A runner at the physiotherapist — for me, this subject came up while preparing to break three hours in the marathon. As the training load increased, I developed muscle tension and thigh pain. I used compression gear, foam rolling and cold baths, but still felt I needed help.
This is my account of a visit first described on 9 January 2018, during Crushing3. The original experience remains, with an editorial update separating my impressions from claims about treatment and massage effectiveness.
Why I booked the visit
I did not want to give up running. I wanted to understand the discomfort and see whether working on sore muscles would bring relief. I visited Marcin at Mr. Prodotyk for an isometric and post-training massage.
I was wary. My previous massage after a marathon had been painful, and after the race itself I could barely walk for three days. This time I arrived after training with tight muscles and thigh pain. I was curious, without expecting one session to solve everything.
What the session felt like
First, I contracted the muscles Marcin indicated; he then worked on individual areas. He quickly located tender spots, especially in my legs. Parts of the session hurt, and I was surprised by how many sensitive areas there were.
Afterwards I felt tired, almost as if I had trained, but pleased. Running felt noticeably more comfortable the following morning. That was my impression after one visit, rather than a recovery measurement or evidence that massage improved my athletic performance.
At the time, I wanted to return more often in the hope of having fewer sore spots. Looking back, I describe the visit as part of my preparation rather than a formula for a particular marathon time.
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Massage and physiotherapy: what to expect
Massage can be one component of physiotherapy. An appointment may also include a history, movement assessment, exercises and advice on managing symptoms, as outlined by the NHS. My account mainly concerns massage, so it should not be read as a description of a full physiotherapy assessment.
The original article claimed massage worked “two to three times better” than passive rest and increased muscle strength and mass. I have removed those promises. A 2020 systematic review found small benefits for flexibility and delayed-onset muscle soreness, but no improvement in the sporting performance measures studied, including strength, sprinting and endurance. Feeling relief and running faster are separate outcomes.
The clicking sensation I had not established a cause for
During complementary exercises I also felt a clicking or shifting sensation in one leg. In the original account, I linked it to “insufficient joint fluid” and mentioned consulting a dietitian. I have no documentation confirming that diagnosis, so I withdraw that conclusion and the suggestion that diet could resolve it.
I can report the symptom and my impressions honestly; establishing its cause is a separate matter. Recurring discomfort or symptoms that limit activity are something to discuss with an appropriately qualified professional rather than diagnose from a blog account.
What I would ask before another appointment
I would prepare a description of where the pain occurs, when it appears and what my recent training has involved. I would ask about the purpose of the treatment, any follow-up exercises and how to assess progress. I would agree the number of visits individually: I have no basis for recommending the same schedule to every runner.
It also makes sense to check the practitioner’s qualifications and the scope of the service. Massage, physiotherapy and wellness treatments describe different things. My positive opinion of the visit with Marcin reflects my own experience at that time.
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Summary: one part of marathon preparation
I was pleased with the visit and running felt better the following day. That is enough to share the experience, but too little to attribute a specific training benefit to massage. The marathon build-up depended on the whole preparation process.
For the wider story, return to the Crushing3 project. The Greater Manchester Marathon race report is available in Polish. These visits were part of the journey; I cannot quantify their contribution to the result.
This is a personal account, not individual medical advice. Polish original: 9 January 2018. English translation and editorial update: 4 October 2026.