Triathlon is a demanding sport involving repetitive motions over a long period of time. This leaves the body vulnerable to specific overuse problems. Regular sports massage should form part of your training plan. Common injuries that can occur during triathlon training and racing are iliotibial band syndrome (runners knee), Achilles tendinitis/tendinopathy, calf and hamstring strains, plantar fasciitis, ankle sprains and lower back pain. Triathlon places the body under mechanical, muscular, and mental stress.
Sports massage plays a crucial preventive role: don’t wait until you have an injury – this is about keeping muscles flexible and supple in the first place, minimising joint and muscle stiffness so you can work your muscles harder in training sessions and races. Maintenance massages are great to maintain tissue health and assist with recovery, prevent injury and ensure muscles are ready for future training.
Tight, tired muscles do not work as well and are more prone to injury.
Benefits to regular sports massage:
- Stimulates blood circulation, increasing flow of oxygen and nutrients to cells and tissues
- Restores flexibility to tight, sore muscles; enhance flexibility
- Breaks up adhesions caused by micro-scarring through ‘stuck’ muscle fibres. Loosens bound fascia, alleviates trigger points within muscles
- Encourages flow of lymph, helping metabolic waste be drained away
- Reduces pain by stimulating release of endorphins (the body’s natural painkiller)
- Psychological: on the start line you’ll feel good and in peak condition; a confidence booster.
When during my training does sports massage work best?
The best time to get massage is usually in the recovery week when the training workload is lighter. View the treatment as part of the training itself.
For pre-race massage, leave at least 3-4 days before your race. This will give muscles adequate time to recover. Avoid where possible having massage less than a couple of days before a race, and if you do, advise your therapist you have a race approaching and you only want light work.
Post-event Sports Massage
Post-event massage is important as part of the post-race recovery phase. You will have placed the body under a lot of mechanical stress during the race. If you had regular massage during training this should be minimal but post-race massage 2-3 days after the event helps reduce micro-scarring in muscles and help ease blood flow, so oxygen and nutrients feed the muscles and aid repair.
Contact Christina on 07739 572985 to book your Pure Urban Massage sports massage or deep tissue massage Bury St Edmunds (Ixworth). Massages cost £60 for 60 minutes / £80 for 90 minutes.
