The Rise of Massage In The Recovery From Exercise (Guest Blog Post)

This is a guest blog post by Tiffany Foskett - a massage therapist who has a wealth of experience in the industry and has worked with both athletes and the general population. For more details check her bio at the end of the post.

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Deep tissue massage? Isn’t that just for elite athletes?

Why would I need to get one? I just do my hour work out and I’m done.

If I had a dollar for every time I’d heard these type of comments from people, I think I could’ve paid off my house by now! Though, in the 13 years that I’ve been a massage therapist, I’d have to say the last couple of years have seen more and more people change their perception towards deep tissue massage to the extent that many now make it part of their exercise routine. Whether it’s because there’s more education out there on the effects of massage, or because Tom down the road swears by his weekly massage keeping him injury free, I don’t know. But, whatever the reason, people do appear to be investing into their bodies more through exercising, and they also seem to realise that, to continue doing it on a regular basis, they need more than just a two-minute stretch at the end of their session.

So, what happens to our body when we exercise and how can we stay strong and build endurance? As we exercise our muscles release toxins like lactic acid. These toxins are the cause of our muscles feeling stiff and sore after exercise. In this state, it’s pretty hard to exercise efficiently. If we decide to push our bodies to exercise through this state – like plenty of my clients who think they are capable to do back-to-back sessions after years of inactivity – our bodies become vulnerable to injuries. We can combat the effects of exercise and aid in the recovery in several different ways, like stretching, icing, or even running ourselves an epsom salts bath. But the therapy that has becoming a hot topic among exercising groups is deep tissue massage.

Massage therapy is a treatment that has been around for thousands of years, so you would think we would all know the benefits by now. But, in what I have noticed, it seems that it’s only in the last few years that active people have come to understand massage and start experiencing the positive effects it has. These effects extend beyond muscle soreness and fatigue as massage can also have a huge positive impact on an athlete’s mental well-being. Massage is now becoming an important aspect to active people’s lives, just like exercise itself.

But what happens to the body when we get a deep tissue massage after putting our bodies through the hard yards of exercising? If we take the plunge and include deep tissue massage in our fitness regime we will experience our muscle fibres being restored to normal alignment, which gives us a better range of motion and flexibility. Deep tissue massage also aids in the removal of toxins (like that nasty lactic acid) and helps the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to muscles, making for a quicker recovery and allowing the body to bounce back sooner so we can return to exercise at 100%. I have seen first-hand the results of what these physiological effects of massage have on not only top athletes but also those wanting to complete their first half marathon, or those wanting to pass the exercise test to get in to Police College.  

As a massage therapist it is exciting seeing people investing in their bodies and choosing to challenge themselves with exercise. It is even more exciting that they now understand the need to recover properly in order to continue exercising effectively and are making massage a therapy of choice amongst their recovery options.  

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Along with athletes, Tiffany also works with office-workers and other professionals, who often need help with posture improvement and managing wellness in the workplace.  Tiffany enjoys getting to know her clients and developing a deep understanding of their health needs. She says her experience as a massage therapist have brought richness to her personal life as well. “Massage teaches you that everyone has a story and not to judge people too quickly.”

To get in touch with Tiffany head to www.functionalbodyworks.co.nz.