Why you need pre and post-event massage

When you give your heart, soul (and body) all year to training for a big event like this year’s Gold Coast Marathon, the last thing you want is to injure yourself prior to the big day.  Many athletes neglect to book in for pre-event massage due to last minute training.

Robert Turner, from Active Body Therapies, providing post-event massage at the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman & Ironwoman series, Currumbin, Gold Coast, November 2010

Pre-event massage plays an important role in your training and preparation for a sports event or competition.  Pre-event massage can be performed from two days to just before the event.  Neither first time nor deep tissue massage is recommended as both can take a couple of days or more to recover.

Your massage therapist should tailor all treatments to your specific needs at all times and pre-event massage is no different.  All athletes handle competition differently, some will need a relaxing massage to calm their nerves; others will want a short, invigorating rub-down simply to assist in warming up their muscles, increase circulation and prevent injury.  The emphasis here is on the main muscle groups that will be used during the event.

Post-event massage is equally as important as pre-event massage.  Many athletes neglect to do a proper cool down after competition due to exhaustion, celebration or disappointment.  The aim of post-event massage is to reduce muscle tension, soreness, and inflammation and to assist with overall recovery.  This massage generally takes 15-20 minutes and should be performed right after the event to reduce the amount of recovery time needed by the athlete.  It is recommended that you book in for a longer massage treatment in the 1-2 days following the event as well.

Are you competing in this year’s Gold Coast Airport Marathon? We can assist you with pre and post-event massage.  Simply phone us on 0403 444 684 to book your massage today! Be sure to check out our website for our Gold Coast Marathon Super Specials!