Parents Massages

[Fijiwater]

For all you parents that have gymnast working out all the time, do you all ever get them a massage or have a regular scheduled massage date? I read an article about how athletes runners, swimmers, and gymnast etc. under estimate the importance of massages. Just wondering if any of you get your athlete's muscle worked on?

 

[GymGirl's Mom]

If I am paying for anyone in my house to get a massage it'll be for me

 

[Fijiwater]

I was just wondering if people with upper level gymnasts or elite make massages part of their routine. I need one myself! Lol

 

[Gymmonkeymomma]

Dd and teammates use www.thestick.com to roll out leg muscles. Massage would be for me

 

[bookworm]

My daughter has done massages and she has done visits with the chiropractor ....and she much prefers the chiropractor ; feels much better after the visit. After 1 visit with the massage therapist , she begged me not to take her back!! (said she hurt worse after it than before)

 

[Faith]

I'd consider it for higher level and/or teenage athletes. I know generally in the UK at least part of the national team package is access to sports specific therapists, physio's etc.

For your average 6 year old? At best not necessary, at worst inappropriate*. Sends the wrong message imo re. touching by unknown adults- what under 14 is going to want a massage voluntarily- so you're effectively telling a young child this adult is going to touch you whether you want them to or not.

*I don't mean the therapist would be acting inappropriately, just something about taking a young child for a massage feels wrong to me.

 

[2gymmies]

My Level 9 dd gets alot out of the chiropractor - we have tried massage and acupuncture, but she prefers the results of the chiropractor to keep her feeling good!

 

[shelovestoflip]

My daughter (13, Level 8) had a massage for the first time last summer. My gym (all women's) was offering a package deal. I bought a package and since I've gone to this gym for years and know the staff there, at least by sight, I felt comfortable speaking with the massage therapist asking her if she would consider giving my daughter a massage.

She agreed and did request (before I even asked) that I stay in the room.

My daughter LOVED it and said she felt great! It was 1/2 hour and she focused on her legs.

I would definitely do it again for my daughter and of course if I won the lottery would make it a regular thing!

My chiropractor keeps saying I should bring her in but she has had some back issues and it scares me to bring her to the chiro!

 

[Iwannabemargo]

hmm

I can see many of the points raised here. My husband is a level 5 rugby coach (highest you can get) and has been coaching opur local team as a specialist skills coach for a bit now. He has a lot of experience of his sport at a high level ( he played internationally) both as a player and a coach and keeps up with all the latest techniques. He has instigated ice baths and sports massage at the club available to all players and he has seen injury rates plummet.

He does massage the children if they are stiff and sore, and they get a foot rub off me every morning when I put their socks and shoes on (don't ask, long story). We are however a very tactile family and are forever touching each other anyway (holding hands, cuddling, stroking hair etc)

All that said I dont think that I would let a stranger massage my two youngest ( eldest two are 21 and neary 15).

'Margo

 

[Galadriel]

My dd has had massage from sports physio since age 13
Has been from a specialist sports person. I have been with her.
It has been injury related but we were recommended regular 'maintenance ' sessions but couldn't afford it.
Very very good - although 2 therapists there and 1 is spot on and the other Isnt .
The good one actually found a tiny ligament tear that we treated with ice massage at home and there that RAPIDLY resolved a longer term hip pain issue.

 

[Kiwi]

My DD has had massage from physiotherapists for specific injuries, e.g. calf massage for her ankle injury. I have been taking her to see a St John Neuromuscular Therapist since her hamstring injury in 2011, when it got to about 95% recovered and wasn't getting to 100%. A lot of the treatment involves massage techniques to release tight muscles, fascial tension and so on, not only in the injured area. Since then we have been going regularly to work on her flexibility. She also has exercises to do at home. It has been very effective. I haven't taken her to a normal massage therapist. Sometimes I will massage her myself, in specific ways as recommended for me to do by the NMT, e.g. soles of the feet and calf muscles. I've also got a Stick, which I use occasionally - would probably be more effective if I remembered to use it more regularly.

 

[Deleted member D3987]

For all you parents that have gymnast working out all the time, do you all ever get them a massage or have a regular scheduled massage date? I read an article about how athletes runners, swimmers, and gymnast etc. under estimate the importance of massages. Just wondering if any of you get your athlete's muscle worked on?

yes, i have athletes that do. and me too!

 

[Linsul]

When I was in gymnastics and dance my mom used to pay for the leg massage (below the knee) with a pedicure. My coach had to deal with serious knots once while on a vault rotation, got a cramp that knocked me on my knees during a run. My daughter isn't currently in a sport, but that's the route I'd go probably. As far as my back went I'd complain about it and my mom would rub out any sore spots just to keep my brothers from slapping it to make me mad!

 

[BachFlyer]

I don't pay for massages or do them on any schedule, but it is definitely a tool we use, and usually the first one. Whenever my DD comes home with pain she gets a massage from me, and occasionally from a family friend that is a massage therapist. Sometimes her pain is just general soreness from extra conditioning, but she also tends to get knots in her shoulders/neck when her bar work has been intense, and sometimes in her achilles area. I'd say 9 times out of 10, she feels better after a day or two of massage, and will feel better for weeks at a time. Right now she is coming back from a broken foot, and I massage her ankle and calf all the time to work out the stiffness. Massage increases blood flow and pushes out areas where toxins build up in the muscles and can even reduce scar tissue. It also creates chemical changes in your brain (increase endorphins and decrease in cortisol) that reduce pain and stress throughout the body. Makes sense that it would help with all kinds of issues.

 

[iwannacoach]

............ Right now she is coming back from a broken foot, and I massage her ankle and calf all the time to work out the stiffness. Massage increases blood flow and pushes out areas where toxins build up in the muscles and can even reduce scar tissue. It also creates chemical changes in your brain (increase endorphins and decrease in cortisol) that reduce pain and stress throughout the body. Makes sense that it would help with all kinds of issues.

I had a team kid who developed a case of osteochondrosis (osgood shlatter's) in one of her elbows that completely eliminated any meaningful work on bars, and handstand positions on beam and floor. Her father, a practicing pediatrician, began a nightly ice and massage routine that got the condition under control and she was able to resume full practices with tolerable pain.

I must have raised a skeptical eyebrow he mentioned plans for nightly massge sessions, because he launched ito a very polite rant about the benefits that echo exactly what you've just said. Endorphins to promote tendon and ligament health? Go figure, and arrive at the same conclusion with me that it works far beyond a blood flow level.