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​The Training Tool You Never Thought You Needed

4/12/2017

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PictureAndrea Shore LMP at Outpatient Physical Therapy
By Holly Pennington, PT, DPT/Outpatient Physical Therapy
 
            Spa, back pain, injury, luxury, expensive, feel-good, Zen, vacation. Do words like these come to mind when someone mentions massage therapy? If so, keep reading. Compelling scientific research points to massage therapy as an effective, but often overlooked, training tool for endurance athletes.
            And I’m not talking about when you are hurting. Healthy, non-injured athletes who want to improve race performance can benefit from adding massage therapy to training plans.
            We now know that massage therapy works at the cellular level to reduce inflammation and promote mitochondrial biogenesis. 
            (What?!)
            Let’s apply this scientific finding to you. You go out for your 35-mile Saturday morning ride.  While you’re on the bike, tiny structures in your cells (mitochondria) work hard to convert energy from food into energy your muscles can use to pedal. So, the more mitochondria you have in your body, the longer and harder you can ride.
            Here’s the crazy thing: the number of mitochondria in your cells is not fixed. For decades, we have known it fluctuates based on things like aging (decreases mitochondria) and exercise (increases mitochondria.)  Now, we are learning that massage therapy is another way to increase these energy-producing powerhouses. 
            Back to you: You complete your Saturday ride. Tomorrow, you’ll run 9 miles before your pool workout.  Monday: rest day.  What if you could build up your mitochondria on your rest day too?
            With massage therapy, you can. 
 
A Triathlete’s Guide to Adding Massage Therapy to Your Training Schedule
           
When and how often?
            Andrea Shore, LMP at Outpatient Physical Therapy in Covington recommends scheduling massages 1x/week or 2x/month for healthy triathletes.
            When you are getting ready for a race, Andrea suggests planning ahead to complement your pre-race training with this massage schedule:
4-5 days before a race - Deep tissue massage following a strong training workout. This is most likely also a couple of days after a long weekend workout. 4-5 days pre-race allows plenty of time to work out any muscle soreness and still have time to recover before the next competition.
2 days before race - Gentle massage following lighter training.
1 day before race - Only a light relaxation massage/stretching session.
Day of race - No massage. You are ready!
After the race - Sports massage to help decrease inflammation.
 
How much is it?
            Massage rates vary depending on the facility and therapist, but the average cost is approximately $60/hour. Many health insurance plans also cover massage therapy.  Outpatient Physical Therapy (OPT) offers massage therapy packages with rates as low as $45/hour for RTB athletes at all locations.
 
More questions?
            Call an OPT clinic near you to schedule an appointment and/or speak with a therapist. www.outpatientphysicaltherapy.com


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  • Home
    • SEASON KICKOFF!!
    • New to Triathlon?
    • About >
      • Contact
      • Mission
      • History
      • Staff
    • Blog
    • Sponsors
    • Privacy Policy
  • Members Only
    • Log in
    • Team Directory >
      • Directory Guide
      • Manage your Directory Listing
    • RTB Member Login
    • Andy Potts Racing & Coaching >
      • AP Coaching Options
      • 70.3 Training Groups
      • More at AP
    • Discounts >
      • Andy Potts Benefits
      • Multisport & RTB Lite Members' Sponsor Benefits
      • Multisport Members' Event Discounts
      • Swim Member Sponsor Benefits
      • Swim Members' Event & Training Discounts
    • Forum
    • Team Calendar
    • Race Plans
    • Helping Teammates
  • Team
    • About the Team
    • Sign Up!
    • Andy Potts & RTB
    • Where we are >
      • RTB South
    • Benefits
    • Team Sponsors
    • Team FAQs
  • Training
    • Andy Potts Racing & Coaching >
      • AP Coaching Options >
        • Compare Plans
      • 70.3 Race Groups
      • More with Andy
    • Swim >
      • Winter Weather Swims
      • Coached Pool Workouts
      • Open Water Wednesdays
      • Swim Workout Library
    • Bike
    • Run >
      • Monday Night Track
    • Swim Clinic for Aspiring Triathletes
    • Bike and Run Safety
  • Events
    • Volunteer Here!
    • Event Services >
      • Pricing
  • Store