How exactly do you tell someone that you have a pain in your butt. Even a sports massage therapist who has likely heard everything might roll his or her eyes if you make an appointment for a butt cramp. But that is exactly what hurt the most after the freshman gymnast finished competing in her first ever college meet. Traveling all of the way from Shreveport, Louisiana, to the mountains of Logan, Utah, made for a great first adventure with the college team and its three coaches.
When the freshman gymnast finally told the sports massage therapist where she thought she needed a deep tissue massage, he actually suggested that it may have been competing in the altitude that caused the interesting cramp. The cramp could have presented itself in any location, but cramping and getting short of breath when athletes make a quick switch from the 155 feet altitude of Shreveport to the 4,469 feet of Logan is not uncommon.
No wonder so many of the girls on the team were winded at their first meet of the season. Quite frankly, it is a wonder that more of the athletes did not get cramps requiring deep tissue massages. A quick transition from a sea level location to a near mile high location can mean an increase blood pressure, headaches, and an increase in the use and consumption of oxygen. Quick changes in elevation can also lead to changes in blood pressure causing a shift in a body’s electrolyte balance.
Although sports massage and deep tissue massage are used for athletes, it is not just the sports minded who require these therapies. In fact, according to the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) 2014 consumer survey, approximately 15% of adults in American received at least one massage between July 2013 and July 2014. Massages, especially deep tissue massages, can provide relief from pain that can not be solved by chiropractors or physical therapists.
A medical massage is sometimes recommended in conjunction with other treatments options. Of the 15% of adults who say they had received a massage in 2014, over half of those massages were for medical purposes. These treatments can relieve pain from soreness and stiffness, spasms and injury rehabilitation, as well as promote overall wellness.
Another 23% of massage patients had a treatment for the purposes of relaxation or stress reduction. Some people, in fact, schedule deep tissue massage therapy or therapeutic massages on a regular weekly or monthly basis as a preventative measure for their overall health and wellness.
No matter what the pain and where it is located, massage therapy can likely provide relieve.