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Does a massage make you feel wiped out?

I've had that experience - a hard massage leaving me feeling a bit wiped out: tired, groggy.  This is a fascinating post from  Paul explaining his theory that in many cases this is caused by a mild case of rhabdo.....


Poisoned by Massage

Rather than being “detoxifying,” as many believe, massage probably causes a modestly toxic situation in the body

Comments

Three Pipe Problem said…
In trigger point therapy they teach that the area surrounding the trigger point (little muscle knot typically located at the position of greatest biomechanical stress, such as halfway down a long muscle belly) metabolic wastes build up -- and can be released by massage. I have definitely had experience with myself and others where releasing several trigger points leads to nausea/vomiting. Since the area manipulated is so small, the "releasing trapped toxins" theory seems more believable to me than the rhabdo theory.
July 23, 2012 at 2:28 PM
Robert McLeod said…
The 'toxins' thing is silly but the posted article is even more ridiculous. Whenever new collagen gets laid down in the myofascia, it's randomly orientated like all scar tissue. It's through the application of physical force that the collagen that's oriented the wrong way is sheared apart and broken. Then macrophages are called to the party to lay down more scar tissue, and the processes is repeated again and again until most of the collagen is oriented in the proper direction (i.e. remodaling connective tissue).


I don't see evidence that 'mild' rhabdo is signalled by myoglobin as opposed to the much more likely general pro-inflammatory cytokynes. Certainly no references are provided in the article.

The intelligent thing to do would be to take a gram of Vitamin C after an intense massage. That and use a PVC roller and lacrosse ball instead of paying a masseuse to do a bad job of myofascial release.
July 23, 2012 at 3:14 PM
Anonymous said…
What Robert McLeod said, except for that last part. I don't think you should never go see a massage therapist. They're like a dentist. In between visits, you should do your own brushing and flossing with PVC and a lacrosse ball, but every once in a while, you need a checkup and a full clean.
July 23, 2012 at 5:47 PM
js290 said…
http://doctorsaputo.com/a/massage-reduces-inflammation-after-exercise
July 24, 2012 at 1:25 PM
Rod said…
http://saveyourself.ca/articles/research-crane.php
July 24, 2012 at 6:55 PM
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