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Benefits of Massage for Golfers
It may not be a high-contact sport, but there are still plenty of injuries a golfer can sustain, and massage can be an excellent technique for assisting both the healing and prevention of these issues. Massage can also be a wonderful way to increase flexibility, which can help golfers with their form.
WHAT KIND OF INJURIES CAN A GOLFER SUSTAIN?
Golf is one of the most popular sports globally, with up to 35 million people participating around the world. While injuring oneself while playing golf isn’t something that is necessarily heard of very often, you’d be surprised at how much of toll golf can take on a body.
For starters, the repetitive, one-sided nature of a golf swing means it’s common to see muscular injuries in the lower back, hips, shoulder, and elbow. Being one-sided also often means the other side of the body compensates for the pain, and often, golfers find their whole bodies become sore.
Golfers also experience a lot of soreness around the head and neck, as well as in between the shoulder blades. This is usually caused as the body tightens for the swing. Also during the swing, the lower back can be affected by the twisting motion. The swing puts a lot of pressure on the body, requiring rotation and compression.
Because a lot of the toll is taken by the upper body, core and back strength are paramount.
Finally, there’s the dreaded golfer’s elbow, generally caused by an overworked arm and tense arm muscles. Golfer’s elbow occurs on the inside of the arm and can be debilitating if not treated quickly and regularly.
BENEFITS OF MASSAGE THERAPY FOR GOLFERS
There is a range of benefits that massage therapy can have for golfers.
- The massage generally increases circulation. For golfers, this helps remove the metabolic waste that accumulates in the muscles, because of the repetitive nature of the golf swing.
- Helps to reduce muscle spasms
- Massage therapists can also help with trigger point and adhesions to prevent injuries
- Helps to improve the quality of movement
- Improves range of motion and muscle flexibility
- Decreases anxiety and stress
- Improves mental focus and enhances body awareness
TYPES OF MASSAGE TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE
There are so many types of massage around, however, there are a few that are perfect for treating golfers’ injuries and helping to maintain their form.
- Relaxation and therapeutic massage are one of the most popular and well-known types of massage. Because it’s a more gentle type of massage using long strokes, it’s great when it comes to improving circulation, easing muscle aches and pains, and helping clients relax.
- Deep tissue massage helps to realign the deeper layers of muscle and tissue. Using firm pressure and slow strokes, this type of massage is generally used for chronic aches and pain and is best for contracted areas such as a stiff neck, upper back, lower back, and sore shoulders. The best thing about deep tissue is that it works to break down knots or adhesions that limit the range of motion – for golfers, this is perfect in helping keep their muscles loose for the perfect swing.
- Trigger point therapy can be used to target specific areas of a muscle. Without us even knowing, there are certain points in our bodies that actually refer to pain and sensations to other parts. Trigger point therapy works to immediately release tension and improve muscle functioning.
- Myofascial release therapy focuses on the fascia which is the connective tissue in the body. Usually, the fascia holds a lot of pain and tension, which is generally interpreted as soft tissue pain. This form of massage actually goes deeper, releasing the pain and strain from the fascia, rather than simply treating the higher layer of tissue. Stretching techniques are used to help increase freedom of movement.
TREATING GOLFER’S ELBOW
While many mistake this as similar to tennis elbow, the treatment is actually very different. Golfer’s elbow actually affects the inside of the elbow, so that’s where the treatment needs to be focused. Golfer’s elbow is caused by overworked and tense arm muscles. This leads to an inflammation of the ligaments.
To treat a golfer’s elbow, pressure is applied to the muscle on the inside of the elbow, the insider of the lower arm including the wrist flexors. Remember, this area can be exceptionally sensitive and painful to someone suffering from a golfer’s elbow, so be gentle. Of course, the upper arm also needs to be treated, and it’s actually the back that needs to be focused on. The triceps can contribute a lot of pain to a golfer’s elbow injury, and it’s best to massage the spot that’s the most painful. And of course, while many people don’t associate it with the arm, the golfer’s elbow does impact the pectoral muscles, so make time to massage the trigger points on the chest.
USING MASSAGE TO BOOST A GOLFER’S GAME
At the end of the day, massage is a crucial element of any sport, helping to alleviate pain and stiffness, and also encouraging circulation and relaxation. For golfers, it’s all about finding the spots where pain and stiffness will impact their game, massaging those points, and helping to restore flexibility and motion.
Massage is among the oldest of the healing arts. References to massage and its values go back to the beginnings of recorded history. Among the most widely recognized benefits of massage are:
•Improve your range of motion
•Release of stress
•Relieve your tired feet with Reflexology
• Release of emotional and physical tension
• Reduction or elimination of back pain
• Relief from sore muscles
• Relaxation
• Increased energy
•Change in your nervous system- from sympathetic to parasympathetic
•Great for post and pre-sports events
•Ease medication dependence.
•Enhance immunity by stimulating lymph flow—the body’s natural defense system.
•Exercise and stretch weak, tight, or atrophied muscles.
•Improve the condition of the body’s largest organ—the skin.
•Lessen depression and anxiety.
•Promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue, and stretch marks.
•Pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation.
•Reduce post-surgery adhesions and swelling.
•Reduce spasms and cramping.
•Relax and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles.
•Release endorphins—amino acids that work as the body’s natural painkiller.
•Relieve migraine pain.
•Blood pressure control
•Infant growth
•Boosting immunity
•Cancer treatment
Plus:
• Decrease in chronic pain and pain management
• Improved sleep
• Greater mobility and flexibility
• Improved body and mind awareness
•Reduced fatigue
Profound Effects
In response to massage, specific physiological and chemical changes cascade throughout the body, with profound effects. Research shows that with massage:
- Arthritis sufferers note fewer aches and less stiffness and pain.
- Asthmatic children show better pulmonary function and increased peak airflow.
- Burn injury patients report reduced pain, itching, and anxiety.
- High blood pressure patients demonstrate lower diastolic blood pressure, anxiety, and stress hormones.
- Premenstrual syndrome sufferers have decreased water retention and cramping.
- Preterm infants have improved weight gain.
Research continues to show the enormous benefits of touch—which range from treating chronic diseases, neurological disorders, and injuries, to alleviating the tensions of modern lifestyles. Consequently, the medical community is actively embracing bodywork, and massage is becoming an integral part of hospice care and neonatal intensive care units. Many hospitals are also incorporating on-site massage practitioners and even spas to treat post-surgery or pain patients as part of the recovery process.
Increase the Benefits with Frequent Visits
Getting a massage can do you a world of good. And getting massage frequently can do even more. This is the beauty of bodywork. Taking part in this form of regularly scheduled self-care can play a huge part in how healthy you’ll be and how youthful you’ll remain with each passing year. Budgeting time and money for bodywork at consistent intervals is truly an investment in your health. And remember: just because massage feels like a pampering treat doesn’t mean it is any less therapeutic. Consider massage appointments a necessary piece of your health and wellness plan, and work with your practitioner to establish a treatment schedule that best meets your needs.
more info @: https://www.massagemag.com/massage-for-golfers-keep-your-clients-on-the-course-32846/ https://www.massagetherapyreference.com/golfers-elbow-massage/ https://www.zeel.com/blog/massage/is-massage-good-for-tennis-elbow-and-golfers-elbow/ https://www.massageheights.com/our-company/blog/2014/october/massage-therapy-and-golf-how-regular-massages-ca/
*Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider.
Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.
The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended as diagnosis, treatment, or prescription of any kind. The decision to use, or not to use, any information is the sole responsibility of the reader. These statements are not expressions of legal opinion relative to the scope of practice, medical diagnosis, or medical advice, nor do they represent an endorsement of any product, company, or specific massage therapy technique, modality, or approach. All trademarks, registered trademarks, brand names, registered brand names, logos, and company logos referenced in this post are the property of their owners.