50 for 50 Idea #29: Get a massage once a month

posted on: August 21, 2018
author: Brian Lomax, Ed.D.

In the late ’90s, I started experiencing some pain in my left knee while playing tennis. The pain was tolerable, so I played through it and then iced it after playing. That worked for a little while, but eventually the pain started to get worse, and my mobility on the court was compromised. The pain got so bad that I had to stop playing altogether. I was out of tennis for two and a half years, and no one could figure out what was wrong with my knee. It was a low point in my tennis career.

In 2003, a chiropractor friend recommended that I do two things: wear specially-made inserts for my tennis shoes to realign my knee, and begin seeing a massage therapist to work on my left leg. Not only was my left knee out of alignment, all of the muscles in my leg were so tight that the kneecap was locked in place and couldn’t move. That was the root of the pain.

I had never been to a massage therapist prior to this. It didn’t strike me as something I needed to do, but my viewpoint on that would change over time. I still remember that first appointment. It was painful, very painful. At one point while the therapist was working on my leg, she said to me in a very serious tone, “You need to come everyday.” She was shocked at how tight the muscles in my leg were, but there was no way I could afford daily massage sessions, so we settled on twice a week. After about 6 months of therapy, I was able to get back to playing tennis regularly.

Idea #29 – Get a massage once a month

From the story above, you can see how valuable massage can be for injury rehab. It is also great for preventing injuries and recovering from training/performances. Sport is a physical endeavor and you need to do everything you can to take care of your body. Otherwise, you’re going to be compromised when you compete. Regular massage therapy can help you stay healthy and compete at your best more often.

If you haven’t tried it before, give it a shot. Ask the therapist to pay attention to specific areas of concern based on your sport. For me, I have a long list of problem areas: right arm (wrist, elbow, shoulder), upper back, hips, hamstrings, IT bands, calf muscles, and feet. The massage may not feel relaxing in the moment, but I think you’ll be amazed at how good and loose you feel afterwards. If you’re serious about your sport, get serious about taking care of your body through massage.