Benefits of Massage After a Workout

Everyone knows that massages feel good, but did you know that science is now backing up the medical benefits of it too?   According to a new study published in Science Translational Medicine a 10 minute massage after an intense workout reduces inflammation and aids in muscle recovery.

The study’s authors took leg muscle tissue samples from 11 healthy young males pre and post workout and also took a third sample after a 10 minute Swedish-style massage.  The findings?

After the massage a protein called NF-kB (which causes inflammation,) was reduced and they found  increased levels of a protein called PGC-1 alpha that aided in muscle recovery.

According to the LA Times,

“Massage also seemed to help cells recover by boosting amounts of another protein called PGC-1alpha, which spurs production of new mitochondria — tiny organelles inside cells that are crucial for muscle energy generation and adaptation to endurance exercise.”

I was lucky enough to sample the medicinal benefits of massage by Lacy Loucks, LMT with Texas Family Chiropractic, who had a booth at the Texas State Naturals Championship.

When I first started bodybuilding I made a rookie mistake and lifted weight that was too heavy.  That coupled with bad form led to an injured shoulder.  A local chiropractor worked on it, but it’s still stiff from time to time.

Lacy managed to worked out some knots I didn’t even realize I had until they were gone.  I love that warm feeling you get after a massage when you can feel the blood flowing through your muscles again!  And now that science confirms the benefits of massage after a hard workout, I won’t even feel guilty getting one!

If you’d like a massage with Lacy, she can be reached here:

Texas Family Chiropractic, 16301 Yellow Sage Street, Pflugerville, TX 78660, (512) 636-0738, gabegar@juno.com.

Lisa

P.S. – I’m not receiving any compensation for this blog post, Lacy just seemed like a nice lady and my shoulder felt much more functional after she worked on it, so I thought I’d pay it forward.

Sheslosingit.net (c) 2012 Lisa Traugott.  All rights reserved.  No portion of this blog, including any text, photographs, and artwork, may be reproduced or copied without written permission.