Self massage has become a popular recovery technique. So, how exactly does it work?
Massage is one of the oldest types of recovery treatments, and it has become a staple for treating orthopedic and sports injuries. Over the past two decades, methods of self-massage have emerged as a means for athletes to treat aches, pains and injuries at home.
By definition, self massage is the do-it-yourself version of tissue mobilization: using the hands, but more often than not, a tool of some sort, to work through stiff and sore tissue. And like most things DIY, self massage, while convenient and more cost-effective, is often more painful and less precise than professional massage therapy. A knowledgeable, skilled massage therapist can more effectively find restrictions in soft tissue, and release them with more precision (and often less pain). However, the myriad of self-massage tools out there can help runners with the smaller day-to-day management of stiffness, aches and pains that come with the daily run.
Muscle Breakdown
Within a single muscle there are millions of microscopic fibers, and, when used heavily, a small percentage of these weaker fibers are destroyed. As a response to this micro-trauma, the body responds by not only repairing and replacing those fibers, but also increasing the total number of fibers within the muscle. This process also occurs with tendons, ligaments and fascia—protective and connective tissues between muscles and bones. It is how we develop strength during exercise.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
You Cannot Erase us
Over the years and through thousands of miles of running, I have thought about the words that marked the beginning of colonialism on the land and the end of Indigenous sovereignty.
Inside The Adaptable Mind
How Courtney Dauwalter uses adaptability to stay cool, calm and collected when the going gets tough.
Take it Easy
How to stay at aerobic pace when you live in the hills
Here Comes the Sun
Where pessimism meets its match
Connecting the Dots
How Laura Cortez uses her passion for trails to build community.
Carbohydrate Confusion
When it comes to food and nutrition, we tend to overcomplicate things. Eat this, not that. Run fasted, restrict sugar. Unfortunately, much of the controversy stems from observations and sensationalized media headlines vs. actual data, leaving the consumer more confused from their Google search than they were before.
This Wild Life
ONE MAN’S 92-MILE RUN OF GRIEF AND SELF-DISCOVERY.
Our Town
Trail running is all about the community it fosters and the beauty and diversity within the community. Here’s a look at seven places, and the faces that call them home.
Fueling for Females
Here’s how female runners can use recent research findings for performance breakthroughs
Lose Weight with a Shake
Being a health and nutrition correspondent means that companies frequently send me their products, and ask for my stamp of approval.
