Massage as a training tool
Jun3
All throughout my training career, I have been in favour of a regular massage. Not just because it feels great of course although that is a good enough starting point.
Typically when you exercise, you actually will cause changes in your body over time. That’s the idea, right? You want to lose weight – for that you need to get leaner, increase your metabolism and increase your muscle mass. So you get on a bike, or out on a run and you push yourself . Which in turn means your muscles tire, particularly in the beginning, as they work in ways they did not before. So imagine what happens if you get a piece of elastic and pull on it a thousand times or more. It stretches, but it also wears out eventually, as the fibres get miniscule little tears. Eventually the elastic won’t be so elastic anymore. Now don’t think it is quite as bad with your muscles, we at least have the ability to build new fibres as we train, which is in effect what happens after you do weight training. Resulting in nice firm biceps, or quads or other muscle groups.
Massage though can help you by keeping all those older and newer fibres nice and loose and flexible. If you don’t, ultimately your muscle might develop a weak area around one of those miniscule tears, that might then become a more noticeable harder spot then the surrounding muscle. And then that area can tear again as it cannot stretch as far as the rest – and so you enter a vicious circle.
One way to find good masseurs that I recommend is always finding out the professional Affiliation in the country or area you are in to find qualified Masseurs. Whilst a great masseur can send you to sleep, a bad one can send you right up to the ceiling!
If you can afford the time and the money, get at least one Sports Massage a month. And if you want me to write a note to your loving partner that yes, you really do need that massage – just let me know!
Some masseurs that I know are wonderful : (I’ll add others in future!).
Mike Denny – recently moved to Boulder, you lucky folk! One of the best I have encountered. Mike can be reached on phone number: +1 312 259 6508 and email address: tetragram@hotmail.com
Nando Chirino – Amsterdam, Trainer & Sports Masseur.
mobile: +31 620 462 661, email: nando@1-2-1-trainers.com
Justin Paul – London, UK
listed in http://www.apnt.org/London.htm – Contact: +44 709 289 4942
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6:05 am on June 24th, 2009
Just to share: After training your (lower) back is is really nice to get a connective tissue massage. The next workout you will feel the difference.
2:42 pm on June 24th, 2009
I enjoyed your article on massage, especially the reference to the elastic fiber. If you don’t mind, I can add to your explanation a bit.
The strands of muscle that eventually tear due to strain will repair themselves in time. The problem lies in how the muscle repairs itself. As I’m sure you know, every muscle has it’s own “compartment” within a muscle group. So to allow for smooth movement from the muscle during flexion and contraction. When the muscle tears, the body will attempt to heal this area by laying down new collagen to create a bridge in the area of the tear. This happens haphazardly, so the collagen fibers will not typically line up with the muscle fibers. Not only that, but, they will also bind to surrounding muscle fibers creating adhesions. As you can imagine, it’s a downward spiral from this point.
The adhesions begin to heal and convert to fascia, in the process they choke out arterial as well as nervous flow. This causes that ever so familiar little dull pain. The pain, grouped with the change in dynamic of the muscle, together with posture, will cause a cascade of imbalances though out the body. The severity of this effect, of course, depends upon the severity of the original injury.
With all of that said;) Regular preventative massage is the key. If a tear of that nature is attended to immediately, then you kill it at its source. The massage will flush the area which will aid in the movement of the new collagen as well as prevent the onset of adhesions. No more downward spiral, no more pain, and you can go back outside and play:)
2:00 pm on June 25th, 2009
Thanks for your contribution Mike! Excellent info…