Massage For Young Athletes

The competitive nature of youth sports combined with long seasons and intense training can leave young athletes vulnerable to muscle tension and injury; however, you can help your child avoid muscular injuries by scheduling them for a massage sessions.

Massage therapy provides: relief from injury, conditions muscles, and reduces stress. Let’s address each benefit:

Injury and Pain Management

If your child is suffering from a muscle-related injury, massage therapy helps the healing process. Increased circulation and decreased muscle tension can expedite healing, relieve pain, and allow your child to return to the field or court quicker.

Increased Flexibility and Range of Motion

Regular, massages enhance athletic performance by decreasing the likelihood of common sprains and strains. Regular massages release muscle tension while increasing flexibility and range of motion.

Decreased stress and anxiety

Young athletes can experience the same benefits of massage therapy as adults, including decreased anxiety.  This benefits athletes under pressure, both on & off the field.

What type of massage is best for young athletes?

Young athletes who utilize massage therapy as part of their conditioning will find the most value in a Deep Tissue Massage. This type of massage focuses on the musculoskeletal system and is the number one choice for treating sports-related injuries or concerns.

A good massage therapist will guide you and your child towards the best service option.

How often should an athlete get a massage?

Like adult athletes, young athletes benefit from regular massages weekly / biweekly. This is particularly true during the sports season or while engaging in intense training and conditioning. With this schedule, the student-athlete is more likely to reach

peak performance while also decreasing the risk of injuries that occur due to

tight muscles, a lack of flexibility, or a limited range of motion.

How do you prepare your child for a sports massage?

For some adults, their first massage can be somewhat anxiety-inducing, especially if they don’t know what to expect. Young athletes can have a similar reaction to their first massage, causing them to become anxious. Preparing them ahead of time for their first sports massage will ease their anxiety, and make the experience more effective and enjoyable.

Before your child goes for their first massage, walk them through the process and tell them what to expect. If you’re not sure, consider contacting the massage therapist who will administer the massage. They should be more than happy to speak to you and your child about what to expect.

In addition, it’s also a good idea to remind your child that they are in control of their body and that they have the power to control the experience by informing the therapist of any boundaries they may have both before and during the massage.

Finally, though not always required, many parents choose to stay in the room during the massage to provide an additional layer of comfort for their child.

There are many reasons why you may want to consider incorporating massage therapy into your child’s sports conditioning.  Not only can massage therapy provide relief from sport-related injuries, but it can also improve flexibility and increased range of motion, leading to improved performance on the field.

If you're not sure if massage therapy is right for your child, or you have other questions regarding the benefits of massage for young athletes? Please Contact us (678) 948-8130 and we can answer your questions and schedule your athlete’s first session.

Excerpts - Massage Now