Got John Gartland (The Morphman) in today for a Sports Massage session.
John is attempting to run 7 Marathons in 7 days and so is currently getting a lot of miles added up on the legs… Realistically the defining factor in him completing this challenge is not going to be his fitness levels, but instead him staying injury free!
It is thought that over 80% of all runners are in some sort of pain as a result of the running… Yes running is great for us, but it does put a lot of stress on our bodies (impacting the joints etc).
The key is to make sure that the individual not only runs, but also implements specific Strength & Conditioning to build up and condition the structures that support and facilitate the activity i.e. Developing the strength & muscular endurance in the Gluteus Medius muscle, which will help to increase stability in the legs and overall running performance.
Another key aspect is to make sure that the soft tissues are kept in good order and that any niggles that start to pop up are dealt with accordingly (given treatment that will speed up and promote proper healing). A great way to do this is by using Sports Massage… Superficial and deep tissue massage techniques will help to keep the soft tissues in good health and therefore keep the individual feeling great and in tiptop shape.
To donate towards the Morphman’s great cause visit: www.morphman.co.uk