“The Power of Deep Tissue Sports Massage: An Athlete/Masseur Perspective” by Guest Contributor, Laura Downey-Abbruzzese, M.Ed., CMT of Elite Sports Massage Therapy

“There are many great benefits of deep tissue sports massage…especially when accompanied by other methodologies like assisted-resistive stretching & deep tissue work on a muscle & its opposing muscle.  Electrical Stimulation (or e-stim) is another modality that is less invasive, but quite helpful for working on damaged/torn tissue/muscle & for releasing extremely tight muscle tissue that is either too sore or too overworked.

Personally, I’ve benefitted from the recovery aspects of regular sports massage & I’ve always been impressed with how good I feel two days after a massage!  It’s not everyone who can have the luxury of a weekly massage.  But, if you can, the rewards your muscles will reap are tremendous.  With regular sports massage you can train more effectively knowing that you will recover more effectively as well.  You will, when needed, be able to push yourself harder.  You may be able to race more or increase your pace because you are getting better recovery.

Most coaches I have known throughout my racing career told me that rest was as important as the quality of my training.  Even though I was young & I didn’t always listen, I didn’t mess around when it came to massage.  I feel now that massage was my saving grace!  I could give you a laundry list of the benefits of sports massage…however I’d rather tell you what I feel & know – a weekly massage will change you & your sport!

A good deep tissue sports massage should be treated like a ‘workout day’ because it will not necessarily feel great (this is NOT a relaxation massage).  But what it will do for your muscle tissue is real.  It helps to repair your most worked muscles so that you can continue to work them to their fullest potential.  It will up your game!

A weekly massage should be incorporated into your training schedule with a few things in mind:

  1. You’ll be sore for a day or two.
  2. Your hard workout day should be prior to the massage.
  3. A rest day or easy day should follow the massage.

For instance, when I was a triathlete, my massage was always on Thursdays because I only swam on Fridays & then I rested.  However, as a professional cyclist, my massage needed to be on Mondays or Wednesdays (depending on when we traveled) to help me recover from a weekend’s racing so I could be ready to go hard at the next race (which was usually the following weekend).

For me, massage was essential to helping me heal my chronic back pain (from an old gymnastics injury).  It helped me get strong enough to run my 1st marathon in 1996.  That led me to try an Ironman triathlon which then helped me establish my cycling career.  Without my weekly massage I would never have had the career I did!

Finally, I believe so strongly in the power of massage that I guarantee my work!  If you do not feel the benefits of your sports massage, then I will give you a free 2nd session.  (Also note that e-stim & ice therapy treatments are included!)

Happy training!”

For more info and/or to schedule your massage, email or call Laura at 208-371-1083.  She’ll even come to your home!!

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