It's that time of year again. Every 4th of July my husband, Jeff,  and friend, Frank, celebrate by running the 10K Peachtree Road Race* in Atlanta, Georgia. Their prize is a coveted T-shirt given to those that finish the race. Every year they say they will get in shape and run to prepare for the event. Every year the event sneaks up on them and finds them poorly prepared. Every year they run. Every year they can hardly walk for a day or two after the event. 

This year my daughter, Megan, decided to join them. This year was no different from previous years. Jeff was the most prepared. He ran 2-3 miles 3-4 times a week for a few weeks preceding the race - nowhere near the recommended 20-25 miles/week. Megan ran once for 1/4 mile. Frank walked at work at lunchtime. 

I decided to intervene and arrange massages for them with Robb Doyle, LMT, NMT of Buckhead Bodyworks. I explained to Robb that these runners were weekend warriors and asked what he could do to minimize their discomfort during and after the race. Robb recommended a sports massage the day before the race and within an hour or two immediately following the race. The sooner the massage, the better it will help speed recovery. According to Robb, sports massage is primarily for the serious athlete who trains continuously. It focuses on the muscles relevant to the particular athletic activity. It also includes pre-event, post-event and maintenance techniques that promote greater athletic endurance and performance, lessen chances of injury and reduce recovery time. At this point, we wanted to focus on minimizing chance of injury and reducing recovery time.

On the afternoon of July 3, we all filed into Buckhead Bodyworks. Robb had the runners all complete questionnaires before the massage in order to develop a game plan and ensure coverage of areas that needed attention. He explained that he would be using aromatherapy in the massage (a combination of Arum eucalyptus - a natural analgesic/pain reliever, peppermint - to increase circulation, and other essential oils). The massage lotion used was Biotone's Deep Tissue Massage Lotion. He also explained that he would be using a combination of neuromuscular, trigger point, and Swedish massage techniques (illustrated on the right side of this article). 

Details of neuromuscular therapy and trigger point therapy will follow in future articles. Briefly, trigger points are accumulations of waste products around a nerve receptor. Trigger points can present themselves as referred patterns of sensation such as sharp pain, dull ache, tingling, pins and needles, hot or cold, as well as can create symptoms such as nausea, ear ache, or blurred vision. To diffuse a trigger point, static compression (pressure) is applied for 10 seconds, released, then pressure applied for 10 more seconds in a pumping action while the client breathes deeply. This action flushes the toxins and calms the nerves. Trigger point massage requires the participation of the client to communicate the presence and intensity of pain and discomfort. The therapist and client work together as a team to maximize the effectiveness of the treatment. Trigger point therapy is a subset of neuromuscular therapy which examines and treats muscles and muscle attachments in layers from superficial to deep, ligaments and connective tissues.  

Megan went first. Robb started by asking Megan if she had any discomfort. She said her neck was stiff, so Robb started by treating her neck and shoulders then worked on her legs (see pictures at right). 

Frank had pain in the back right leg in the center of the calf as well as discomfort in the lower right back and hip area. This is an area that can be affected by sitting on a wallet. Frank has a very thick wallet much like that of George Costanza on the Seinfeld show. Robb worked on these as well as the complete leg massage.

Jeff described himself as the "Trigger Point Poster Child" with pain in the neck, calves, knee (not so much now, but it limited running in past), and back (when he bent over). Robb worked on these areas as well as the complete leg massage.

All runners felt good after the massage. Their muscles felt looser and more flexible with a greater range of motion. We said our goodbyes until the following day.

At 5:30 am July 4th, Linda, Frank's wife, and I were on our way to be traffic marshals for the race. The runners were up and on their way to the starting point before 7. Linda and I saw Jeff and Megan roughly at the half way point of the race course (almost at the top of cardiac hill across from Piedmont Hospital). Other than Megan being a little red in the face, they looked good and said they were doing fine. We missed Frank, but with 55,000 runners, that was likely to happen. 

We reassembled at the hotel where the runners showered. Then we all filed back into Buckhead Bodyworks. The runners looked forward to some relief from the massages they were about to receive. Robb asked them individually if they would rather have a relaxing or stimulating aroma in the air. They all chose stimulating, so Robb added a few drops of Arum peppermint essential oil in a small potpourri pot filled with water. 

Megan said she was in good shape. She was definitely feeling the effects of the endorphin high that kind of effort creates. Her ankle, a spot on her hip, and a blister on the foot were the only painful areas. The shoulder and neck stiffness from the day before were virtually gone. Robb repeated the prior day's massage with less intensity, giving extra attention to those areas that needed it. Megan said she felt great after the massage.

Frank's biggest area of concern were his toes and bottoms of his feet. His calves were still tender and had been before and after the first massage. The left leg was less sore, though. Robb used Biofreeze on Frank's lower legs. It is a mentholated gel containing an herbal complex specific for pain. Frank said he felt a big difference (for the better) after having the massage. Even the bottom of his feet were less painful. 

Jeff felt swollen after the race and took 3 ibuprofen before showering. He had slight knee pain on the inside where there are two attachments to the hamstring. He was also sore on the left foot, side of thigh, and lower back. Jeff said he felt much better after the massage.

Robb suggested the runners soak in a warm bath with 2 cups of Epsom salts that evening. The magnesium sulphate in the Epsom salts is a natural muscle relaxant.  He also recommends drinking a whey protein isolate shake within one hour of strenuous exercise. It is the easiest protein to digest and speeds muscle recovery and boosts the immune system. As Robb says, "Take care of your muscles. They move you through life."

In addition to NeuroMuscular Therapy, Trigger Point Therapy, Classic Western massage, Deep Tissue Massage, and Sports Massage, Buckhead Bodyworks offers chair massage and aromatherapy body wraps.

The Peachtree Road Race often provides volunteer massage therapists at the end of the race. While Robb was occupied with us for this race, he has volunteered for this kind of event in the past. He was one of 18 massage therapists who volunteered for the Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk. They provided over 1000 massages in one night.

All runners agreed they would definitely schedule massages for the race next year. They said the massages did what they were supposed to - minimize injury and reduce recovery time. They all would recommend Robb Doyle and Buckhead Bodyworks. 

*Fun Facts about the Peachtree Road Race 

Music to be massaged by at Buckhead Bodyworks:

Kindred Spirits, by Joshn Boswell

Reiki, by Merlin's Magic 

Trigger Point Massage and Myofascial Therapy Reference Library

More About Trigger Point Massage

Rob Doyle of Buckhead Bodyworks 
gives a Sports Massage

Effleurage of quadriceps
(Swedish massage technique)

Cross fiber friction around patella

Medial displacement of patella with cross fiber friction under edge of patella

Treatment of the abductors

Compression of tibialis anterior
(where shin splints occur)

Treating tendons on top of foot

Manual traction to release sacral iliac joint (releases joint pressure and eases the lower back)

Palmer compression of hamstrings
(Swedish massage technique)

Treating the soleus muscle

Effleurage of the calf
(Swedish massage technique)

Treatment of the Achilles tendon

Post race, post treatment runners

Photos copyright 2002, Julie Register
Licensed to About.com 

Reviews of Other Georgia Spas by About's Guide to Spas

Jolie The Day Spa & Hair Design in Buckhead
Natural Body in Morningside
Quintessence in Buckhead
Château Élan in  Brazelton
The Mind Spa in Norcross

Spas in Georgia

About's Running/Jogging Site
About's Atlanta, GA Site

Share your sports massage experiences on the Spa Site Forum in the "Share Your Spa Experience" folder.
Please help support this site by clicking the ads that appear here.
Like this article? Want to read more? Check out the Previous Features