Should An Athlete Use A Massage Gun Before Or After A Run?
Massage guns can help to stimulate blood flow and deliver recovery-enhancing oxygen, nutrients and anti-inflammatory compounds to sore muscle tissue. However, it’s essential to use a massage gun correctly so as not to disrupt your body’s natural recovery process. To effectively address specific sore spots, focus on them for only a minute or two at a time.
Pre-Run
Showering, changing into fresh running socks and taking a fresh pair of running shoes all help expedite recovery. Sweaty to dry clothing also increases blood flow – essential for transporting oxygen and toxins from muscles to your brain – which is an efficient way to improve performance and avoid injuries.
Selecting the correct running footwear is essential for a great run. Utilizing a cushioned shoe with an adaptable insole is your best bet at avoiding pain and injury, especially if you suffer from chronic knee issues. Furthermore, proper shoes can improve your gait and decrease the likelihood of overuse injuries. Visit Back on Track Physical Therapy for more information on how we can help you with your foot and ankle pain.
Post-Run
Running can lead to a lot of high impact training which takes its toll on the body, leading to inflammation and micro damage in muscles and other tissues. Massages are an effective tool that can reverse this damage and enhance recovery and performance for runners. Sports rehabilitation services at Back on Track Physical Therapy can help you recover faster and prevent injuries.
Sports massage has several beneficial effects, including speeding up recovery after a long run, relieving muscle soreness, increasing flexibility and aiding injury healing. A regular massage schedule should be part of any training regimen to avoid injuries in the future. If you are experiencing back pain or sciatica, visit our back pain and sciatica treatment page to learn more about how we can help.
Warm-Up
A proper warm-up is an integral component of any run. It activates muscles in common running positions and dilates blood vessels to provide them with more oxygen before you begin your workout. Visit our physical therapy services page to learn more about how we can help you with your warm-up routine.
Cool-Down
After a run, it is essential to cool down to reduce your heart rate and allow your body to recover. This is especially important if you have just completed an intense training session or race.
Massage guns can assist in this by stimulating blood flow and relaxing muscles, improving performance and relieving muscle soreness. Furthermore, they’re excellent for relieving stress and fatigue.
Massage guns can be beneficial before and after a workout, helping you get the most from it. They reduce soreness or stiffness from prior days or sessions and stimulate your muscles for increased muscle activation. If you have any questions or need to schedule an appointment, visit our contact us page.
