Massaging and flexibility

[bphan002]

Paul Zaichik has a section on massaging and though I haven't fully watched that section I'm assuming its for the strength exercises he went over. I just want peoples opinion on the importance of it.

[Van Zandt]

Can you post a link to the video?

Thanks.

[bphan002]

I wish I could but its from the DVD set I bought.

[eyeofstorm]

I trained as a sports therapist and can tell you massage has a lot of benefits. It warms up muscles more thoroughly than exercise can as you can stretch them in many different directions. It also gets rid of the lactice acid build up during exercise that can cause DOMS a couple of days later. By squeezing stale blood from the muscles and so allowing fresh nutrients in it also speeds up healing from injuries but not to be done during the acute phase when there may still be bleeding internally. Finally it can get rid of scar tissue on the muscle that seriously impairs and weakens the muscle after an injury often for years to come. That is why when you injure yourself once it is more likely to injure yourself inthe same place again.
That was a very quick reply as am on my way out and I'm sure others have much to add. I forgot to mention general and specific relaxation and improved stretching etc.

[Van Zandt]

Eyeofstorm,

Thanks for the informative post. Might I ask where/with whom you trained as a Sports Therapist (as I did also)?

Thanks! :cool:

[eyeofstorm]

I trained at Reading College in England. It was about 15 years ago.

[Coges]

From what I've read he uses the massage as a way to enhance the stretching and not as a recovery tool. He recommends castor oil.

A few links from the forum...
http://www.paulzaichik.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=916&highlight=massage
http://www.paulzaichik.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=953&highlight=massage

It looks to be moving towards the ART kind of area. Not sure I'd spend half an hour massaging my legs before stretching but then, whatever works.