DO YOU REALLY NEED A MASSAGE?

Most of us enjoy a good rub-down – but, as our headline implies, there may be a difference between wanting a massage and actually needing one. Most cyclists have manual therapy from time to time, either to ease aches or just for maintenance. We’re told that shaving our legs enhances the experience, and there are all kinds of massage-related products claiming to further boost the benefits. But are there really any proven gains from a massage, or does it simply feel good? As a physiotherapist treating countless cyclists every year, I have a personal interest in finding out.

There is no clear scientific consensus as to whether massage has a significant effect beyond alleviating stress and anxiety. There’s no question, it helps us relax. But most of us go for a massage in the hope of reaping physiological effects