While massage tables are often found at the end of marathon runs, triathlons and some open water swims, the massage therapists and athletes often do not know the scientific basis for the benefits of human touch after an endurance event.
Athletes and therapists just know that these physiological and psychological benefits exist. This lack of data and scientific understanding led Dr. Mark Tarnopolsky of McMaster University in Ontario, Canada to conduct experiments on massage therapy.
Dr. Tarnopolsky authored a study on how massages act to reduce inflammation and allows muscles to adapt to exercise by researching its effects on human cells. In this study, Dr. Tarnopolsky performed muscle biopsies in both legs of healthy young men before and after bouts of strenuous exercise and compared his findings to a third time after massaging only one leg of each individual.
He found that massage helps in two fundamental ways at the cellular level:
1. It reduced exercise-related inflammation by reducing the activity of a certain protein (NF-kB). 2. It helped cells recover by increasing the amounts of another protein (PGC-1alpha) that in turn increases the production of new mitochondria (that are critical for muscle energy adaptation to endurance exercise).
Interestingly, the research found there was no effect by massages on lactic acid concentrations, one commonly held belief. The next step of research may delve into the most optimal massage methods and pressures to treat specific conditions and ailments.
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.