Post-Workout Massages Hinder, Don’t Help, Blood Flow

For as long as Geezer can remember, trainers have recommended a vigorous post-workout massage to improve blood flow and jumpstart the removal of lactic acid from well-used muscles. But wait. Now comes a study from Queen’s University in Kingston Ontario, suggesting that there’s a serious rub in conventional wisdom. A Queen’s University press release informs us that two kinesiology researchers have found that post-workout massage doesn’t improve blood flow; it hinders it, and it consequently impairs the removal of lactic acid. The researchers promise to tell all at the annual American College of Sports Medicine conference in Seattle, Washington May 27-30, 2009.
Read more in the Queen’s University press release.