Post-Marathon Massage

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Trevor Chisman on October 12, 2009 at 3:03pm

Hi

Most runners I see tend to be 10K and 1/2 marathon runners rather than full distance marathon runners.

The same as you, I have found great success working a day or so after the event and with a similar treatment pattern as you have described.
I also like using the broad effect of the ulna boarder especially over the quads. I often find Fix (or Pin) and Stretch works quite well in the hamstrings post event, and I do find I need to be careful with the calfs as they are easy to overwork post event, but that could just be me!

I usually finish off with a 5 to 10 minute ROM type passive stretching routine adapted from Thai massage which everyone seems to love and is great for freeing up the hips.

Permalink Reply by Larry Warnock on October 12, 2009 at 9:30pm

I agree with Earl. I have been doing 30 minute post-event massages for years. Working with Boston marathon participants and the Tufts President's Marathon. My experience suggests that deep tissue or heavy work is counter-productive. The runner is still too limited by the shock to the system by the long run.

As an aside...I am not a believer in deep tissue. I think it is a result of the "no pain-nogain" syndrome. If it doesn't hurt, how could it be helping me. When someone experienes bruising and pain for several days hence...there is definitely something wrong with this. A bruise is the result of bleeding...right? How could that be helpful for an athlete especially. Now the bruise has to heal, creating scar tissue, etc.

Permalink Reply by Lisa on October 20, 2009 at 11:49am

i have just finished working on a guy who did a 24hr moutain bike race. he let me know ahead of time that EVERYTHING hurt. :) he wanted to come in the day after the race but i suggested he let his body do some natural recovery...and remarked on that suggestion today saying he DID feel a lot better today than yesterday.

i do a lot of petrissage on the gluts and pay close attention to the attachment sites from gluts to hamstrings, as well as the IT band.

one thing i LOVE to incorporate in my massage is a heating pad placed on upper back while i work gluts and legs, placed on gluts when i work back. i find the heating pad helps to soften the tissue for ME as well as gives the client a feeling of extra special attention. currently i'm only using one of the bean bag type pads so the heat doesn't last the entire session. but one of these days i'd like to invest in one of the proper hydro heating pad contrapments (how's that for an official name of something) :(

Permalink Reply by Steve - Maryland L.M.T. on January 27, 2010 at 6:41pm

I know I'm late to the party . . . .

This is more advice that you can give to your clients -- they should ice down their legs as soon as they can.

There is a marathon in Duluth, MN every June that finishes on the shore of Lake Superior. Experienced runners take their shoes off after the race, wade into the water up to their hips and stay there as long as they can stand it. The cold water causes blood vessels to constrict, forcing lactic acid and excess fluid out of the legs like squeezing a toothpaste tube, and heading off some of the inevitable inflammation. Clients who tried it were amazed at how much it reduced the pain and stiffness the next day.

If there isn't a handy cold-water lake nearby, suggest that your client sit in a tub filled with cold water from the tap as soon as possible after the race. Yes, it's no fun sitting in 50 degree water. But it's a heck of a lot less unpleasant than several days of debilitating DOMS.

Permalink Reply by Jason Erickson on September 8, 2010 at 2:29am

I have done sports massage at Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, MN since 2007. The first few years I volunteered in the massage tent near the finish line. It's a 10-15 minute treatment for as many runners as possible, as soon after the race as possible, completely free of charge. Most of the MTs in the tent are inexperienced and rely on very basic effleurage, petrissage, and passive stretching.

Since 2009 I have worked with the elite runners invited to compete in the marathon and half marathon events. These services are paid for by the marathon, provided as an incentive to keep the top runners happy and returning each year. I'm part of a 2-man team working in the hotel that most of the elite runners stay at. We do 20-minute sessions, focusing primarily on Active Isolated Stretching. Pre-event, this is extremely effective at helping them prepare for a fast performance. Post-event, it dramatically improves recovery. Many of the top runners are now in the habit of paying for extra time, or return several times during the days we are available.

It is rare that we utilize basic effleurage, petrissage, or any static stretching. However, positional release is sometimes helpful.

Steve Traylor said:

I know I'm late to the party . . . .

This is more advice that you can give to your clients -- they should ice down their legs as soon as they can.

There is a marathon in Duluth, MN every June that finishes on the shore of Lake Superior. Experienced runners take their shoes off after the race, wade into the water up to their hips and stay there as long as they can stand it. The cold water causes blood vessels to constrict, forcing lactic acid and excess fluid out of the legs like squeezing a toothpaste tube, and heading off some of the inevitable inflammation. Clients who tried it were amazed at how much it reduced the pain and stiffness the next day.

If there isn't a handy cold-water lake nearby, suggest that your client sit in a tub filled with cold water from the tap as soon as possible after the race. Yes, it's no fun sitting in 50 degree water. But it's a heck of a lot less unpleasant than several days of debilitating DOMS.