How can Sports Massage help Runners?

I may be biased but I believe sports massage should be part of every runner’s training program.  Sports massage offers runners three benefits

  • Performance enhancement
  • Injury Prevention
  • Injury Rehabilitation

Performance enhancement

Tight muscles can have poor circulation and get inhibited.  Inflexibility linked to muscle tightness can problems with movement patters and/or lack of strength, which can prohibit efficient training and performance.

Injury Prevention

Tightness can be a cause of muscle strains.  Chronic tightness can cause inflammation resulting in

  • Back and shoulder problems
  • ITB syndrome
  • Shin splints
  • Achilles problems
  • Plantar fasciitis

Injury Rehabilitation

Scar tissue which will develop as the injured muscle heals.  Scar tissue causes pain and limits a runners range for motion.  When sports massage is teamed with other medical intervention, it provides a faster recovery by breaking down scar tissue.

 

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