Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Massage-Lite definition-A totally stripped down version of a leg recovery system that is distinct from
conventional leg recovery systems for the following reasons
• No equipment needed
• No disrobing
• No oil-environmentally friendly
• No washing up
• No long training
• No clean area needed
• Can be done by anyone
A massage-lite workshop
• It is not invasive
• It is not aggressive
It makes it easier for someone who has to become their own physical and muscle
therapist-and they have to learn how to do this with a minimum of education and
training
Here is an image of a leg of a swollen lower leg and ankle they do not have ms-but it shows how lack
of movement and exercise can affect lower leg circulation and make it more difficult to even wear a
pair of shoes without rubbing and causing feet problems
Muscle health (and warm feet) is based on having a constant supply of oxygen and
nutrients to them
To maintain the supply a balance between what goes into the muscles and what comes out of them is
important-if fresh oxygen rich blood can't enter the muscle tissues levels the muscles fatigue
To keep it all going the body has a circulatory system; part of it takes fresh blood to the muscles
pumped there by the heart through the arteries-another part of the system takes the used blood away
back to the body where it is re-nourished with oxygen and nutrients and recirculated again.
• Poor circulation
I worked for 24 hours off this chair (next to the bottles) without any equipment in unhygienic conditions
Michael’s methods of massage and blister care helped me to stay mobile throughout the race and
to recover quickly afterwards. His techniques are safe and gentle.
Unlike some treatments, which put the runners and walkers at risk of muscle tears or infection,
Michael’s techniques are gentle, safe, reassuring, and highly effective. They enhance comfort and
flexibility, build confidence, and promote success.
This booklet will help others to learn and practice Michael’s methods. It is recommended reading for
everyone who walks and runs and who wants to go further, go faster, or just to enjoy life more!!'
SANDRA BROWN 1996 Ladies 1000 Mile World Record Holder
1999 Ladies 100 mile Race walking World Record Holder
“The second tear (at least I have matching legs with old tears on both sides) was caused, to my great
annoyance at the time, by an overenthusiastic physio who was supposed to be helping me to warm up
gently before a 24 hour race and got carried away. I am now more wary of having physio at any time,
and make sure that I stay in control, by saying at the outset what I want and don’t want to be done to
me. Having never had a persistent injury (my varied training pattern means that any niggles have the
chance to heal quickly, rather than get hammered and go critical,) I have never had regular physio or a
steady relationship of trust with any physiotherapist who knew me and my needs. The closest I have
come to this was receiving massage from Michael Gillan during the Nanango (Queensland) 1000-mile
race in 1996. I had no hesitation in having a massage from Michael again at the end of the Melbourne
100 miles walk in 1999. Michael’s approach is very gentle at all times, and always works with the
athlete and puts the athlete in control, thus minimizing the risk of harm and maximizing the benefit.’
(Source:http://www.surreywalkingclub.org.uk/Training?Advice/Articles/training_for_ultras_by_sandra
_br.htm#Training/forUltras_SB)
“I know that your massage kept a number of competitors in the event. The cold weather of Saturday
afternoon and night certainly got to many of the walkers and your prompt action had them back in the
race after a short stop.
In years past, that would have ended up as a non-finish. A number of walkers were able to keep going
for the full 24 hours on the basis of your expert help.”
Tim Ericson Secretary Australian Centurions Club
A word from Jesper Olsen World Runner about Light Manual Muscle Relaxation
“If I hadn't had the qualified help from the excellent masseur Michael Gillan, taking several thousands
of km out of my legs, I could spare myself the effort!”
“My crew for the current stages, Michael Gillan, has proven to have other talents than the quite taxing
job of taking care of all the requirements of a really tired ultra runner!
He has since years back been working on a new approach to stretching and muscle-rebuilding for ultra
runners. I have the last two days tried his careful stretch and massage, and a bit to my surprise the
muscles are beginning to feel like before the start back in Greenwich, London!!
Usually I doesn’t take massage as the legs of an ultra runner will often be quite sore during the long
time events (and especially in an multi-year event like this...), and getting a massage can at times cause
more injury and cramping up than good. For example my last massage was some 12 000km ago when I
ran the 12-hour competition in Finland. And so far that has been the only one.
But Gillan came with best recommendations from my main contact in Australia, Phil Essam, who
besides being vice president in the Australian Ultra runners Association has heaps of good knowledge
to share. And this new kind of mild massage for ultra runners is definitely one of the good tips! There
should be a fair chance that I actually get fresh enough to do some decent running at the 6 Day Race
that I have coming up in Colac from the 21.November. I quite look forward to that, even though I can’t
expect to make a top class result :-)”
He won! 756.2 kilometers (Jesper holds the record for the longest run in history over 26000
kilometers and the first person to run around the world
Taken from www.worldrun.org
See page 7 for a result sheet for a comparison of a simple massage lite system can affect
recovery-Light Manual Muscle Relaxation was being developed at this event
Michael Gillan
Long distance recovery specialist
There are many other problems caused by venous inefficiency and it may be worthwhile looking at
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/26/12/3333
Peripheral Arterial Disease in People With Diabetes
http://www.o-wm.com/article/8057
Controversies Regarding Vascular Disease in the Patient with Diabetes: A Review of the Literature
VOLUME: 53 Issue Number: 11 author: Robert J. Snyder, DPM, CWS
http://www.videomd.com/PeripheralArterialDisease-fv-465.aspx
mgillan@hotmail.com
Copyright 2009 Michael Gillan 8 ultra marathon recovery specialist
http://aching-legs.org/
Light Manual Muscle Relaxation as an aid to lower leg circulation