Best Stretches After Sports Massage
Stretches after a sports massage are a great way to maintain the relaxation and flexibility you experienced during your treatment. Stretching can help prevent injury and improve performance.

Dynamic stretches move muscles through their full range of motion. They are more effective than static stretches, which hold a position for a long period of time.

1. Leg Stretch
Stretches are a vital component of promoting healthy muscle tissue and helping you reach your body’s full potential. They reduce stress, improve blood circulation, and increase flexibility. It also helps prevent injuries by loosening the tight and stiff muscles.

While you may be already stretching on a regular basis to keep your muscles in shape, it is important to include a post-massage routine. This will help your muscles recover faster, avoid injury and improve your performance.

One of the best stretches to do after sports massage is the leg stretch. Begin by standing with your hips in a neutral position and extend your right leg behind you until you feel tension in the thigh. Make sure not to bounce the leg to get the best results.

2. Hamstring Stretch
Tight hamstrings can impact your ability to walk, run and work out. This can result in soreness, cramping and even pain down your leg.

Stretching hamstrings regularly is essential to maintain top physical performance and health. Static stretches like the Waiter's Bow stretch help to lengthen the muscle fibers and decrease accumulated tightness.

Start in a kneeling position, placing one leg on the floor and extend it straight out in front of you. Place your hands on the thigh of the extended leg and gently lean forward until you feel a stretch in the hamstring muscles. Repeat with the other leg a couple of times. Eventually, the hamstrings will loosen up and you'll enjoy better balance and coordination.

3. Shoulder Stretch
Keeping the shoulders limber and flexible can reduce the risk of injury, especially when lifting heavy objects. But, remember to always warm up before stretching and avoid pushing yourself too far past your comfort level. A good massage therapist can help you identify any tight muscles that need extra work, and provide some pointers for easing those areas of tension.

This shoulder stretch can be done while sitting up or standing. With your hands together above your head, roll your shoulders up, back, and down 10 times.

This shoulder stretch targets the rotator cuff muscles. Stand next to a wall or doorway and support the right arm with the crease of your elbow. Then, move the right arm slowly away from the doorway. Hold the stretch for 30 seconds and repeat on the other side.

4. Abdominal Stretch
The abdominal stretch is a great exercise to include in your routine, as it helps to maintain a balance between strength and flexibility. This muscle group can become tense and overworked, leading to postural issues and pain.

The best time to perform an ab stretch is after a workout as part of the cool-down process. This is when your muscles are already warm, making them more pliable and more receptive to stretching.

Lie flat on the floor with your hands either side of your shoulders, palms down with a 90 degree angle bend in the elbows. Attempt to push up off your hands, bringing the chest into a backbend as far as you can without lifting the hips off the ground. Hold this position for 30 seconds.

5. Tricep Stretch
The tricep stretch lengthens the muscles covering the rear of your upper arms and helps with shoulder range of motion. This simple activity can be performed where to find affordable massage therapists in a variety of ways and it is also very convenient to perform.

Raise your right arm up and bend the elbow to bring it behind your head. Place your left hand on the elbow and pull gently until you feel a moderate triceps stretch. Repeat with the other arm.

Another way to do the triceps stretch is to support your bodyweight against a wall and lean into the arm, stretching it into a deep triceps brachii position. This technique is helpful for those with a restricted range of movement in their shoulders and can help prevent rolled shoulder injuries.