myfitnesshut

Massage therapy is not just for athletes! If you are serious about your strength and conditioning program, massage therapy should be a part of your routine. Find a massage therapist suitable for your tastes and needs.

You can perform self massage every day using self myofascial release with foam rolls. You can increase the elasticity in your muscles by improving your flexibility. The foam roller is one of the most effective techniques for releasing tension while improving mobility. Foam rolling exercises will release and organize your muscles, as well as release and align your skeletal system. Muscle injuries such as strains and tears and broken bones can be avoided with proper flexibility and skeletal alignment. You’ll immediately feel the effectiveness of SMFR.

Benefits of massage therapy include improved flexibility, improved circulation, relief of muscle tension and soreness (relaxation) and decreased fatigue/improved recovery. Massage therapy between workouts will definitely shorten your recovery time and improve exercise performance.

If you treat your soft tissues (muscles, skin, tendons, etc.) better, you will find that your workouts will be more efficient. You will also be less susceptible to injuries. A tight, rigid and fatigued body is a precursor to certain injury.

You should not do hard exercise after a massage. Wait until the following day to do cardio and weight lifting sessions. In part 2 of this series, I will discuss some the the massage therapies that are good for serious exercisers.

I just finished an intense 20 minute interval cardio session in which I burned about 300 calories. For those of you counting at home, that’s about 100 calories every 6.5 minutes. I could do this type of workout (and many do) or a variation of it every day. And, if I did this, my body would break down in short order. Even when I was at the height of my athletic mojo playing college ball, I still needed a day or two off each week to rest and recover.

You are no different. Don’t think that you are being smart, or tough, by working out every day of the week. You can be a “workout warrior” and still be smart about it. Trust me, your body will break down if you don’t treat it right. The cumulative effect of various injuries will take its toll on you. And, that could lead to chronic or degenerative injuries.

Chronic injuries can be caused by over-training, muscle imbalances and uncorrected postural deficiencies. Furthermore, muscle imbalances and postural problems are made worse by over-training. And, since chronic injuries come on gradually, you are more apt to “play through the pain.” Leave that attitude to people getting paid to compete. You need to take care of the only body you have.

Degenerative conditions can become non-reversible and many are associated with long-term joint problems. Sometimes, previously unrehabilitated injuries turn into degenerative conditions (such as low back problems, shoulder problems or knee problems). Some arthritic conditions are brought on by the cumulative effect of previous injuries.

Don’t underestimate rest and recovery during your exercise program.

Most of the people I know don’t drink enough water! So who gets intoxicated by drinking too much water? One group that is at risk are runners (especially marathoners). Hyponatremia is basically a low concentration of sodium in the blood. Sodium is required to draw and distribute water through membranes in the body. When you sweat, you lose water and salt. If the sodium levels in your blood get too low (hyponatremia), you will no longer be able to move water across your body’s membranes and you will become dehydrated - even if you are drinking enough water.

Some of the signs and symptoms of hyponatremia include bloating, upset stomach, nausea, headaches, cramps, disorientation, slurred speech and confusion. Untreated, hyponatremia and dehydration can lead to collapse, convulsions, and sometimes even death.

Everyone is different, but generally you should try to ingest 1 gram of sodium per hour during a long event. You should also increase your sodium intake in the days leading up to the race. Ingest about 10-25 grams of salt per day before the race. You can’t drink enough sports drink per hour during a long race (it would take about 2 liters of drink to get 1 gram of sodium). Salt tablets and salty foods (such as crackers or pretzels) are an option. Salt tablets and water are a good combination during a race.

It is also possible to become hyponatremic without sweating out all your salt. Over-hydration in a cooler climate can cause low sodium concentrations in the blood.

When preparing for a race, practice salt replacement while training, increase salt intake in the days leading up to the race, drink an amount of fluid which is appropriate to the race climate, and ingest salt during the race if the day is hot.