Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/77400
THE LACTIC ACID DEBATE We must better understand the known physiological effects of massage and how massage benefits our clients. True or false: massage after exercise assists in the removal of lactic acid. Answer: false. The research overwhelming refutes this commonly held and frequently exclaimed belief. The lactic acid debate has raged for a century, and for the past two decades the research consistently demonstrates that blood lactate will return to normal within 20–60 minutes post-exercise, regardless of intervention. Yet, massage schools continue to teach this flawed lactic acid theory and massage therapists still declare it as truth to clients and the media. It is time to reform our declaration on the benefits of massage for clients. It is essential to stop perpetuating a false theory. As a result of this pervasive myth, articles are published making damaging claims about massage, such as, "Research questions efficacy of massage as an aid to recovery in post- exercise settings" and "Massage not an effective treatment for enhancing long- term restoration of post-exercise muscle strength and its use in athletic settings should be questioned." Undocumented claims, such as "massage assists in the removal of lactic acid," draw attention and will be tested. The negative results become fodder for those looking for a shocking headline. Even if massage does not help move lactic acid, thousands of elite athletes and trainers can't be wrong when they commit valuable resources to pack up massage therapists and take them across the country on bike races, or provide precious space in the medical tents at the Olympics, or allow the female massage therapist an unprecedented seat on the bench in the San Diego Padre's dugout. Massage does work. But, in an era of open access to research and the push for evidence-informed practices, we must heed the available data and speak accurately about what we do and why it works. When we fail to do so, it comes back and bites us where it hurts. We must better understand the known physiological effects of massage and how massage benefits our clients to be able to refute gross conclusions that don't accurately reflect our role in helping athletes recover from post-exercise symptoms. In order to better understand why the belief that massage removes lactic acid is false, we need to better understand blood lactate and the causes of post-exercise symptoms. The first questions to explore are: what is lactic acid or blood lactate and what does it do? If lactic acid buildup doesn't cause muscle soreness and fatigue, then what does? Does massage enhance performance, relieve muscle fatigue, and reduce muscle soreness? If so, how? What do we know about the physiological effects of massage and what has yet to be demonstrated through research? Once we have appraised the best available information, we can reform our statements about how massage benefits clients. Then we need to encourage all massage therapists to promote the best available data on the benefits of massage to clients. Finally, it is important to inform the next generation of research to earn CE hours at your convenience: abmp's online education center, www.abmp.com 117