Most of us often heard that the best way to relax after a strenuous workout, as well as to prevent sore muscles the next day is by means of the killer combo sauna plus massage. Most of the time, it has also been said, massage alone could do the trick, and this has become to represent a universally held belief. It’s still a lie, though; a new study comes to show. This widely held belief that post-workout massage can influence muscle blood flow and help rid of lactic acid is not grounded in facts.

This myth guarantee less pain the morning after the workout – is so widespread that it’s even listed on the Canadian Sports Massage Therapists as a benefit of the massage, despite the fact that there is literally no evidence to support it. It’s strange how not only regular people but even experts have accepted this theory without any scientific backing whatsoever.

Massage actually impairs blood flow to the muscle after exercise and that it therefore also impairs the removal of lactic acid from muscle after exercise. Underlining that a post-work massage can actually do more harm than good in terms of pain felt after a couple of hours.