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RUNNING: Massage can complement training
Category: Running & Marathons
Jul 21, 2006
Marathon runners should consider massage as a regular part of their training regimen, especially when moving into high-mileage weeks.
If you are preparing for the Detroit Free Press Flagstar Bank Marathon, and you've never gone to a massage therapist, now would be a good time to look for one. Other runners are often a reliable source for finding one that might be right for you.
Trial and error is often the best way of finding a good match. Reputable therapists usually have web sites. Also, a massage therapist who isn't solving your problem should be open-minded enough to recommend someone else. Remember, you are paying the therapist to help you reach your goals.
How often you schedule a massage may depend on your time, budget or a specific event coming up.
Many marathons offer massage at the expo and at the finish line. Sometimes this service is free, and runners should take advantage of the opportunity. Many of these therapists are working toward their license and need to put in a certain number of hours. Since you will be working with someone new, just make sure that they don't work too deep into your muscle tissue.
Preventing injury is the foremost reason for going to a massage therapist. As marathoners increase their miles, or do speed work or weights, their muscles get sore and will break down and swell.
A good massage will flush out the lactic acid that is created while running. It helps reduce swelling, allowing muscles to heal faster, and it provides increased flexibility that can improve a runner's performance.
Stephanie Cohen of Body Works Healing Center in Plymouth, who works with Olympic triathlete Sheila Taormina, talked about the process.
"Runners often come in with hip, glute and psoas muscle issues," Cohen said. (Psoas is a deep muscle on the anterior of the lower spine). "I've worked on shin splints, which is a muscle pull. The muscle grabs whatever it needs to heal itself. A good massage therapist will smooth the muscles out and keep them from forming a lot of scar tissue.