| Long ago massage therapy was synonymous | | | | back in the game with little interruption. The |
| with pampering, where a person (often a woman) | | | | previously mentioned runner comes in on the day |
| who wanted to splurge a little went to a local | | | | before his running event for 30 minutes of a fast |
| masseuse to get a rub down to help feel relaxed | | | | passed massage that leaves the therapist feeling |
| or a little spoiled. The music would be soft, light | | | | like they themselves were in an athletic event. |
| and fluffy. Scented candles would burn in the | | | | The runner's treatment focuses on the part of |
| background to mentally transport the recipient to | | | | the body that he will be using most and adds a |
| another realm of calmness. Frequently in a spa or | | | | few more parts of the body for good measure. |
| a private practice similar to a spa, the goal was to | | | | Included in this massage are stretches to the |
| help a person feel extra special or enjoy the | | | | muscles that will be most active such as the |
| luxury. The therapist of this business was trained | | | | quads, gluts and hamstring group. A few days |
| mostly in relaxation massage and as such would | | | | after each event he comes in for a 60-minute |
| concentrate on helping the person remain at | | | | recovery massage that is slow and gentle to help |
| peace. These massage institutions still abound, but | | | | his body heal itself and get ready for the coming |
| massage therapy clinics are becoming much more | | | | weeks of training. There is no stretching in this |
| popular. In contrast to the spa, these massage | | | | type of massage and it is similar to a regular |
| therapy clinics are often visited by men who are | | | | relaxation massage. Together these two |
| not looking for relaxation as much as they are for | | | | massages have given this weekend athlete the |
| helping their bodies recover from or prepare for a | | | | edge to beat the competition. |
| sports event. | | | | Another appealing aspect to the male athlete is |
| A week ago a gentleman came into our office | | | | injury recovery. One of the most frustrating |
| seeking help with some leg and back pain that he | | | | effects of injury is being unable to train. You |
| was having while running. He said that he was | | | | spend months training only to be sidetracked by |
| training for the Marine Corps Marathon and that | | | | an injury. Along with appropriate recovery models, |
| he wanted to improve his chance for a successful | | | | massage can significantly decrease the healing |
| placement in the race. Considering his build, he | | | | time by enhancing circulation to the affected part |
| was obviously athletic and knowledgeable of the | | | | of the body and helping break any scar tissue |
| ways to improve his performance through | | | | that may impede proper healing. |
| training. Normally it would be a routine problem | | | | So by now you may be asking yourself, "Where |
| that I have helped solve many times, but what | | | | do I seek out this special type of massage?" |
| struck me as odd was that he was a man | | | | More than likely you will have to do a little |
| receiving massage not for relaxation but for | | | | homework because spas generally do not offer |
| performance enhancement. His being a male | | | | sports enhancement services. The best place is to |
| seeking massage was stranger still. This uncanny | | | | look in your phone book for a massage or athletic |
| occurrence has been happening all too often for it | | | | performance clinic. Look for "sports massage" and |
| to be mere coincidence. | | | | call a few places to get a good idea of what type |
| Last month a top-rated male amateur bike rider | | | | of therapist you are looking for. Ask what types |
| was in the thick of his season and visited the | | | | of sports the therapist is familiar with. As varied |
| office every week at least once, sometimes | | | | as sports are in this world, there are just as |
| twice, without fail. Though the connection is not | | | | many types of sports massage therapists. For |
| definite, after adding massage to his regular | | | | example a massage therapist familiar with the |
| training regiment his frequency of wins increased. | | | | action of the body in swimming knows what |
| Massage is starting to be understood as a safe | | | | muscles are most taxed, and as such can design |
| and effective way to help athletes perform | | | | a program to hone in on these muscles. |
| better and recover faster so that they can get | | | | |