I recently saw a quote on Runners World and it really struck a chord. Keep a machine in a good working order and it will serve you well. If you are a runner you will know how frustrating it can be if you become injured. On many occasions an injury is no fault of the runner but for some, the ‘machine’ could’ve been taken care of a little better. Did you know that regular sports massage can play a pivotal role in the training of runners and athletes of all abilities?

Sports massage is proven to be effective in the recovery from hard work and hard play. Using a hands on approach, there are a large number of benefits to having a sports massage. Increasing blood flow, aiding in drainage of toxins, mobilisation and stretching will leave you feeling all the better for it.

During your training sports massage can target specific areas of the body that have become painful or tight. The aim of a sports massage would be to loosen those tight areas. Your sports therapist may use a number of different techniques such as deep tissue massage, trigger point therapy, strengthening and stretching.

Sports Massage can also be used to treat soft tissue injuries. Depending on the injury, sports massage can help to reduce your recovery time and get your ‘machine’ back into good working order.

We have many runners that ask us about pre and post-race sports massage, should they or shouldn’t they. We had a queue around the block when we attended the three stages of the Tour of Tameside offering pre and post-race sports massage! Our sports therapists agree that it can be beneficial. A pre-race massage prepares the muscles and joints for the race and helps to prevent injuries. Post-race massage eases those tired and weary tissues and can help to prevent delayed onset muscle soreness.

There are many different techniques used during a sports massage and there is a common misconception that a sports massage has to be painful or it is not working. It can be tender when working on a particularly tight spot or area but you shouldn’t leave a massage in pain. Your therapist may use light pressure to release muscle tension and increase blood flow after a particularly strenuous training session. Although light, it is still effective. If your sports massage has left your legs feeling dead the next day, don’t worry that is normal. Your legs are going to work just as they did before – it can take time to recover. We would recommend informing your sports therapist of your training schedule and the dates of any races that you have coming up so that he / she can advise when to have a sports massage.

Many patients at the clinic report feeling like a new person after a sports massage. They feel relaxed and refreshed and have had a good chinwag with the sports therapist!

Sports massage can help to keep your ‘machine’ in good working order so that you get the best out of it. The sports therapy team at Davenport House Clinic have a wide range of knowledge and expertise and see runners from the beginner to the elite. Don’t forget if we’ve not seen you before it’s just £20.00 for your first one hour appointment.

By | 2018-01-22T14:51:39+00:00 February 19th, 2016|Blog|0 Comments