The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
December Issue #110
By Cynthia Barnesky of Sunrise Healing Center
Many us of will be going
skiing or skating during the Christmas Holidays; here are some tips to be aware
of before you suit up!
Is the equipment you are
wearing really protecting you from receiving a concussion or injury? Some might
agree and some might disagree. Moreover, many might believe that one has to be
in their best form to prevent injury and, as for an athlete, you must take the time to look after yourself.
Some of the best ways to prevent injuries in any kind of sport is self-massage
and massage, incorporating warm up and cool down stretches.
The benefits to self-massage for athletes, like you:
1.
Self-massage improves
athletic performance through elongating the muscles for more contraction
and release when using the muscle.
2.
Self-massage
releases trigger points and acupressure points; this is where most of the
lactic acid is stored.
3.
Self-massage
relieves muscle pain and soreness through the release of lactic acid that has
built up while playing the sport and will aid in stretching performance.
4.
Self-massage
helps with all of the body systems, working at the cellular level to feed and
detoxify the body. In turn, self-massage makes the body look, feel, and perform
to its best to give an athlete the advantage.
5.
Self-massage
strengthens your immune system, aiding in the prevention of colds and flues and
making one stronger and healthier, thus assisting athletes to perform at their
peak at all times.
6.
Self-massage
reduces stress, anxiety, and depression and helps your body release endorphins, dopamine, serotonin and adrenaline, giving
you a shot of “endorphin cocktail” (the natural happy drug) that the body
produces itself.
7.
Self-massage
reduces the stress hormone, cortisol, which can make one look and feel that
they can conquer the world, and accordingly help one perform at their best.
Completing
stretches after self-massage when the muscles are nice and warmed up, allows
the muscles to lengthen without tearing. Stretching should be done slowly, with
specific techniques using controlled breaths and movement. Do not stretch like
someone is after you! The benefits of stretching are many and have been proven
through various studies over time.
The benefits
of self-massage followed by stretching before and after any kind sport or
activity:
1. Stretching after self-massage improves posture by allowing the muscles to
stay in a relaxed state. Good posture can decrease discomfort and reduce aches
and pains.
2. Stretching after self-massage
improves circulation and helps transport nourishment,
while ridding muscle tissue of waste by-products. Improved circulation can
shorten recovery time for any muscle injuries.
3. Stretching after
self-massage increases flexibility and joint range of motion. Athletes can
benefit greatly with improved endurance for the game.
4. Stretching after self-massage can reduce stress and, just like in self-massage, can positively affect
your mood, decision making abilities, and the way your body feels.
5. Stretching after self-massage can enhanced coordination: Coordination is
one of the most important benefits for which an athlete strives. When a full
range-of-motion can be maintained through the joints, an athlete can thus better
maintain balance and equilibrium. Coordination and balance help keep an athlete
mobile and less prone to injury from unnecessary falls due to lack of balance!
These
are just some of the benefits of self-massage, massage and stretching to help a
skier, skater or any kind of athlete and really anyone that is taking part in
any sport.
The most important point
here is how to keep you healthy and safe during this Holiday Season. We all want to do our best and continue at the sport
we love and if that means wearing protective gear like a mouth guard, padded
vest or headgear, then that is what we will do to protect ourselves. Another
way is to eat healthy, get plenty of rest and, most importantly for muscles and
the whole body and mind, to be in balance and feel clear by practicing
self-massage and stretching!
Wishing
all a very Merry Holiday Season filled with Love, Laughter, Fun and Great Food
and plenty of Prosperity into the New Year from my Family to Yours!
Cynthia Barnesky
SunRise Healing Center
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