“What should I expect from a deep tissue massage?”

I’ve been asked that by a lot of ‘new’ runners. The answer isn’t necessarily ‘black & white’. There are quite a few factors to take into account.

Such as:

• Are you event training or running for exercise
• Have you had any previous injuries (not necessarily related to running)
• Your body type & physique
• How committed are you to running

These are just some of the progressionary questions & steps I take each of my running athletes through before starting a regimen of Deep Tissue or Myofascial Release Massage & periodically as we go, as plans or goals change as the individual advances physically.

New runners, or individuals who haven’t run since their youth, can experience disappointment either immediately or after running for a few months depending on whether or not you get personal training instruction before you start ‘pounding the pavement’. Going it alone seldom works out in your best interest. I know that “it’s just running, something I’ve been doing since forever”, but without specific & educated help, 9 times out of 10 you will fail, & your body will receive the brunt of it. There are a lot of variables to consider, & a Personal Trainer (especially one with running experience) should take those into account.

Now, as far as massage goes the reality is there are 2 different approaches you can take. The first is unfortunately the most common, the “don’t fix it ’til it’s broke”-runner. These are the patients that come in, usually limping or hunched over, because there is something wrong. A strained this, a sprained that, a pulled something, or new pain here. Fortunately for these folks massage is a great medium to help promote healing in the body through a plethera of different ways, so all is not lost. I have seen with my own eyes individuals come in with 2nd degree strains of the primary calf muscle, & in literally 8-10 weeks time of getting nothing but massage & following my instruction, be back to the same workout routine their where doing before they got hurt. I always wonder after seeing a client-patient recover whether the next time I see this person will they be ‘limping’ into my office yet again, or are they going to learn from their mistake & start doing what the minority of patients do.

The second, much smaller group is the ”mama didn’t raise no fool”-patient. These are patients that understand where they are physically, don’t necessarily like it, but are determined to do everything they can to make the changes they want, but without doing more damage to themselves. They heed the warning of others & begin their massage regimen before, or at least at the same time they begin their training for running. The outcome for these few amongst us is much brighter & more predicable. It isn’t that they aren’t going to have issues, but it’s that their body will be more susceptible to changes & the work that will need to be done for them to reach their goals.

Remember, before you start tackling the hills of Lake Oswego, West Linn, Tualatin, Wilsonville, Tigard, Beaverton, Sherwood, or Portland, massage should be a part of your healthcare & workout routine to keep you going & help you achieve your running goal.