Runners – and any athlete, for that matter – well know the frustrating disappointment when a good training week is rudely interrupted by some new ache or pain. The repetitive motions that athletes put their bodies through inevitably take a toll. Back pain, joint stiffness, shin splints: all injuries that put a definite damper on any athletics. Whether due to muscle tightness, joint pain, or limited range of motion, pain relief massage can be a powerful tool in addressing such injuries. With the ability to target specific muscle and joint issues, pain relief massage allows sports injury sufferers to seek relief and recovery.
Running Injury Relief
Repetitive motion is a recipe for injury for many athletes, but for runners in particular, the constant pounding of feet against floor often leads to an array of joint and muscle pain. Runners are in constant contention with muscle tightness and soreness, which can be facilitated by the fascia, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Fascia, a surrounding of connective tissue around each organ and muscle in the body, tightens when under physical stress, limiting mobility and increasing pain. Through connective tissue therapy, the fascia is carefully softened and tension is released, in most cases increasing mobility and decreasing muscle pain. For running injuries, this can make a world of difference.
For injuries reaching deeper than the fascia, professional pain relief massage remains an enticing option. Shin splints, for example, can easily become a persistent, pesky problem. Self-massage and icing can only do so much, and often, professional techniques including deep tissue sculpting and neuromuscular therapy are a more effective option. These techniques can provide pain relief and restore fuller function both in the short term and long term.
No matter what level of runner, from casual joggers to high school athletes to serious marathoners, injury prevention and recovery have to be a priority.
How Pain Relief Massage Stacks Up
Of course, every person and every injury is different, and thus, every injury recovery solution varies. But pain relief massage has gained popularity as an injury recovery solution for many reasons – and more often than not, is worth a shot at addressing a wide variety of injuries.
The impact of massage on pain relief, according to a 2016 study which analyzed cases spanning 1999 to 2013, is mostly positive. Its results strongly recommend pain relief massage as a better alternative to no action, as well as recommending it even over active comparators including joint manipulation, physical therapy, and acupuncture. The study also observed notable increases in mobility following massage therapy sessions as compared to other alternatives. This is important to note because increased mobility can also help decrease risk of injury in the future.
With very few risk factors, pain relief massage allows its clients to release psychological tension alongside physical tension. And as any athlete knows, the mental game is often just as important as the physical one. Mental and physical health work in tandem to maintain health and wellness, so the fact that pain relief massage has been shown to improve both simultaneously can be a serious advantage.
Why Try Pain Relief Massage?
Massage is a new avenue for pain relief, having gained legitimacy in the medical and athletic community as a practical tool for injury recovery. And the growth in massage therapy clients over the past decade is a testament itself to the method’s efficacy.
From soft-tissue injuries like strains, sprains, and tendonitis, to fascial tension to any other muscle and joint pain, pain relief massage offers unparalleled relief from sports injuries with a variety of techniques designed to release tension and target issues specific to that person. It can be an effective route to injury recovery and in turn, an effective route to become a healthier, happier athlete and person.
