As you may already be aware, the post-workout soreness you experience isn’t due to “lactic acid” build up, but rather micro-tears in your muscle fibers that usually heal with few problems, even if it does take a few days. In this study, published in February of 2012, test subjects cycled to the point of exhaustion, had one side of their quads massaged for 10 minutes, then a sample of their muscle tissue was taken. The resulting study of the tissue sample showed a distinction in the massaged leg’s mRNA (messenger RNA, information for cells in the building proteins), in which:
…massaged legs had different levels of two key proteins: less NFkB and more PGC-1alpha. Lowering NFkB levels reduces inflammation and increasing PGC-1alpha levels leads to the creation of more mitochondria that generate energy for cell growth, so both these massage-induced changes are good news for healing muscle cells.
Massage Doesn’t Just Feel Good—It Changes Gene Expression and Reduces Inflammation, Discover Magazine Blog, Retrieved February 4, 2012
What does this mean for you? After a workout, get those muscles rubbed! If you’re planning a particularly strenuous workout or event, schedule your post-event/workout massage ahead of time to promote faster healing, decrease in inflammation, and less pain in the days following!
Many types of fitness places also employ or contract a massage therapist. Many times, a post-workout massage of short duration can be booked, especially if you plan ahead! Many therapists and the companies they work for offer package deals for multiple sessions. I encourage you to make massage a part of your fitness plan and budget. Your tired and sore muscles will thank you!
To read the full abstract of this study: J. D. Crane, D. I. Ogborn, C. Cupido, S. Melov, A. Hubbard, J. M. Bourgeois, M. A. Tarnopolsky, Massage Therapy Attenuates Inflammatory Signaling After Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage. Sci. Transl. Med. 4, 119ra13 (2012).
Spent Saturday at EDGE’s tent at the 
American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in Beaverton page. (There is also a place to donate. Might I suggest donating to the 
This Sunday (7/23) from 11am to 2pm, I will be at the 
