Massage Therapy For Boxers: Vital Things To Know
As a boxer, it’s expected to train hard. You work your muscles to the limit; unfortunately, you can sometimes overdo it even if it’s not your intention.
You want to focus on reaching a high level of athletic superiority despite the excruciating pains that come with it. You may even ignore other warning signs that indicate your body is near the point of over-exertion.
Once you’re exhausted, the first thing that comes to your mind is rest. However, this may not be effective for recovery after a training session or a match.
Fortunately, sports massage can help boxers train well, prevent injuries, improve recovery time and enhance performance. So you can enjoy boxing massage benefits by adding them to your training routine.
After conducting thorough research, let me talk through some vital things about massage therapy for boxers.
Let’s get started!
4 Different Types Of Sports Massages Suitable For Boxers
Mentioned below are four sports massage types suitable for professional boxers. They’re as follows:
- Pre boxing massage
- Post–event boxer massage
- Restorative sports massage
- Rehabilitative sports massage
There’s a high chance that many sports professionals have received one or more of these massage types mentioned above. This is because they effectively improve a boxer’s performance, and it is also effective for other athletes.
Nevertheless, you have to choose the best massage for boxing as it best suits your needs.
#1. Pre-sport Massage
I found out that the pre-sport massage lasts a maximum of 10-15 minutes and is beneficial for a boxer before warming up. Additionally, it is a quick, stimulating massage used for increasing blood flow.
The fighter ideally tells the therapist which part of his body he would prefer to work on, e.g., shoulders, back, legs, or other specific areas of the above.
The procedure is quick and powerful because you don’t want to lower your body temperature and heart rate during this massage.
More importantly, it’s also essential that this therapy is administered as close to the fight as possible, as the boxers need their muscles to be loose, and thus it can help increase their range of motion.
#2. Post-event Boxing Massage
The post-event sports massage is helpful for athletes such as boxers. It can be done between 30 to 60 minutes or two hours after a boxing bout or the next day after the event.
Unfortunately, this type of massage is not used very often as boxers run to meet friends and supporters immediately after their match.
This is unfortunate because a 15-20 minute post-event massage on a specific part of the body provides real benefits.
And 35-40 post-event boxer massage sessions can also help to get rid of lactic acid build-up.
#3. Restorative sports massage
The restorative sports massage is ideal for an intensive training period. And for boxers, it is usually eight weeks up to a contest.
If your wallet allows it, you should carry it once a week after every workout session.
There is no special best massage for boxing. However, treatment should be done by massage therapists for your whole body, allowing you to train much harder.
It is vital to emphasize that restorative sports massage shouldn’t be performed 48 hours before a fight.
This is because your body has to recover and adapt to the muscles’ new alignment and get the maximum recovery benefits associated with the pre-sports massage.
You will usually feel mild pain and discomfort in the deeper work areas.
Hence I strongly advise you to drink plenty of water and avoid strenuous exercise for the first 24 hours after this treatment.
#4. Rehabilitative Sports Massage
The rehabilitative massage is the last type of sports massage that we recommend for boxers.
This type of massage can help to relieve pain due to injury and bring the boxer’s body back to good health.
It’s best effective with the use of acupressure point techniques and other painful deeper techniques.
The result is reduced pain in the affected body parts. So you can have a comfortable night with your family and fans.
Also Read: How Can Massage Help With Posture (Interesting Details Uncovered)
3 Benefits Of Sports Massage For Boxers
Mentioned below are three benefits of sports massage for boxers:
#1. Recovery And Resistance Training.
When you spend time on weight training or punching bags during workouts, your wrists may hurt, your shoulders get stiff, and even your knees will click (Muay Thai, anyone? 🙂 ).
One way to avoid this is to skip resistance training and do other activities like speed exercises or skipping.
But when you return to weight training, the progress may stop, and the feeling of motivation will decline.
I discovered that for new upstarts, it could mean doing away with training.
However, sports massage helps your body recover quickly so that you can move forward in all aspects of your workout.
#2. Improved Agility.
As a boxer, it’s an excellent skill to be able to dodge the opponent’s punches!
This is because damage from such punches can easily result in a short career. One of the advantages of getting a sports massage is that you can increase your flexibility.
This helps you to outwit your opponent. Besides, You will have better reflexes and footwork. Every hit and landed punch you get counts. And that can be the thin line between winning and losing.
#3. Gain A Mental Edge.
It is essential to be physically and psychologically prepared for training or before a fight.
A sports massage can give you a clear mental boost through the release of “feel-good endorphins.” This will improve your alertness and increase your drive for success.
Also Read: Massage Therapy For Football Players (All You Need To Know)
Final Words
In conclusion, my research proves that post-training recovery is different from when you’re recovering after a fight.
For instance, a boxer gets more injuries during the fight than during training or without sessions. As such, it takes longer to recover from fight nights.
Fortunately, Boxers, like any other athlete, benefit from getting massage therapy.
Massage can help them recover at a fast rate by lowering muscle aches. Also, an excellent massage session will relax their mind and help them have a good night’s sleep.
Finally, getting a massage is very useful in the recovery process of a boxer. But then, you need to consider whether the boxer may have had a major injury before a fight. It’s noteworthy to mention that applying excessive pressure on swollen areas could worsen the situation.
Hence, you should wait for at least a week before getting a massage. However, this should be done after you consult a doctor.
Disclaimer: The information contained on this website results from in-depth research on various topics. The articles on this site are only for informational and educational purposes, and it’s not intended as medical or health advice. Hence, we suggest you always ensure to seek the opinion of your doctor or other qualified health personnel regarding any questions that relate to health objectives or medical conditions.
