What Every Runner Should Know

As a runner we continually stress our muscles often causing Micro- tears within the muscle fibers as well as a build up of Lactic acid / waste products. Your Muscles need oxygen to function properly and efficiently, nutrients such as amino acids to repair damaged muscle fibers and lymphatic fluid carry waste away from the muscles. Oxygen, nutrients and lymphatic fluid are transported through your body via the blood stream.

Massage Therapy markedly increases your body’s recovery rate by increasing blood flow within your circulatory system so Oxygen arrives faster to the area in need. Amino acids are delivered quickly and the waste products get moved rapidly away from the muscles.

Runner’s muscles are contracted in a relatively shortened range of motion for long periods of time. These tight muscles cause extra strain to be placed on tendons and may result in common injuries like Plantar Fasciitis, Achilles Tendentious, Iliotibial Band Syndrome and Shine Splints. Adhesions that form within the fascial connective tissue surrounding muscle fibers can also cause tightness.

Massage breaks up adhesions as well as broadens and lengthens muscle fibers. Freeing up fascia in and around muscles and creating length within muscles which helps prevent injury because it reduces the stain placed on the tendons. Staying healthy and preventing injury threw Massage lead to improved athletic performance increasing range of motion in the hip, knee and ankle joints by releasing and lengthening leg muscles through Massage can increase stride length, which will, in- turn increase running speed and thus improve performance. Weather you run for stress relief, pure enjoyment or in competition, Massage Therapy can be extremely beneficial and will improve athletic performance.

Plantar Fasciitis pain, occurs on the bottom of the foot because of tight fascia. A sharp pain occurs at the base of the heal and some times the arch. Place both golf ball and or frozen water bottle on the floor and roll the bottom side of your foot back and forth over your Massage tool. Go easy at first and realize this will feel uncomfortable at first because you are breaking up adhesions, so be patient and go easy.