Today let’s take a look at DOMS – Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness & Massage…
So, what is DOMS? Simply put its the microscopic tears of muscle fibres that occur as you use them and put them under strain through exercise or physical exertion. DOMS also occurs due to the build up metabolic waste within the muscle. It can occur any time between 24 and 72 hours after activity.
DOMS can happen due to muscle overuse, insufficient warm up or cool down or over straining the muscle and it can restrict movement and reduce activity for a period of time. Massage therapy is the perfect way to help you return to sports or exercise quickly as it rebalances and detoxes the body and reduces pain by increasing blood flow which contains oxygen and nutrients that repair the body and increase muscular strength.
Deep tissue massage or sports massage are the most effective at treating DOMS.
The pain experienced with DOMS is a result of an increase in small tears of muscle fibres and waste build up which creates muscular fatigue and ache/pains.
A massage increases blood and lymph flow. Increasing blood flow helps the muscle repair itself and increased lymph flow aids in the removal of toxins and metabolic waste.
This not only creates a healthier body and muscles, it also strengthens them, decreases pain and reduces the risk of future injury.
Flexibility is also increased by massage therapy for DOMS as restricted movement can occur if muscles become too tight and restricted. movement results in poor flexibility and range of motion which can then lead to an increased rick of muscle pulls or strains. This happens because reducing tissue elasticity and flexibility doesn’t allow the muscle to relax effectively and stretch to their full length and capacity. When this range of movement is restricted strains are more likely.
