Great North Run
August 16, 2018
With the Great North Run only a few weeks away, our runners should be approaching peak mileage, gradually tapering their sessions towards in the last week in order to rest up for the big day!
The accumulated miles can take a toll on our bodies, especially the legs and lower back, so it is absolutely essential that our runners are taking the time to rest and recover. With that being said, our runners often use sports massage to help facilitate muscle recovery and ultimately reduce the risk of repetitive strain injuries that can be niggly or even take us out of competition; not to mention helping to relieve stress of everyday life! Have a read below on the therapeutic benefits of Massage.
Benefits of Massage
In recent years, massage has become an important topic in complementary and alternative medicine. Studies of the benefits of massage demonstrate that it is an effective treatment for reducing stress, pain, and muscle tension. Furthermore, studies have shown that massage may be helpful for anxiety, digestive disorders, Fibromyalgia, headaches, Myofascial Pain Syndrome, soft tissue strains or injuries and sports injuries – and that is just to name a few!
Sports massage is a type of massage that can help alleviate pain occurring in specific parts of the body, which can be caused by too much physical activity or day to day strains. This type of massage was originally developed to help athletes as a way to prevent and relieve injuries. However, it is equally as important for both athletes and non-athletes to receive regular treatment, to gain the physiological and psychological benefits.
One term that you may have heard is “I’ve got DOMS”, Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness – is a common reason why someone will book into have a sports massage. DOMS typically manifests 12-24 hours after exercise and can produce the most pain and discomfort at 24-72 hours post exercise. Sports massage is a great way to prevent DOMS as it encourages blood and lymph flow throughout the body, preventing muscle fatigue.
Stress and Pain Reduction – This is probably the most common reason someone will book an appointment for a massage as can help a person manage stress. When a person receives a sports massage, their body releases neurotransmitters called endorphins. According to research, endorphins are released by two centres of the brain. These centres are the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus. Acting as the body’s natural pain reliever, the endorphins that are released helping to decrease anxiety, provide pain relief, improve mood, and improve a person’s overall wellbeing.
We hope that this helps, and see you at the finish line!
Physiotherapy Matters is offering:
20% discount on Physiotherapy Initial Assessments
20% off a Sports Massage
Block Bookings 6 for the price of 5
1 Free Trial of Any Exercise Class (Pilates, HITT Training, or Kick-Boxing)
Why not call us now and speak to one of our expert physiotherapists for free advice with no obligation: Call 0333 2200 238