Massage: A Smart Strategy for Performance and Recovery

Jesse Burlingham
May 23
3 min read

How Long Would You Drive Your Car Without Getting An Oilchange?

If your answer is “never,” you already understand the importance of regular maintenance. Without it, your vehicle risks engine failure, broken parts, and reduced performance. The same principle applies to your body.

Skipping consistent therapeutic massage can lead to built-up tension, limited mobility, and decreased overall performance.

For active individuals, regular massage isn’t a luxury—it’s essential upkeep. Therapeutic bodywork enhances circulation, relieves muscle tension, reduces pain, accelerates recovery, supports better sleep, helps prevent injuries, and improves posture, gait, and mental clarity.

Think of your body as a high-performance machine. Take care of it accordingly—it’s the only one you’ve got.

Massage therapy isn’t just a treat after a marathon or a once-a-year indulgence. For athletes—whether you’re a CrossFitter, cyclist, trail runner, or weekend warrior—consistent massage can be one of the most effective tools in your training toolkit.

At Zenith Performance and Wellness in Eugene, Oregon, we support athletes who want to move better, feel better, and perform at their best. Making massage a regular part of your wellness routine just makes sense.

1. Stay Ahead of Injuries

Athletes often wait until pain or tightness sidelines them—but by then, the damage is already done. Massage therapy helps catch and resolve tension patterns before they become injuries. By improving circulation and tissue quality, massage can keep your body resilient through hard training cycles and competitive seasons.

Regular massage is like brushing your teeth—don’t wait until there’s a problem to take care of your muscles.

2. Speed Up Recovery

Massage supports faster recovery between workouts by:

Improving blood and lymphatic flow
Reducing muscle soreness
Helping clear out metabolic waste like lactic acid

This means you can return to your next session feeling fresher and with less risk of compensation injuries.

3. Improve Mobility and Muscle Function

Even the best strength and mobility program benefits from hands-on bodywork. Massage can:

Break up adhesions and fascial restrictions
Improve joint range of motion
Restore normal muscle tone

Whether it’s opening up tight hips, decompressing your low back, or releasing a stubborn IT band, massage gives your body the freedom to move more efficiently.

4. Support the Nervous System

Hard training doesn’t just tax your muscles—it loads your nervous system.

Massage helps reset your parasympathetic system, reducing stress hormones and encouraging deeper rest and recovery. That’s crucial for:

Deep sleep
Hormonal balance
Mental clarity

A calm nervous system = a more adaptable, powerful athlete.

5. Build Better Body Awareness

Massage helps you connect to what’s happening under the surface—what’s tight, what’s weak, and what areas are overworked. This awareness carries into training, helping you:

Fix movement patterns
Prevent breakdowns
Train smarter, not just harder

So, How Often Should Athletes Get Massage?

It depends on your training load and goals. At Zenith, we typically recommend:

Every 2–4 weeks during consistent training
Weekly during high-volume or competition prep phases
Post-event sessions for recovery and reset

Why Athletes Choose Zenith Massage Therapy

Zenith’s massage therapist, Jesse Burlingham is one of only six certified Master Myoskeletal Therapists (MMT) in Oregon and among just 300 globally to hold this elite designation.
Sports-specific focus: Runners, cyclists, lifters, and field athletes welcome
Collaborative care: We work alongside Zenith’s PTs and strength coaches
Tailored sessions: Each massage is customized to your body and goals

Take Care of the Machine That Moves You

Book Your Next Massage Session at Zenith »

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Comments

A seamless transition from PT to strength training

I worked with Dr. Mariel Hammond who helped relieve my pain from an acute injury and identified the underlying cause. She worked with me to develop a longitudinal plan to prevent this injury from happening again. She was professional, supportive, and positive, and helped provide a seamless transition from physical therapy to a tailored strength training program. The whole Zenith team is great to work with—communication and scheduling is easy, they are friendly, and work with my schedule and individual needs. After graduating from physical therapy, I now participate in strength training sessions with Josh Harper and am happy with my progress. Thanks to Dr. Hammond, Josh Harper, and the whole Zenith team for providing excellent physical therapy care with a smooth transition to a tailored strength training program. If you’re looking for physical therapy, personal or group training in a supportive and respectful environment, Zenith is the place to go.

Christina M

Had me walking pain-free in just a week

An absolutely amazing experience! As I trained for my first marathon, the Eugene Marathon, I unfortunately overdid it and ended up injuring myself just 18 days before the race. Fortunately, Jesse, one of the owners of Zenith, overheard my conversation about the pain I was experiencing and recommended this place to me. I met with Mike Robinson, who quickly identified the issue and had me walking pain-free in just a week. With only a week and a half left before the marathon, I had three more sessions here—each boosting my confidence and ensuring I could run without pain. This place is incredible! I highly recommend it to anyone facing a potential setback due to injury. The team's communication, attention to detail, and dedication to their clients are truly exceptional. Five stars without a doubt!

Julian C

Zenith saw an opportunity no doctor had

After a year and a half of uncertainty regarding a lower leg injury I developed my freshman year, working with Jesse Klein is the only reason I can play pain free. After 4 MRIs, a compartment syndrome test, multiple X-rays, and people telling me it was time to give up my sport, Jesse saw an opportunity and brought to the table new knowledge and possibilities to my injury that none of the 3 doctors had mentioned to me. I am so thankful for this company and all they do for my team—but most importantly, huge thank you to Jesse for beating the odds and taking a new approach to heal me. After playing multiple sports my whole life, I knew something was wrong with my leg freshman year (2022). About two weeks into fall camp, I started experiencing swelling to almost double the size of my calf and leg spasms/cramps that would often keep me up at night. I attempted to push through and unfortunately ended up being diagnosed with bilateral tibial stress fractures and placed in a walking boot on my left side and an air cast on my right side for 2½ months, taking away my full freshman season. I went through about 3–4 months of physical therapy and attempted to return in March (2023) of my freshman season, but the pain wouldn't go away. I played through pain for about a month, but the swelling got to the point where I was having a hard time walking, and ultimately led me back to the boot from April to May. From June–August I was on a strict rehab schedule to get me back, which included no explosive or impact movement for the full time. I thought I was healed. I came back in August (2023) and the pain wouldn’t stop. At this point, I reached out to a new company and they wanted to discuss compartment syndrome testing, which ultimately took place in January—one of the doctors told me I should give it up if I wasn't reliant on scholarship. I went on break worried about what to do—and that’s when I met Jesse Klein. My coach introduced me to Jesse in January and told me he had a couple ideas on my injury. At this point I was looking for a miracle. I worked with Jesse from January to May (2024) and I plan to work with him in the future. We did weekly appointments and I followed his program that allowed me to begin play in moderation and keep up with exercises daily. Jesse brings a new view and unique take to PT and I would honestly recommend him to anyone. Because of him I am now pain free and can finally play the sport that I love. I played the whole 3 months of spring season with no pain and I can’t wait to come back and play in the fall. Without Jesse I don't know if I would be able to play anymore—he's made this experience efficient and comfortable, and my coach and I are eternally grateful.

Jessie M