Need Advice: Working on a marathon runner post event

[Pompal 09.]

I may be working on a new client tomorrow who ran a marathon this past Saturday. He is self admittedly "out of shape" (5' 8", 220 lbs.) and did not train. He is "sore from head to toe" and wants a 2-3 hour massage. He has run marathons before and is not new to bodywork.

My questions: Is 3 hours excessive in this situation? (He claims to have had longer massages before).

What specific techniques would you recommend (48+ hours post event)?

Any advice on how to approach a 3 hour session? I have ony done 2 hours in the past.


Thanks!

 

[Pompal 09.]

*I am not a sports massage therapist*

Okay, that said, I just did a goodle search for post marathon massage and it seems 48 hours is a good time to get a massage, which post event, should be deeper work...which, to me equals longer sessions. If he is 5'8" and 220 you might need 2 hours just to get down into those muscles without killing yourself. I'd say legs, glutes/hips, shoulders, and arms would need particular attention.

Hopefully others more sports oriented will shed some light.

Good luck!

 

[magnumgirl]

Thanks for your input. I'm not a "sports massage" therapist either, so its good to hear others thoughts on this situation!

 

[Left-T]

Advice on working on marathon runner

Gessika,
I'm a Sports Massage Therapist and here are a few helpful ideas:
1. I personally think that 2-3 hours of massage that's post-event would not be helpful. Generally, a long massage can be tiring to the client, especially one who is rather detrained.
2. Your session should focus on what's sore for this gentleman. Probably the legs, lowerback, feet, etc. Your focus in on normalizing his system and speeding recovery.
3. I would spend some time exploring the idea of performing 2 or 3 one-hour sessions close together-maybe twice in the week after the event. I think his body will get more out of this than one long session. This may give you a chance to better concentrate on his sore areas and notice any changes.
4. The fact that he "did not train" may mean his body is going to be sore from muscle tears and fatigue. Any circulatory techniques-Swedish, effluerage, etc. are very helpful. Draining his legs and very gentle stretching and ROM will help restore him.

I hope this helps. Good luck,
cheers,
rubmyster

 

[ck4829]

Well, Rubmyster covered nearly everything I was going to say.

I would second that 3 hours is waaaay too much. That reflects his mental posture more than anything, it just says he's really sore and wants work done equal to that soreness. Sounds like instant gratification/weekend warrior type.

A one or one and a half hour session every other day is what I would reccommend.

If he didn't train for a MARATHON (are you kidding me?) it's his problem, don't take it on yourself, there's only so much you can do. If you try to "fix" him he will vampire all your energy very fast, especially in a 3 hour marathon massage seesion. I'm very clever.

The best you can do is circulatory work to facilitate recovery. ROM, vibrations, petrissage and effleurage. Don't do any stripping, that will set him back (learned that the hard way).

If you do agree to a 3 hour session (bad idea IMHO), then agree on a break in the middle.

Remember, there's only so much his organs can process, more work will just be more to process.

He also needs to do some intense hydrotherapy. Ice bath ASAP, not full body, just legs, then just sitz. Then a few days later, some intense ice bath on the legs, wait 2 min, then into a really hot (not crazy hot) epsom salt bath for 20 min, then back with the legs into the ice, then 2 min, then back into the hot bath.

Think circulation and lots of drinking water for this.

This situation has all kinds of red flags in my view. Sounds like he didn't take care of himself and now he wants you to fix him. Show him how to take care of himself with water and plenty of rest (sleep and REST), and how you can help him along with the circulation work. Don't try to fix him, only time will do that for him.

Hope this has been useful, good luck and let us know.