im probably the most inflexible person on earth. im feeling super stiff now days, from training hard. im doing clearwater on the 13th, and i have a 1 hr massage booked for tues. im hoping the massage loosens up my legs a bit. but is getting a deep tissue massage 4 days before too close to the race? i hear you get super sore after those massages? any feedback would be appreciated
I think it’ll be ok, as long as during that time you also eat a lot of foods you’re not used to eating, raise your bike’s saddle, and buy new running shoes. It should all balance out.
Let your therapist know that you have a race that weekend. If they are at all knowledgable, they will focus on the stretching part of that massage, not the deep tissue part.
A deep tissue massage is just like a hard workout. Would you do 4 x 1 mile repeats right before a race?
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You shouldn’t have any lasting soreness from a deep tissue massage. Assuming that you go into the massage feeling tight but with no soreness, a deep tissue massage may leave you with some light soreness that should disappear within 1hr, but that’s only if you like it really firm. The object of a DT massage is to release adhesions in the tissue, to clear the lymph nodes and release any knots built up from training. Done correctly, this manipulates the tissues firmly, but without pain or soreness. I see a lot of clients who ask for DT therapy, who are really looking for somebody with decent arm strength, and is not a 100 lb girl. (although massage firmness is only partially based on strength. Much is also based on the use of the hips) In these cases, the client is simply seeking a standard form of firm massage therapy done correctly.
IF DT is what you really want, you might expect some light soreness, and some lightheadedness for a bit afterward (30 min). Most of this comes from increasing the blood flow through your muscles, which helps healing and removal of cellular wastes. Your blood stream can be overwhelmed for a short bit until your kidneys & liver catch up to the increases toxin load. This is the reason that therapists want you to drink water afterward: to help your bloodstream cope. This is a short term effect, and is very minor. I wouldn’t get it the day of the race or the day before. 2 days before should be ok for a DT. OR a light swedish massage would be okay the day before the race.
Mostly you should feel like a noodle, and very relaxed. If you can, find someone with a heated table. My clients love mine, and it helps to loosen the back & hips prior to manipulation.
In the rare chance that you’re nursing a slight cold, I would skip the massage. Pushing the blood around can actually worsen a cold, and massage is usually contra-indicated. (a good therapist won’t treat you, for your safety)
If you don’t normally receive massages of this intensity them I’d say no. If this is normal for you then yes.
I wouldn’t.
My rule is a nice deep tissue session (90 minutes) about 10 days out. If the therapist finds a particularly tight spot and you would benefit from him/her really digging in and bruising the tissues as a result, you would obviously say “no” if you only had 4 days, but if you had 10, you could have them get in there and dig. If you move to a more frequest massage schedule (every 10 days or so) then a deep tissue session should not be that big of a deal. If on the other hand you have not had deep work done in three months you could be in for a world of hurt.
So I guess my answer would be, it depends. But from your own description that you “hear” you get sore, I’m assuming you have never been down that path before and that raised a huge red flag for me.
Dave
yes
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my friend is racing NYC marathon, and just had DT for her plantar fasciitis. she’s still slightly sore, and that was a day ago, and just her feet. if you think you will recover and have done this before, sure, go ahead. if not, i would just wait till after the race, you’ll appreciate it much more.