The 3 Stages Of Soft Tissue Healing And How Sports Massage Helps
Summer is a time of sports, but the strain of exercise, exertion and extreme heat can lead to injuries, some of which can feel severe, painful and debilitating. This is where deep tissue massages can help speed up recovery.
The role of massage following an injury is well established, as it boosts circulation, reduces pain and encourages soft tissue to stabilise and loosen rather than provide additional restriction.
With most soft tissue injuries, this takes the form of specialised massage routines built around the three main healing processes that injured ligaments and muscles go through.
What are these three stages and why do we use tailored massages for each one? Find out below.
What Is The Inflammatory Phase?
The first phase, which starts the second an injury takes place and lasts for roughly three days following injury, is the inflammatory phase, where the body takes immediate steps to stabilise tissue.
This is where the body part feels warm, painful and often swells up. Whilst this is poor for range of motion and far from desirable when in a sporting contest, it is vital to keep your body protected and minimise the risk of more severe, long-term harm.
To help with this, early massages are very gentle, aiming at reducing and relieving swelling but avoiding the breaking down of tissue that can disrupt the vital early stages of tissue repair.
What Is The Proliferative Phase?
The next step, generally lasting the next three weeks, is where collagen fibres are produced to help fix any tears and damage to soft tissue, but its fragile and disorganised state means that it needs deeper massages to align it in place and where it needs to be.
What Is The Remodelling Phase?
The final phase, which can last up to two years, is the remodelling phase, where collagen gradually aligns itself near stress areas.
However, without targeted deep tissue massage, it can create knots or restrictions that can make certain joints feel stiff.