The Benefits of Sports Massage for Runners

‘Is running, just about running?’ Make sure Sports Massage is part of your training programme.

Most of us know we need to do strength work and stretch to improve our running, but we should be scheduling regular sports massage to keep on tiptop form.

The importance of sports massage for runners

Most people think of running as a leg workout, but it actually engages the whole lower-body as well as being highly dependent on the spine and abdominal muscles to stabilise the pelvis. The quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, hip flexors and calves must all work in harmony to avoid tightness, pain and possible injury.  But as the legs can only work as fast as the arms, the upper body does a lot of work too and can tense up if not paid attention to.  Strengthening core muscles will also benefit your running gait and ensure you use energy more efficiently.

Sports massage at Lilliput Health which serves Poole and Bournemouth in Dorset, can help runners recover efficiently and effectively reduce muscle soreness.  Sports Massage should be treated as part of any runners training programme – in the same way as strength work, stretching, hydration and diet.  Sports massage stretches and lengthens muscles, making them more pliable, it also helps remove tension from connective tissue/fascia, easing movement and improving flexibility.  Sports massage allows fresh, oxygenated blood and nutrients to be drawn to the muscles and encourages the transfer of waste products from the muscles to the blood to be expelled from the body and thereby helping avoid tightness and pain.  Therefore, over time, regular massage will help break down scar tissue, increasing joint flexibility and maintaining optimal running gait.

Sports Massage can also help prevent some of the common injuries that may occur in runners from muscle tension.  And importantly, it promotes the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, which help reduce muscle soreness and help keep you calm.