Massage Therapists With Other Medical Volunteers At NYC Marathon

My favorite part of my post-marathon Monday was reading this article on page F4 of The New York Times.

The article made mention, not once, not twice, but three times, of massage therapists working amongst more than 1,000 medical volunteers, which included doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and EMT's, at the New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 7.

The key word throughout the story that sparked my enthusiasm? Medical. That's the part that made my day. It brings credibilty to our profession!

Don't get me wrong, receiving massage for the pure pleasure of it, when you're feeling just fine, is a wonderful thing. Spa nights, bridal showers and bachelorette parties are perfect venues for enjoying massage. Experiencing a relaxing massage while on vacation, or to be given a gift certificate for a massage on that special occasion, is the ultimate!

But many people still think that having a massage is just a luxury. Sometimes it can be, but it's more than that. Massage is a therapy that can treat aches, pains and injuries, and may complement traditional medical treatments of some illnesses and diseases (but only with a physician's approval and advice).

In the case of treating a marathoner post-race, some of the benefits of a gentle massage include:

• Reduced muscle spasm and chance of injury
• Increased flexibility, endurance, and circulation
• Overall faster recovery time
• Transport of fresh oxygen to muscle tissue
• Assist athlete with passive stretching

I know some marathoners who are helped with an immediate post-race massage, and others who prefer to wait at least two to 24 hours, depending on the their body, health condition, recommendation from a physician or running coach, and personal preference. However, they all always want that massage at some point post-race!

The fact is, massage therapy is beneficial to the body's healing process, contigent upon what the body is healing from and when the massage is given. And the other fact is, massage therapists volunteered at the NYC Marathon in the company of other medical professionals!

Oh, I forgot to mention one more thing: the article also referenced the nearly 150 volunteers at the event trained in CPR!