Durango is hard on bodies – and most people here wouldn’t have it any other way. But whether you’re logging miles on the Colorado Trail, lapping Purgatory on powder days, or pushing through a technical descent on the Hermosa Creek Trail, the accumulated tension, tightness, and minor injuries add up faster than most people realize. Sports massage therapy at Durango Chiropractic Associates is built specifically for the way people in this town move – and what it takes to keep moving.
This Isn’t a Spa Massage
There’s nothing wrong with a relaxation massage. But if you’re coming in with IT band tightness from a long ride, a shoulder that’s been nagging since your last ski fall, or calf muscles that feel like concrete after back-to-back trail runs – what you need is something more targeted.
Our massage therapist Anise specializes in sports-specific massage for active patients. Her work is focused on the muscle groups and movement patterns that take the most abuse from outdoor activity – and she understands the difference between tension that needs to be released and tissue that needs time. That distinction matters when your goal is staying active, not just feeling better for a day.
The Techniques We Use and Why They Work
There’s no single approach that works for every body or every activity. Anise draws from several methods depending on what your tissue needs that day.
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep tissue work targets the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue where chronic tension lives. For Durango athletes dealing with persistent tightness in the glutes, hamstrings, or upper back, deep tissue massage gets into areas that stretching and foam rolling simply can’t reach effectively. It can be intense, but the relief that follows tends to last.
Cupping
Cupping uses suction to lift tissue rather than compress it, which creates a different kind of release – particularly effective for fascial restrictions and areas with poor circulation from repetitive loading. If you’ve ever had a spot that feels permanently stuck no matter how much you stretch or roll it, cupping is often what finally moves it.
Scraping (IASTM)
Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization – most people just call it scraping – uses a smooth-edged tool to break down scar tissue and adhesions in tendons and fascia. It’s especially useful for overuse injuries common in endurance athletes: Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis, IT band syndrome, and patellar tendon issues that develop from high-mileage seasons.
Pre-Performance Preparation
Not every massage session is about recovery. Pre-performance massage focuses on activating muscles, improving circulation, and reducing stiffness before a big effort – whether that’s race day, a long backcountry ski tour, or a multi-day bikepacking trip. The goal is to get your body primed and responsive rather than deeply relaxed.
Why Durango’s Activities Create Specific Soft Tissue Problems
The activities people do here create predictable patterns of tightness and dysfunction. It’s worth understanding what you’re actually dealing with before treatment begins.
Mountain biking – especially technical riding on trails like Horse Gulch or the 505 – creates significant tension through the hip flexors, glutes, and thoracic spine from sustained forward flexion and constant stabilization. Longer rides compound this, particularly when riders are pushing into terrain that demands constant upper body engagement.
Hiking and backpacking in the San Juans puts sustained load through the calves, Achilles, and IT band on descents – and repeated elevation gain taxes the hip extensors and lumbar musculature in ways that accumulate over a season. A single long day on something like the Weminuche Wilderness trails can leave tissue tighter than a week of regular gym workouts.
Skiing and snowboarding at Purgatory load the quads and hip adductors heavily, while repeated falls and edge catches create soft tissue trauma through the shoulders, hips, and lower back that often goes unaddressed because it doesn’t rise to the level of a formal injury. That unaddressed tension is exactly what leads to the chronic aches that build up over a winter.
How Massage Fits Into a Broader Treatment Plan
One of the advantages of getting massage at Durango Chiropractic Associates is that it doesn’t exist in isolation. If you’re also seeing Dr. Ridgway for an adjustment, dry needling, or spinal decompression, massage can be sequenced to enhance those treatments – loosening muscle tension before an adjustment, for example, or supporting tissue recovery after a decompression session.
Anise performs a pre and post assessment with each visit so treatment isn’t just based on where you say it hurts. Understanding how your tissue is actually responding – before and after – guides better decisions about what technique to use and where to focus.
When to Come In
You don’t need to be injured to benefit from sports massage. In fact, the patients who get the most out of it are the ones who treat it as part of their regular maintenance rather than waiting until something breaks down. If you’re in the middle of a heavy training block, preparing for a race or big objective, or just feel like your body isn’t recovering the way it used to between efforts – those are all good reasons to book a session.
That said, if you’re dealing with a specific issue – a nagging tendon, a muscle that won’t release, or soft tissue pain from a recent fall or overuse injury – Anise can work with Dr. Ridgway to make sure your massage is coordinated with whatever else is going on in your care.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is sports massage different from a regular massage?
Sports massage is focused on function – improving movement, reducing injury risk, and supporting recovery from specific activities. It’s more targeted and often more intense than a relaxation massage, and the techniques used are chosen based on your activity and what your tissue needs.
Should I get a massage before or after my adjustment?
Either can work depending on your situation. Massage before an adjustment helps relax muscle guarding and can make the adjustment more effective. Post-adjustment massage supports the tissue changes from the adjustment. Dr. Ridgway and Anise will help you sequence it appropriately.
How often should I come in?
During heavy training periods, every 2-3 weeks tends to work well for most active patients. During recovery periods or off-season, monthly sessions are often sufficient. It really depends on your activity load and how your body responds.
Keep Doing What You Love in Durango
The trails, slopes, and rivers here aren’t going anywhere – but your ability to enjoy them depends on how well you take care of your body along the way. If you’re ready to move better and recover faster, call us at 970-247-5519 or book an appointment online and we’ll set you up with Anise for an assessment.
