I found this article about post-workout massage:
Finally, a "manly" excuse to get a massage: It refuels your workout. According to a new study, a post-sweat rubdown promotes recovery and relieves pain in the same way anti-inflammatory meds (ie: ibuprofen) do.
In the study, 11 guys biked to exhaustion. Afterwards, they had just one of their legs massaged. The kneaded leg had fewer signs of muscle inflammation—which lead to soreness—than untouched leg.
How come? When you work out hard (think: The Spartacus Workout), your muscles tear, releasing pro-inflammatory substances that make them ache. “Massage improves your body’s ability to make the proteins needed for energy that goes towards rebuilding muscles torn or strained during a workout,” says Simon Melov, Ph.D., and lead researcher of the study.
So when should you hit up a masseuse? Melov says that the pros are onto something. Ever seen a guy fresh off the field headed to a trainer’s table? It makes sense: The study found that the largest differences in inflammation were seen in having a massage immediately after a tough workout.
