When you have a high school-aged child who plays school sports, he or she will likely be spending a considerable amount of time throughout the week practicing, training, and competing. Between these athletic endeavors and school work, your child's spare time might be at a premium, but it can be advantageous for you to schedule regular massages for your young athlete. While massage therapy is valuable for people recovering from injuries, there are a number of other benefits that this form of treatment can provide for your teenager. Here are some reasons that massage can be useful for him or her.
Increased Range Of Motion
High school athletes can benefit from improving their range of motion; whether they compete in gymnastics, football or something in between, having greater range of motion can help young athletes excel. When you take your teenager to a massage therapist, this health professional will work on the child's major muscles to loosen them up. This is especially advantageous for muscles that have become tight due to frequent training. Tight hamstrings, for example, might hinder an athlete's ability to jump or move quickly; by consistently massaging these muscles to loosen them, the child will experience better range of motion.
Less Pain After Workouts
Many high school athletes will frequently complain of muscle aches; they might practice and compete on such a regular basis that their muscles never really recover and are thus constantly sore to a degree. This issue can be improved by regular visits to a massage therapist. He or she can target your child's sore muscles and work them gently to release restrictions that are causing pain. Massage therapists like Haring Marc DC know how to work carefully around sore muscles and will use just the right amount of pressure to make your teenager's body feel better.
Help With Relaxation
Your teenager might be experiencing a high degree of stress; this commonly comes with high school athletics, given the pressure on the child to excel with the hope of earning a college scholarship. Athletes who are chronically stressed may suffer during their games or competitions, given that they're emotionally exhausted and may have trouble concentrating. In addition to the above benefits, scheduling regular massage appointments for your child will allow him or her to relax and allow some stress to melt away. This can be beneficial not only for the child's athletic endeavors but for all areas of his or her life.
