Massages: Are they worth it?

[matadorpoeta]

just want to add that if you have a hangover, a trip to the spa will do the trick, with or without a massage. just drink a lot of water and sit in the steam room, then use the jacuzzi, then the cold bath or cold shower.

 

[parmanjatt]

Originally Posted by matadorpoeta

just want to add that if you have a hangover, a trip to the spa will do the trick, with or without a massage. just drink a lot of water and sit in the steam room, then use the jacuzzi, then the cold bath or cold shower.
who's the girl in ur sig?! btw, to the ppl that were saying stuff about toxins and acid crap, its just lactic acid which reversibly turns back into pyruvate when ur muscles recieve oxygen when u rest after a hard workout. it was on the news or some **** a couple days back that massages reduce blood flow, which would mean reduce oxygen flow, and thus i'd assume they would be worse for u, from a strait biology point of view @HomerJ, how could getting rid of ur myoglobin possibly help ur muscles feel better? Wouldn't u be depriving urself of oxygen again? but they still feel damn good so just get one

 

[Tck13]

Originally Posted by parmanjatt

who's the girl in ur sig?!

btw, to the ppl that were saying stuff about toxins and acid crap, its just lactic acid which reversibly turns back into pyruvate when ur muscles recieve oxygen when u rest after a hard workout.
it was on the news or some **** a couple days back that massages reduce blood flow, which would mean reduce oxygen flow, and thus i'd assume they would be worse for u, from a strait biology point of view

@HomerJ, how could getting rid of ur myoglobin possibly help ur muscles feel better? Wouldn't u be depriving urself of oxygen again?

but they still feel damn good so just get one

Are you sure you heard this right?

Massages (unless some new kind of research has come up) should increase blood flow in addition to releasing serotonin. That's why water is needed because it helps with the increased circulation caused by the massage.

 

[Gradstudent78]

From http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/l...cle6387962.ece

What they found was that massage did not increase — but decreased — blood flow to the muscles and hindered rather than improved the removal of lactic acid and other waste materials by as much as 25 per cent compared to “active recovery”.

Link to a different site, same study: http://qnc.queensu.ca/story_loader.php?id=4a01a1eab47e8

 

[Tck13]

Originally Posted by Gradstudent78

From http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/l...cle6387962.ece
As much as I don't want to believe it, it seems to be what the article is saying. Maybe the only benefit is the release of serotonin which is why people feel better? Plus, the article is really just focused on the removal of lactic acid and faster recovery after workouts. That doesn't really discuss any other benefits of massage.

 

[greg_atlanta]

The only way to get rid of "toxins" is to go the bathroom. The body detoxes itself. (Eat more fiber and drink more water if you want to speed things along).

Massage benefits are only temporary. There is no lasting benefit.

 

[HomerJ]

This review sums up it up. No measureable effect of massage on muscle damage repair, blood flow, inflammatory response, ability to contract forcefully, fatigue recovery, etc. But it does have effects on muscle relaxation, mood, myofascial pain. I know it works for me in getting "knots" out.

Originally Posted by parmanjatt

who's the girl in ur sig?! btw, to the ppl that were saying stuff about toxins and acid crap, its just lactic acid which reversibly turns back into pyruvate when ur muscles recieve oxygen when u rest after a hard workout. it was on the news or some **** a couple days back that massages reduce blood flow, which would mean reduce oxygen flow, and thus i'd assume they would be worse for u, from a strait biology point of view @HomerJ, how could getting rid of ur myoglobin possibly help ur muscles feel better? Wouldn't u be depriving urself of oxygen again? but they still feel damn good so just get one
I wasn't saying that clearing myoglobin would necessarily make you feel better. I was trying to think of a rationale for drinking water after massage. Damaged muscle tissue releases myoglobin as does massage of painful muscles. Myoglobin is toxic to kidney tissues so maybe it can be diluted by drinking water?

 

[turboman808]

Not to big on the massage thing. Only had one where the woman seemed to have th skills to do it right. Massages from guys just give me the creeps.

The best massage I ever had turned out pretty bad afterwards. She was able to really releave all the stress I carry up in my shoulder muscles. I mean I really felt relaxed. However she pushed on something a bit to much in the base of my skull and left me with a week long migrain and I never have headaches.

After that I don't bother with them anymore. ALways more trouble then they are worth.

 

[bankboss]

I remember receiving a gift certificate to Massage Envy for a massage around Christmas time. That was the first time I actually went and had one done. Wasn't too bad, but not worth much more than the prices quoted in this thread.

 

[BankerBoi]

With a foam roller you can give yourself unlimited massages for $20. http://www.styleforum.net/attachment...1&d=1249440318

 

[Flamboyant]

Originally Posted by HomerJ

I tend to agree, however, a deep massage of tender muscles could cause myoglobin leakage from the cell into the plasma. Drinking water would help the kidneys deal with that. If your muscles are not tender then that's not likely.

Bahahaha