Sports massage for cyclists

[WILNA S]

I am a new MT and I have the opportunity to work on some cyclists who are having racing weekend.

I will probably be doing 30 minute post-event with them.

What do you recommend I focus on?

I'd love to incorporate some great stretches.

 

[~vanilla~]

You'll want to address the neck and upper traps area--we ride with our necks in extension for long periods. Also, the hip/gluteal area, quads if there are hills, legs in general, and especially all the attachment sites around the knees. Older cyclists might have a tender low back.

Definitely throw in some hamstring and quad stretches, and piriformis stretches.

Have fun!

 

[hobo]

Yes definitely all Ella said... I'd say that plus include a little work on the hands if you really want them to melt. :
They will after all be keeping a tight grip on the handlebars...

 

[bookworm21]

forearms also

 

[xxdrzchulaxx]

I recommend asking them where their problem areas are. It can differ greatly from cyclist to cyclist, and also from ride to ride.

My husband is a cyclist and I have worked on him (as his personal, dedicated MT!) for races and events. What I usually do post event is work the legs over briefly, but somewhat vigorously and with swedish techniques - petrissage, tapotement, effleurage, etc. on the quads, hams, and calfs. Then I ask him what else he needs - and it has varied from his shoulders to neck, to feet, to different areas of his back

Also, note if you are working on Saturday, do they have another ride on Sunday? You don't want to do any serious trigger point or deep tissue work if they need to ride tomorrow, at least on their legs or core muscles. Trigger point on the neck/traps is probably fine and useful, because as Ella said, the neck can be a serious area of tension, esp. for longer rides. Also, if they are doing a Time Trial and need to be bent over in an aero position, they can develop pain in various areas of the back, depending on the position they hold. Ask them about their back because some cyclists have the pain very high up between the shoulder blades and others have it lower down.

Have fun! Events are a blast. Let us know how it goes.

 

[MelissaHudgens]

As a cyclist (never raced but ride miles a day) any type of stretching and work done to my quads and hams would feel great after a ride. Hands only if they kept a tight grip, which if they are racers they shouldn't be doing anyway. If the race was a long one I would also focus on the neck and traps since they are keeping their head in a very unnatural position for a long time. Legs are the most important and like shiva said only go deep if they are not racing again the next day.

 

[Dherbs]

Agree with all of the above, and would like to add a few:

ankles
IT band
knees
lats
pecs (especiallly stretching them - they'll need it)