We are all just doing our best to be better runners. That means different things to different people. Some want to be faster. Some want to remain uninjured and run pain free. Some want to lose weight or maintain weight loss. Whatever your goal, if you are committed to your running, you’ll go to great lengths to be able to do it and do it well.
I want to improve. Sure, I want faster times, but I simply want to be a healthier runner. I want to remain injury-free, I want to see progress, I want to feel good when I run. Like I did here –>
As you know, I’ve had this nagging ass issue. It started long before my injury, and probably led to my downfall. It subsided for awhile but “reared” (get it?) it’s ugly head once I added mileage and racing again. The pain recently moved down to my higher hamstring.
I will say that one year ago I was on crutches with a hip stress fracture. Since that time, I have done 3 triathlons (one of them a 70.3), one marathon (Boston), and 2 half marathons. All of these were pain free with the exception of one (my last race in October). That said, I know my running performance was off. I never felt quite right. I knew I was compromised.
Like most injured athletes I am grasping. What is the best treatment? Is it expensive? How long until I am cured? What are the root causes of my problems and how do I “fix” them?
There are two things I know for certain that I need to address to get to the root cause:
- Incorporate running-specific strength training into my life
- Make gait modifications to help minimize my injury risk (higher turnover, mid foot landing, feet landing under hips, no over striding).
These two things will take time. I am committed and willing to do what it takes. I am 44 and have only been running for 3 years. I have a lifetime of running head of me. I have a lot I want to do.
In the meantime, however, I am also looking to deal with where I am today. Enter, Matt Schaub, LMT with Handled with Care Massage:
Matt contacted me (One of his clients, my friend, gave him my name. She said he “changed her running life.”). He offered a complimentary trial session in exchange for an unbiased review on my blog. He uses an active release technique that involves finding the trigger points and applying pressure to the impacted muscle. The muscle is then put through both active and passive stretches, releasing the adhesions in the tissue(s).
Make sense? Basically, intense pressure is applied, you cry and try not to fart and then stretch and resist. Things should release, but hopefully not your sphincter.
Poor Matt. I made him take my picture. That’s what we bloggers do. Damn I have boney back.
I told Matt that the pain had started in my glutes over a year ago, but more recently hit my hamstring. He started putting pressure on the piriformis (think left butt cheek) and this was extremely tender, so he was hitting the right area. Matt was able to release my tight piriformis muscle using what is known as an active release technique. He then did the same with my glute minimus, which has also been source of pain and discomfort for some time. The deep massage also brings increased blood flow to the area, which helps with healing.
I’m not going to lie. This hurt like a mother. I have had many deep tissue massages (I even had some woman walk on me once, almost broke my sternum), but nothing compares to the depth that Matt achieved today. I am one of these people, like John Cougar Mellencamp, who enjoys the pressure and the “good hurt” and I let him to know to not take it easy on me. Yeah, he didn’t and it was intense. I loved it.
Matt talked to me a lot about trigger points. In layman’s terms, you have muscles that are trigger points. When they are compromised, they refer pain to other parts of your body. That’s why many times when you feel pain in one place, that is not actually the source of the problem. “The trigger point model states that unexplained pain frequently radiates from these points of local tenderness to broader areas, sometimes distant from the trigger point itself.” {source}
Guess what? The piriformis and glute minimus are trigger points for the hamstring.
The result of the massage? I don’t know yet. My ass feels looser than it has in a long time (probably not a good thing for someone like me – haha!). Matt said when he started things were very cramped up, knotted and tight. He was confident that he released and broke up a lot of stuff. Our plan is that I run on Thursday and see how I do. I’m excited because he believes that we will see very good results in a just a few sessions. I will let you know!
Although I had a Cortisone shot last week in my high hamstring, I honestly am not convinced it did any good. Hard to know what is working when so many factors are at play. My guess is that for me it will be a combination of things, including lots of rest and smart training, that is key.
Matt makes it clear that he is client centered and results oriented. He zeros in on the root problem and tackles it with cautious intensity. And HE LISTENS. That part is sometimes quite hard to come by.
One of my most favorite things is that on the sheet he gives in the beginning, clients are encouraged to be comfortable whether that means yawning, moving around or letting out intestinal gas. PERMISSION!! HE GAVE PERMISSION TO FART!!
If you are in the Denver area and are looking for this type of results-oriented therapy, consider Matt. A one hour session is $65 and you can book online HERE. He is in Arvada on Ward Road.
Have you had good results with massage therapy?
Ever tried an active release approach?
If you have questions for Matt, leave them in the comments and he will answer you. Or, email him directly at matt.schaub@massagetherapy.com.
SUAR
PS: The winner of the Subway gift card is #62 KJ at Running My Life and This Family…
