How Sports Massage Can Benefit CrossFit Athletes

We are officially in the CrossFit Open season, one of our favorite times of the year at Denton Sports Chiropractic! Although that comes with the excitement of competition, what’s not exciting is the fact that injuries often crop up from high-intensity and repeating WODs (you know who you are!).

Improved strength, endurance, and overall fitness are some of the many incredible benefits of CrossFit that athletes can experience; however, this fitness program can lead to muscle soreness and fatigue. Sports massage is a valuable tool for CrossFit athletes to manage muscle soreness and enhance recovery, especially this time of year.

Let’s get into some of the benefits of sports massage for these athletes and discuss how this type of bodywork can help alleviate muscle soreness and improve recovery.

Managing Muscle Soreness

Sports massage at Denton Sports Chiropractic is a therapeutic type of bodywork that addresses soft tissue injuries, muscle tension, and imbalances in the body. For CrossFit athletes, in particular, sports massage can ease muscle soreness and speed up recovery. And who doesn’t want that?

Here are some ways sports massage can help CrossFitters:

Improve Circulation: Techniques, such as effleurage and petrissage help increase blood flow to the muscles, which promotes the delivery of oxygen and nutrients essential for muscle repair and recovery.

Reduce Muscle Tension: As workouts can lead to tight and tense muscles, sports massage helps alleviate muscle tension by targeting specific trigger points and knots, promoting improved flexibility and range of motion.

Enhance Lymphatic Drainage: Sports massage techniques, including lymphatic drainage, help facilitate the removal of metabolic waste products and toxins from the muscles, reducing inflammation and accelerating the healing process.

Relieve Pain: Instead of taking OTC pain medication, sports massage can help naturally alleviate muscle soreness and discomfort. It releases endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, and promotes muscle relaxation.

Massage As Part of Your Recovery Regimen

In addition to addressing muscle soreness, massage can help CrossFitters (and all types of athletes!) recover. Here are our recommendations for incorporating sports massage into your recovery routine:

• Schedule your massage sessions shortly after intense CrossFit workouts to help alleviate muscle soreness and promote faster recovery.
• Consider incorporating regular sports massage sessions into your training routine, even on rest days, to prevent muscle tension and injury buildup.
• Communicate your specific needs and areas of concern with your massage therapist to ensure that the session targets the muscles most affected by workouts.

This blog post is only informational and should not replace medical advice. CrossFit athletes with underlying health conditions or injuries should consult with a healthcare professional before beginning any new recovery regimen, including sports massage.