Sports massage sessions in the days leading up to a big game, race or competition can ensure that players and athletes perform at their peak when it matters most.
USA Rugby Sports Massage Therapist Daliah Hurwitz, who was a crucial cog in the machine of the Rugby World Cup Champion Springboks team from 2009 to 2016, and is currently with the USA Eagles national team shares her treatment protocol for competition week.
She says, “Mondays to Wednesdays are devoted to hard, deep tissue massage and trigger point therapy to release muscle spasms and painful tension in certain muscle groups, and relieve any tightness and stiffness that needs attention. This loosens up and elongates the muscles, and prevents possible soft tissue injuries during training.”
“To do this work I use Wintergreen Arnica Oil, with its blend of essential oils with properties that help to stimulate blood flow, improve circulation, heat up and relax the muscles making them easier to lengthen, and heal micro-fibre tears in the muscles from a heavy training load. This also assists my players to be mentally and physically calm when they are under pressure.'
After the first three days of the week with intense treatments like these, where toxins are being released and muscles feel tender, the body needs at least two days to recover before it can perform optimally again. During this time Daliah uses the full arsenal of Wintergreen products to address individual issues the players may have.
“For aching joints, my players use Wintergreen Joint Support Spray. Wintergreen Menthol Hot Gel is a favourite after a shower or massage to rejuvenate and refresh the body after strenuous exertion, and prevent stiff and sore muscles. Wintergreen Friction Barrier Cream relieves chafing from damp or coarse clothing. During warm up prior to training all the Wintergreen heating products – Muscle Warm Up, Muscle Warm Up Ultra, Hot Muscle Cream and Heat Spray – will ensure muscles are ready for action. Wintergreen Magnesium Spray or Gel is used to alleviate cramping, and Hot Mustard Soak or Magnesium Soak relax and detox the body after training. Any bumps or bruises are treated with Wintergreen Icy Arnica Gel or Ice Spray.”
“I also like my players to use Wintergreen Magnesium Lotion as their moisturizing lotion after a shower during the week, to replenish magnesium lost while sweating during training, and to prevent cramping,” she says.
With just two days left until show time, Thursdays are devoted to a slightly lighter tissue massage and lymph drainage massage to get rid of lactic acid in the muscles, ensuring that by Saturday, the players are in peak physical condition.
Fridays entail only very light tissue massage for the few players who may still have some residual stiffness that is causing them discomfort, as well as stretching sessions such as Thai or yoga stretches. Daliah does not recommend her players use either of the Wintergreen muscle soak products the night before a game because the body continues to detox the following day which can hamper performance.
She says, “On game day, players will come to me an hour or so before the game for their warm up rubs. Depending on their own preference and heat tolerance, as well as the weather conditions, we will use Wintergreen Muscle Warm Up, Muscle Warm Up Ultra or Hot Muscle Cream for a short but vigorous massage to stimulate blood flow, concentrating on the muscle group each individual player feels needs extra warmth or loosening up.”
During the game, Wintergreen Heat Spray may be used during a stoppage in play to reheat a stiff muscle, or Magnesium Spray to alleviate cramping, or in the case of a bad knock, bruise or sprain, Wintergreen Ice Spray.
Elite athletes and sportsmen and women know that after any kind of physical exertion, but especially after the intensity of a match or race, it’s a good idea to do a 10-15 minute warm down and flush-out massage as soon as possible. This short, fast but gentle lymph drainage massage releases the lactic acid that has built up during the match or race, preventing DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Stiffness) that can be quite severe and painful about two days later.
Daliah says, “Because the muscles will still be warm, spasms can be quickly released and muscle groups easily elongated. And because the heart rate will still be elevated, lymph drainage is faster and more effective. Of course, I must always be aware of any injuries, swelling or bruising and work carefully around those areas after applying Ice Spray or Icy Arnica Gel to them, apply the full P.R.I.C.E (protect, rest, ice, compress, elevate) protocol where appropriate and ensure an injury assessment by a doctor or physio is carried out when needed.”
If massage is not an option for warm down, Daliah recommends a cold swim or ice bath (cold therapy), and heat therapy such as a hot bath with Wintergreen Hot Mustard or Magnesium Soak, to help to relax the body, detox lactic acid buildup, and improve recovery time.
The full range of proudly South African Wintergreen topical analgesics and joint support products is available exclusively in the USA HERE, as used by USA Rugby and the USA Eagles national teams.
