Wednesday Resources: Finding the Right Massage Therapist
I have a good friend who has made me completely gun shy when it comes to sports massage. She went to a sports massage therapist and left with an injury that prevented her from training for weeks due to incorrect practice. Aside from feeling awful for her, I was terrified to go for a massage and was worried it would happen to me.
When I say massage, I am not talking about soothing music and heated rocks, in fact, the massages I prefer would be better accompanied with heavy metal music and spikes. Luckily for me, my massage therapist is able to release my muscle knots and deep flexors without this, but I will always prefer deep tissue massages over relaxation.
As I mentioned in my other post, I am struggling with a bit of a calf issue so I am pulling out all the stops this week. This week, I braved my fears of massage therapists and headed to a trusted masseuse at Goodlife Fitness who has done WONDERS for me in the past.
Earlier that day, I visited my coach and physiotherapist where he proceeded to stick me with 4 inch needles to release my soleus which is the offending muscle in my calf issue. It sounds like it will be good to go in a couple weeks, but until then, I will be picking around it and being cautious in workouts.
I booked my massage right after work and I was looking forward to it all day.
Here is why I love my massage therapist:
- She sits down with me before the massage and asks about training, injuries and any additional treatments I have had recently. I know this sounds intuitive but I have had massage therapists who have not done this.
- She then walks through exactly what she is planning on doing and confirms that it is ok with me.
- She talks me through what she is doing, rather than just making small talk. She tells me what specific muscle she is working on and how she is working on it.
- She uses cool tools to get deeper into my muscles.
- She discusses which muscles were tight, which ones are loose and exercises to change this.
- She shows me how to self-massage my tight areas so I can stay healthy when I am not able to book in.
Finding the right massage therapist is so important to make sure that you remain injury-free and if you are injured, to recover as quickly as possible. Another thing I love about my massage set up is I can sit in the sauna after my massage or do a low-impact workout, which I did last evening.
Can’t make it to a massage therapist? I love the foam roller, the stick or a lacrosse ball to release tight muscles!
Wednesday Resources:
How Massage Therapy Compliments your Workout – Goodlife Fitness
Foam Roll to Relieve Muscle Pain – Greatist
How Can I Find the Right Massage Therapist? – University of Minnesota
What do you look for in a massage therapist?
Do you go for regular massages?
That darn soleus! I’ve got calf issues as well and might have dry needling next week. I do have a great RMT who got me through marathon training last year. Now I’ve added a PT to “my team” as well.
Dry needling hurts SO bad but it is so effective. I really need to add a PT to grow these baby muscles.
Finding a good massage therapist isn’t always easy but it’s worth the look. I like one who asks me about my training and gives me recommendations for home too.
The recommendations for home are so important because I find that if I don’t receive them, I am more likely to get injured.
Oh my goodness, do I ever miss regular massages! I’ve found that since training for triathlons I’m not nearly as sore after workouts as I was back when just running, but there are some days when I’d do anything for someone to give my muscles a good squish. As soon as my medical benefits kick in I’ll be all over that, but until then, my Rumbleroller is my masseuse!
Rumbleroller is King! But seriously, triathlon training is such a great way to make sure you are working different muscles instead of pounding the same ones every day. You are a smart lady!