| With ten years of Massage Therapy experience | | | | they have already started to feel the effects of |
| and being the sole owner of Cassidy's Massage | | | | an existing injury. The medical term for this (for |
| Clinic since 2003, I have been fortunate enough to | | | | those who are unaware) is |
| build some great relationships with clients in | | | | "not-getting-massage-at-the-right-time-itis," or, |
| tri-athalons and other sports. This has given me | | | | inflammation as a result of not getting a massage |
| the opportunity to understand the inner workings | | | | at the proper time. All joking aside, in this situation, |
| of the athletic mind and body. Although I | | | | massage will decrease recovery time and get you |
| personally have been maintaining the "recreational | | | | back on schedule. |
| tri-athlete" title, I find myself getting increasingly | | | | So, when should you plan your intra-event |
| involved in the sport. My experience has proven | | | | massage? Get your pens ready because this is |
| that the proper scheduling and type of massage | | | | very important. You should plan your intra-event |
| therapy not only decreases recovery time, but | | | | sports massage the day before or on your day |
| can be the deciding factor between a successful | | | | off. If you have a coach(which is not necessary |
| season and sitting injured on the sidelines. | | | | for a recreational tri-athlete), talk with him/her |
| So how can you implement a proper massage | | | | about implementing massage into your training |
| modality and schedule that corresponds to your | | | | schedule. However, I am not a coaching expert ... |
| training? | | | | just a massage expert, so it is best to work with |
| There are four main types of sport massage: | | | | someone you feel comfortable with and someone |
| pre-event, intra-event/training, post-event, and | | | | that is helping you achieve your desired results. |
| injury rehabilitation massage. | | | | Post-event massage is given directly after the |
| Pre-event massages are given directly before an | | | | event, and is very effective in decreasing DOMS |
| athletic event, or for our sake, within 72 hours of | | | | (delayed onset muscle soreness), or soreness you |
| a triathlon. They should be circulatory in nature; | | | | feel after pushing your body to the limit. It, like |
| stimulating blood flow, opening up/increasing your | | | | the pre-event massage, is circulatory in nature, |
| range of motion, and helping the muscles get | | | | with focus on the lower extremities or specific |
| ready to fire. Assisting at races such as the | | | | trigger points that your therapist finds in spasm. |
| Xterras and the Koz Enterprises race Series in | | | | The decreased recovery time will allow you to |
| San Diego , I have also found that mental | | | | return to your training schedule sooner and more |
| relaxation is also a very beneficial component of | | | | refreshed. |
| the pre-event sports massage. It will calm the | | | | Injury rehabilitation massage is the massage that |
| excitement and nervousness associated with | | | | we all wish we will have no need for. I would |
| being at the event, allowing for your stored | | | | much prefer working proactively than |
| energy to be used more efficiently. When you go | | | | retroactively with an athlete. However, we do |
| to perform, you will be focused. It is absolutely | | | | have the bodywork tools to help athletes free |
| critical that the therapist does not apply any deep | | | | themselves from nagging injuries and get them |
| tissue techniques, as it tends to leave the muscles | | | | back in training condition. For those that have not |
| sore and feeling heavy, which would impair the | | | | received this type of massage, please note that |
| ability of your muscles to fire efficiently. | | | | this type of massage does not feel relaxing. |
| Intra-event/Training massage is the most | | | | Injury Rehabilitation massage tends to be applied |
| common form of massage for triathletes. Regular | | | | to the area around the injury. Please avoid this |
| treatments, when performed by a skilled sports | | | | massage if possible by implementing more |
| massage therapist, can eliminate any chance of | | | | intra-event massage. I will go over injury-specific |
| chronic or over-use injuries. Unfortunately, we | | | | massages in future posts. |
| usually have athletes come in for a massage after | | | | |