which fuels more rapid healing and fitness recovery.

Enhance Your Fitness Recovery with Massage

If you work out regularly, you don't have to endure days of soreness when you have a good fitness recovery routine. The Wellness Hub is here to help, both in celebration of National Fitness Recovery Day on March 30th and for athletes of Jacksonville, FL all year 'round. If you've just had a major workout and want to recover feeling your best, book your appointment for a fitness recovery massage.


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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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