Do you really need massages?

[PixelFive]

Male 42,
167cm
83Kg
24% body fat give or take.
Currently consuming 1700 calories.
Upper, lower body split. Training on MTTF and rest days are WSS

I've been looking at ways to recover faster..... I saw a video on massages which advises it's good to have them as it' helps helps recovery but most of the time I don't have time to go out to get a massage or have the Mrs to do it...... Is it really that essential? Or are there alternatives?

[dazlittle]

It's not essential, I have maybe 3 or 4 per year when I'm feeling like I need it.

[smokinal]

Need?

I've had 2 in my lifetime

[ECGordyn]

No need, they don't do anything which general stretching, prehab, and foam rolling can't do. Although you can find tight spots while the masseuse is working your muscles. Where I live massages are convenient and cheap so I def enjoy a variety of Asian massages several times a year.

[SuffolkPunch]

On balance of probability, you probably are not missing anything but I wouldn't go so far as to say that they have no effect.

Some discussion here:
https://the-stronger-by-science-podc...earch?t=1h9m0s

Massage timestamp at 1:12

Some evidence of efficacy directly post workout

[air2fakie]

Like stretching, some people say it works wonders and some say totally useless. Do whatever you feels works best for your aches/recovery.

[adamgentile]

I'm 50 and yet to have a message, but I do have a foam roller which can be handy, even that i barely touch though. If you keep your nutrition, hydration and recovery process on point you won't need massages.

[xTeTe]

Massages are great, but they're not a miracle cure for chronic ailments. They leave you feeling better for a couple days but if you want a longer term solution to a nagging issue you'd have to go to a chiropractor.

[Gabbar99]

Never had one. Never desired to have one.

There's not a lot of evidence that they do anything.

That being said, a lot of athletes swear by them. My son, a D1 All American in decathlon, got a massage after practice most days and definitely after the first day of a decathlon. Maybe in the morning of the second day and even between events. He believed it helped a lot for fatigue and injury recovery. At big meets, most teams would have a masseuse set up with a table. Some meets there wasn't enough room for teams to have their own, so the meet would provide a few that any team could use.

For decades, Tour De France riders all get a massage every evening. Maybe if you need to recover quickly for the next day it helps. But again, not a lot of scientific evidence that they do anything.

[PhDPepper1111]

All of the above are true.
Since you mentioned getting a professional massage or having the Mrs do it: the same comments hold true about percussion massagers, but for a small investment of 100-400 you can get a decent percussion massager that you can use daily without ongoing expense or hassle. I use one during all my lifting workouts and often in between sitting in my living room.
For me personally I feel it helps with recovery and injury prevention, but 100% ymmv.

[smokinal]

Don't get me wrong; if $ were no object I'd have 1 per week.
But at $100-$120 per pop, not something I can do

[matthewkelling]

Like all things passive it feels good but it has less of an impact on the muscles than some sort of basic aerobic work for stimulating blood flow and aiding recovery.

On the flip side, if you are strength training, an argument could be made against immediately following your weight lifting with aerobic work, a cool down, massage, etc because it will reduce the acidity of the blood in the muscles faster and blunt the cascade of growth hormone/testosterone.

[RoccoSifred]

All of the above are true.
Since you mentioned getting a professional massage or having the Mrs do it: the same comments hold true about percussion massagers, but for a small investment of 100-400 you can get a decent percussion massager that you can use daily without ongoing expense or hassle. I use one during all my lifting workouts and often in between sitting in my living room.
For me personally I feel it helps with recovery and injury prevention, but 100% ymmv.

Im 52yo and have never really been into massages, but my oldest bought me a high end percussion massager (clone of the hypervolt) for Xmas, what a game changer! I've always struggled with tight hip flexors. I've been using it daily now for almost 2 weeks and the difference is significant. It might be bro science, but I seem to recover faster after heavy lifting sessions.

[ElrondHubbard]

Depends on who I get them from.

[murf58]

Im 52yo and have never really been into massages, but my oldest bought me a high end percussion massager (clone of the hypervolt) for Xmas, what a game changer! I've always struggled with tight hip flexors. I've been using it daily now for almost 2 weeks and the difference is significant. It might be bro science, but I seem to recover faster after heavy lifting sessions.

What brand is it? I’ve bought a couple of cheaper ones but the battery and power has been poor. Thanks

[Faizanxo]

if it ends with a happy ending.

[Jaketon]

Professionals recommend one every 3 weeks.

[OldBob2]

I get massages regularly and I don't know if they help or not but it sure is enjoyable and keeps me from getting "muscle bound" and greatly helps relieve soreness. That's simply my opinion.

There must be some kind of reason that almost all athletes from college level to professional and Olympic level get lots of massage. That's simply a fact and not just opinion.

[x-trainer ben]

chiro adjustments seemed to do much more for me personally than massages.

[bodyhard]

Need? No, but love them!

[QDubs]

In the 70's I raced motocross and bicycles (road) and teams of both believed massage worth the cost and I believe they still do today. I can't say how beneficial it actually was but I do know that for multi-day events without massage (life when you're low man on the totem pole) I was definitely more sore and less able to perform.

I've always enjoyed a good massage so have continued to get them a few times per year purely for enjoyment.

A couple of years ago in search of relief for Tinnitus a ENT recommended weekly massages as there is a belief that Tinnitus may often be caused by stress. To my surprise it worked (and is the only thing that has worked).

So lots of anecdotal stuff but I'm a believer. That said, for daily workouts it's foam rollers, stretching and after workout sauna.

[snailsrus]

Don't get me wrong; if $ were no object I'd have 1 per week.
But at $100-$120 per pop, not something I can do

or move to Thailand. They are 5 dollars there. I got a massage a day when living there

But op just get a foam roller


On the other hand your calories are pretty low btw