This morning I tried a new massage therapist who was very good near our store. I get a massage at least every week to help with recovery.
Do you guys use massage therapy for this? What techniques for active recovery are you using?
Discuss please…
Active recovery, for me, means doing an easy ride of 1.5 - 2 hours, with 4 or 5 10 second sprints in a small gear, normally 39/15 or so, and full recovery between each sprint.
On my days that I am tired but not an off day, I will go to my gym at my normal am time and do nothing but stretch. I stretch for like 30 minutes and feel great afterwards.
Have been meaning to get onto a weekly massage since the start of the year. Have you found it worthwhile Tom?? Active Recovery : Mountain Bkie rides with very Recreational friends, Tennis, chilling / catching up with Non-Athlete friends and family. I find the psychological aspect of not training very hard, therefore i try and find some form of rest / recovery that involves some form exercise/movement albeit very casual.
Massage therapists are great. Go myself. As a chiropractor I used to share office space with a couple of RMT’s. Worked out great. I’m now alone in a rural area in a home office, but I still refer people over to a local massage therapist whenever applicable.
Active recovery usually may be a 5 mile EASY run…well within aerobic limits…which means I watch the HRM like a hawk and keep the pace about 70% MHR and no more, or a 15-20 mile easy spin on the bike or trainer, and or 1000 M in the pool easy…
Also have been getting massages about every two weeks working with a very very experienced sports massage therapist and an athlete himself. He works on deep muscle and also the Ilio tibial bands and other areas that get tight even with stretching. His work keeps this tissue loose, pain free and has helped me continue to train. And of course stretching every day even if its only for 10 minutes.
thats about it
I get a massage once a week and will go swim an easy 1000 to loosen up my legs my day off. I also do yoga on thursdays, it helps me recover from my hard moring workout.
Hi chillipepper,
I do notice less soreness and quicker recovery from massage. It takes a while to work with a therapist to get them used to how to work on me. I’ve had a pretty long shopping list of little (and big) nagging injuries.
Another benefit is that it is one hour to just lie on the table, tune-out and really relax away from all the crazieness that is life.
And another benefit is the therapist actually stretches me. My stretching habits are terrible, so going there assures I’ll get at least some good quality stretching in during the week.