CalCopa is heading into our busy year-end community events with two upcoming Sporting Events: The Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) Fall Games Championships and the Southern Pacific Masters Swimming (SPMS) Short Course Meters Championships.
The Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) Fall Games Championship will take place on November 16 and 17, 2024 at Fountain Valley Sports Park. The event features hundreds of athletes and coaches from across Southern California competing in golf, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball.
US Masters Swimming host athletes of all ages and abilities. The SPMS Championships is a 3-day event for swimmers 18 and up the first weekend in December. World records are historically set during this exciting meet. CalCopa has been part of these championships for over 15 years.
CalCopa provides both pre and post-event massages for all the athletes to help enhance their performance, prevent injuries and speed up recovery.
Pre-event massage – Given 2 days to mere minutes before the competition to activate the sympathetic (Fight or Flight) nervous system.
Helps athletes prepare for competition by:
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- Warming up muscles
- Increasing blood flow to muscles
- Improving flexibility and range of motion
- Reducing muscle tension
- Pre-event massage uses specific strokes to loosen soft tissue and increase blood flow to the muscles. No oils or lotions are used to allow the athletes to sweat. Although deeper pressure may be used, no deep tissue (therapeutic) work is performed during pre-event massage.
Post-event massage – up to 2 days after the competition is all about flushing out lactic acid built up in the muscles.
Helps athletes recover after competition by:
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- Reducing soreness and fatigue
- Speeding up recovery time
- Releasing tension
- Promoting the body’s natural healing processes
- Post-event massage uses long strokes to calm muscles and nerves and flush blood and lymph from the muscles and bring fresh oxygenated blood into the tissue. Lubrication may be incorporated if the athlete has completed all events. Just as with pre-event, deep pressure may be used, but no deep tissue work is performed until two days after competition to avoid any microtrauma to the muscles.
Learn more about Sports Massage and working with athletes of all levels at CalCopa Massage School.
