Category Archives: Therapy + Injury

So I felt a minor discomfort on my left knee after Tokyo Marathon. Boo! It started rearing its ugly head as we shuffled from Omotesando to Takeshita to Ginza on our last day in Tokyo. When we arrived in Manila, it went on full throttle when I ran the next weekend and the weekend after. Still, after years of running, I knew my body well, especially my perennially injured legs, and I wasn’t too quick to call it an injury. It wasn’t…yet. I had to be careful and I did what I could to keep injury at bay.

What did I do? First, with a heavy heart, I decided to skip Tri United 1 which was two weeks after Tokyo Marathon.  Upon registering for this race months before, it seemed like a good idea (yeah, like my first boyfriend!) but, after the marathon, I thought: What the hell was I thinking?!  I knew that it always takes my body a full 3 weeks to recover from a marathon.  I should’ve known better and planned my race calendar well.  Lesson learned there.

Second, I went for therapy at Peak Form.  My guess was that my quads were tight and tugging at my knee caps, thus causing pain.  When Archie, the therapist, checked, he confirmed that my quads were indeed as hard as a rock.  (Told ya I know my body well!)  For the next two weeks, I paid Archie a visit twice a week.  By last Sunday, Run United 1, not only were Archie and I like best buds (LOL) I was also able to run 10k without any hint of pain!  Woot woot!

– with my therapist, Archie. He says he wants to join TBR Dream next year! –

So, last Wednesday, I pushed the door of Peak Form open squealing with delight that it was probably the last time (at least in a long time) that I’d be seeing them again!  I was fully recovered!  (Er, knock on wood for me please.)

– Entrance to Peak Form –


– Highway to injury-free heaven LOL –


– Ms. Nikki of Peak Form –

Just in case, you’re feeling some niggling discomfort, tightness in your legs, or heaviness after an easy run, or if you’re injured and you need physical therapy, perhaps you would like to get some therapy done.  There are quite a number of clinics that offer sports therapy nowadays, but I would recommend Peak Form for the following reasons:

1. They have a special Runners’ Deluxe Package.  Yup, they have a package especially for runners like you and me.  This consists of the following treatments: Laser or Ultrasound depending on the area, Myofascial release, Stretching, and Cryotherapy.

– Laser to crush those nodules! –

2.  They’re located at Bonifacio Global City.  Convenient and accessible.  Heck, you can drop by before or after a run.

3.  They’ve got this cool new machine called Shockwave Therapy.  It works like the oh-so painful myofascial release but without the pain!  You feel some pressure, but it’s definitely manageable.  It’s the new best friend of people who suffer from ITBS or Runner’s Knee.  Yup, that’s me.

– 2 sessions of Shockwave on my tight quads and I was back on the road, baby! –


– Shockwave on my foot. Just felt tightness from this area which needed releasing –

4. They have my favorite Cryo machine which blasts cold air onto your body instead of therapists using messy ice bags.

5.  Staff are friendly, knowledgeable and efficient.  You can chat about running and sports as they work their magic on you.

Peak Form is at Unit 807, The Infinity Building, 26th St., Bonifacio Global City.  Call 478-9408 or 0916-353-4485 to make an appointment.

One common mistake among people who live healthy lives is that they think they’re invincible.  “Hey, I workout 6x a week, I eat well, I don’t smoke nor drink, I get 8 hours of sleep, and I haven’t been sick the past year, I’m in the pink of health.”  Sound like you?  Well, that was me before I went for my check up at Hi-Precision Diagnostics Plus.

Little did I know that, despite my absurdly healthy lifestyle, genetics still plays a key role in one’s overall health and, as you’ll see in the results later on, I am my Father’s daughter when it comes to cholesterol. Gaaah!

To add, some of us don’t experience any symptoms of cardiovascular disease or any major ailments until it’s too late.  For athletes like us who constantly push our bodies to the limits while training or racing, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.  Get a check up and get cleared of any major issues before engaging in rigorous physical activity.

So, it was a blessing for me that Hi Precision contacted me a couple of months ago and offered to provide me with a few tests at the Hi Precision Diagnostics Plus, Powerplant Mall in Rockwell.

BLOOD TEST AND URINALYSIS

My first reaction upon entering the door of Hi Precision in Powerplant Mall (near True Value and Hi Lux) was:  Where was this before?!!  My family and I are in this mall almost every weekend, but I never saw it before.

– Information area at Hi Precision Diagnostics Plus –


– It was a pleasure to meet May Manahan of Hi Precision who took good care of me during my tests –


– The machines, equipment, and facilities were very impressive. I felt like I was in a world class hospital –

Inside Hi Precision, the receptionist greeted me, confirmed my appointment, and I was led inside the laboratory to wait for my bloodtest. There were various rooms for different tests just like in a hospital.  As I walked through the halls, I thought again: “How can this huge place exist without my knowing?!”  I was quite impressed with the cleanliness of their facilities, the high-tech equipment, the friendly staff, and the great location which made it so convenient to get tests done.

After less than 5 minutes wait, my blood pressure was taken as well as my weight.

They extracted blood for my bloodtest (I had 10 hours of fasting prior to this).  Then, I was given a bottle to collect urine for my urinalysis.  The entire process took no more than 15 minutes.

2D ECHO & ECG

Next, I was ushered into a room for my 2D Echo. This is essentially an ultrasound of the heart.

– Their staff is warm and friendly here –

The nurse attached sticky patches on me and connected these to the electrocardiogram machine.  She was kind enough to explain to me what we would be doing and asked me to lie down on the bed.  It was a simple non-invasive procedure, which took around 5 to 10 minutes only.

I also had the ECG or Electrocardiogram which tests the electrical activity in my heart done here too.

TREADMILL STRESS TEST

If there was anything I was looking forward to, it was the treadmill stress test.  (I think all of us runners get excited to test our endurance wherever it may be. Yes, even a clinic!)  Unfortunately, there was a problem with their machine that day and I was asked to return.

Two days after, I returned ready to take on the challenge! I cracked my fingers and toes and prepared myself for the test.

– In full workout gear for my treadmill stress test! LOL –

The doctor who supervised the test advised me that there would be 8 stages with 3 minutes per stage.  (Aaah! A multistage event!)  My blood pressure would be taken every 2 minutes.  The elevation would increase from stage 1 to 3, while the speed would increase beginning stage 4.  (I love a challenge!)  She reminded me that I didn’t have to run and tire myself because the only goal was to reach 85% of my maximum heart rate.  (Whoakay. Fine.)

The test started and I walked first, then ran as it sped up.  When my HRM hit 87%, the doctor asked me if I wanted to continue the test because I could already stop.  Thinking about my interval run the following day, I asked them to stop.  I thought it best to save my energy for the real training run!

– That’s my heart rate! –

DOCTORS’ CONSULTATION

After the test, I was advised to wait for consultation with the doctor.  This took longer than expected as I was made to wait for over an hour.  Thankfully, the clinic is situated in Rockwell Mall so it was quite easy to pass the time.

The doctor went through my test results quickly.  She basically explained that everything was normal except for high cholesterol.

Say what?!!  High cholesterol?!!  The doctor advised me to watch my diet and cut back on fatty food.  I replied:  “Honestly, I don’t know what I’m going to cut because I eat relatively healthy.”  I was shocked.  I exercise 6x a week and eat pretty well.  I asked: “Could it be genetics? My dad had high cholesterol and was diabetic.”  The doctor said it could be genetics, but advised me to watch my diet and have another test done a month after.

Despite the bad news, I know now that living an active and healthy lifestyle is even more important for someone like me who has high cholesterol and diabetes in her genes.  The series of tests was an eye-opener for me reminding me that no matter how healthy and strong I feel, I should get regularly check ups to really know what’s going on in my body and, more importantly, to determine if I’m fit and healthy enough to push my body to the limits when I participate in races.

Maybe you should consider getting a check up too, eh?

Website: Hi Precision Diagnostics

Amidst the Christmas chaos, I braved the traffic from the South to Makati and successfully made it to the Intercare Blogger’s Night. It was a worthwhile event where I learned about the services that Intercare has to offer (whoa boy, they have a lot!), received a free, and long delayed, consult with popular Chiropractor Dr. Martin Camara, and finally had Rocktape applied on my plantar and calves.

INTERCARE

Before the presentations began, I finally got to chat with Dr. Martin Camara, one of the founders of Intercare, who is an avid mountain biker and triathlete and, surprise surprise, was once a contributor of TBR Magazine. Ironically, we had only met briefly for the first time at the airport last August as we checked in for our flight to Cebu for Ironman 70.3. It was only this evening that we got to talk more about running (he’s a run-walk believer! Woot!), triathlon, and, of course, Intercare.

– Dr. Martin Camara talks about Intercare –

INTERCARE was founded in 1993 and is now a global healthcare service center specializing in pain management, sports medicine and injuries, and functional fitness. Intercare was involved in the 2006 Turin Olympics, 2008 Beijing Olympics, and most recently, the 2012 London Olympics. They also treated athletes at several events, such as the SEA Games and Ironman 70.3 Philippines in 2011 and 2012.

Services offered by Intercare:

• Chiropractic treatment
• Physical therapy
• Myotherapy
• Acupunture
• ICSS
• Ismart
• Rehab consultation
• Optogait
• Kinesio Capture
• Stress management
• Pilates
• Sports Taping

For more information on the services above, visit Intercare’s website by clicking HERE.

After Dr. Camara’s talk, we were all invited to try some of the services of Intercare.

– Banjo of Ulikblogrunner tries out myotherapy –

– Bards of Banana Running learns more about Optogait –

I had tried Myotherapy and Acupuncture at the Intercare Alabang branch way back in 2009 (read more about it HERE), so I decided to give the Chiropractic Treatment and Rocktape a try this time.

CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT

Chiropractic treatment is a natural, drugless branch of the healing arts which deals with conditions that affect our bones and muscles, ligaments and cartilage, and even the nerves.

Since 2010, right before I ran the NYC Marathon, good friend Jim Saret advised me to see a chiro because he suspected I was “misaligned.” Stubborn ol’ me (sorry Jim!), I didn’t visit one because—just as many runners think nowadays—if the wheel ain’t broke, why fix it?

Luckily, this evening, I was treated to a complimentary consult with Dr. Camara himself.  I told him that, while I currently wasn’t suffering from any serious injury, my left leg has been through most of the running injuries: shin splints, ITBS, runner’s knee, plantar fasciitis, and post-tib tendonitis.

– The smart doctor has a few tricks up his sleeve to make himself look taller than me. Hmph. –

Dr. Camara first checked my hips and had me lie on my stomach.  In less than 5 minutes, Dr. Camara confirmed that I was misaligned. My left leg was shorter than the right!  (Whoa boy, you should’ve heard good friend Vima, Kulit Runner, yelling from behind: “Di pantay! Di pantay!”)

Dr. Camara told me to relax and, with a swift twist here and a quick snap there, he corrected my hips and my spine.

– Hip check. It’s at this point that you try your best to suck in all the fat, even the one on your back –

– There was slight pain that lasted less than a second. Nothing we runners can’t handle. Hah! –

Then, he checked my neck and twisted it towards the left and right, too. Honestly, it was slightly unnerving to have my spine and neck treated by anyone, but I just had to remind myself that I was in good hands.

– Upper back and neck. These adjustments made me feel great after –

True enough, when we checked again, my hips had been aligned and my legs were the same length. (Again, you should’ve heard Vima oohing and aaahing!)  I stood up and I felt great; I felt lighter, almost like I had a spring in my step when I walked.

I ran 10k intervals on the treadmill the following day and, with absolutely no exaggeration, I’m telling you it was one of those great runs were you feel like your run is smooth and easy.

Dr. Camara reminded me that it usually took 6 to 8 sessions for a complete alignment.  Hey, after that trial session, I definitely think this is worth the time and money.

ROCKTAPE

After my Chiro session, I hopped on over to the Rocktape room.

RockTape is a special kind of tape known as kinesiology tape. First used by acupuncturists and chiropractors in Japan, today kinesiology tape is used by practitioners throughout the world to treat injuries and improve sports performance.

In the past, I wrote about Kinesio Taping HERE and compared two kinesio tape brands: Muscle Tape and Kinesio Tex Gold HERE.  During our Intercare meeting, Rocktape was also presented as the favored kinesio tape of Intercare; they are also the distributors of Rocktape.

According to Intercare, Rocktape is the best performance enhancing sports tape on the market. It helps enhance performance when applied to a specific muscle group by:

• Promoting blood flow to the muscles
• Promoting lymphatic drainage
• Assisting in the removal of lactic acid
• Reducing muscle vibration

One of the therapists, Mike, applied Rocktape on me. I chose to have them apply it on my left arch since my plantar has been feeling tight lately.  Dr. Camara also had them tape my ankles because he noticed that the left ankle was very inflexible.

My initial thoughts on the tape: The material of Rocktape is slightly thicker than the leading brand, Kinesio Tex Gold.  The weave of Rocktape seems to provide more adhesion and breathability; it also looks more durable.  Dr. Camara said the tape  can stay on for over a week and can withstand a swim in a triathlon.

– Kinesio Tex Gold on the left, Rocktape on the right –

The following day, for the first time in weeks, I woke up in the morning without any discomfort from my Plantar!  It was a-ma-zing.  I tested my “Rocktaped legs” on the treadmill as well and it felt great!  I had a shoot two days after this event so, much to my disappointment, I had to remove the tape so I wasn’t able to test how long it would’ve stayed on.  (Um, definitely longer than KT Tape’s one day of adhesion!)

I plan to head on over to Intercare soon to have myself all taped up again.  Rocktape, you’ve got yourself a new fan!

Intercare Branches:

Makati
Intercare Building,
 8420 Kalayaan Avenue, Makati City.
Tel Nos: (632)890-3378 -79
 | Fax: (632)890-2547 | 
Mobile: 0922-811-3651
, 0917-850-9486
Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
 | Saturday, 8:00AM – 12:00 NN

Greenhills
26-A Eisenhower Street, 
Greenhills, San Juan.
Tel Nos: (632)724-6631
 | Telefax: (632)722-1846
 | Mobile: 0922-811-3650
, 0917-859-9479
Monday, 8:00AM -3:00 PM
 | Tuesday to Friday, 8:00AM – 5:00PM | 
Saturday, 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Alabang
Unit D, Upper GF, Westgate Tower, 
Investment Drive, Madrigal Business Park
, Alabang, Muntinlupa
Tel Nos: (632)807-6863 | 
Fax: (632)809-4163 | 
Mobile: 0922-811-3649, 
0917-866-4156
Monday to Friday, 10:00AM – 7:00 PM
 | Saturday, 9:00AM – 4:00PM

Website: http://www.intercare-centers.com/
Facebook: Intercare

Lucky is the runner that doesn’t have to deal with any injuries. At one time or another, most runners will be faced with an injury; it’s just part of life as a runner. One learns how to manage it and prevent any major problems to allow us to continue doing the sport we love.

One of the most common running injuries is Illiotibial Band Syndrome or ITBS. Here’s a definition from about.com:

Iliotibial band syndrome, or ITBS, is due to inflammation of the iliotibial band, a thick band of fibrous tissue that runs down the outside of the leg. The iliotibial band begins at the hip and extends to the outer side of the shin bone (tibia) just below the knee joint. The band functions in coordination with several of the thigh muscles to provide stability to the outside of the knee joint.

I first felt the symptoms of ITBS in late 2008. Completely unaware of what I should’ve been doing to appease my angry, tight muscles, I proceeded to run as fast and often as I could. What happened? ITBS went on full attack during my half marathon in Standard Chartered Singapore Half Marathon. At Km 19—yes, just 2 km shy of the finish, my left knee locked and refused to bend. I wobbled like Erap to a slow and excruciating finish.

– Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2008. Pain pain pain –

It happened again in New York City Marathon 2010. Dormant for over a year, ITBS decided to unleash an all out war against me during the race that I spent 4 months preparing for. You really just wanna strangle this annoying injury if you could.

ITBS is nasty and evil. And, I must admit, it’s a lot more stubborn then I am. Left unmanaged, it will worsen until you reach the point when every step is so excruciating you won’t be able to run. BUT, if you learn how to manage ITBS as soon as you feel tightness in the ITB or soreness in the knee, then you can enjoy your runs with little worry.

Here’s what I do whenever I feel any symptoms of ITBS arising. It’s based on years of personal experience dealing with ITBS, but I’m no doctor so this should not replace a consultation with an expert.

1. Wear compression tights. This is the first thing I do when I feel even the slightest symptoms of ITBS returning. During every run, no matter how hot it is out there, I wear my compression tights. I use 2XU because it’s light, comfortable, and flexible (not as stiff as other brands). During cooler months, I use CW-X, which is a bit thicker than 2XU, but has a special model to address ITBS.  I believe there’s a newer model of CW-X tights that are lighter.  I  hope Runnr brings it in soon.

2. Change shoes. It used to be that once I found the perfect pair for my feet, I would use that shoe for every single run. I felt safe in them. But, Hector Yuzon of SecondWind advised me to regularly change shoes. When I feel the slightest soreness on my knee or tightness on the ITB, I modify something in my footwear, be it a change of shoes, replacing of insoles, or putting them back on or removing them.

3. Foam roll. To ease the tight ITB muscles, I foam roll three to four times a day for 10 minutes. Roll on those tight muscles gingerly. You’ll feel the nodules fighting it out and it can be quite painful, but you gotta do what you gotta do to run again. I got my foam roller at Chris Sports for around P1,000, but I think most sports stores will have them. I also once used a PVC pipe and wrapped a yoga mat around it. If you’re on a budget, this works well too.  Click HERE to read my old post on Foam Rollers.

4. Tiger Tail. On top of the foam roller (I know I can be quite obsessive about battling ITBS), I use the tiger tail right after I run or while I’m watching TV. Just roll over the tight areas of your leg. While you’re at it, roll over the calves, quads, and hamstrings too. Tiger Tail is available in Chris Sports for around P1000.  Click HERE to read my old post about Tiger Tail.

5. Deep tissue massage and therapy. Even if you foam roll and tiger tail, there’s nothing like a physical therapist’s expert strokes to remove those nodules. I visit Peak Form Sports Recovery Center (formerly Riovana Sports Recovery Center) at the 2nd floor of Riovana for a session of ultrasound, laser, deep tissue massage, stretching and finally cryo therapy at least once a week until the ITBS is gone. This center is owned by ortho-surgeon Dr. Gary Eufemio and Coach Jim Saret so you know you’re well taken care of.  Click HERE to read about it and for contact info.

6. Stretch. You should be doing this even if you don’t have any ITBS. Always stretch AFTER a run. For the ITBS, my favorite stretch is this: I stand with my left leg over the right leg.  I stretch my left arm over my head reaching over to the right side.  You’ll feel the stretch up to the hip.  Do it again on the other side.  I do this after every run.  And, I also do it at home as often as I can. Click HERE for a visual.

7. Strength training. ITBS is caused my a muscle imbalance. Your ITB is tight because your VMO (inner thigh muscles) aren’t strong enough. So, with every step during a run, there’s an imbalance. You must strengthen the VMO to correct this. You can head to the gym and do some hip abductor exercises. Or you can purchase therabands and do the work at home.

8. Dry needling. This is my last resort if, after 2 weeks doing nos. 1 to 6, the ITB is still not budging. This is still a pretty controversial form of therapy; some say it works, some say it doesn’t.  For me, it provided immediate relief from the tightness.  I go to Dr. George Canlas’ clinic at Moro Lorenzo Sports Center in Ateneo. You’ll have to get a consult with him and ask if he would recommend dry needling for your case. Aspi is my go-to dry needling guy here.  Click HERE to read my old article on Dry Needling.

With dry needling, the therapist pops a large needle directly into the tight muscles in your leg. You’ll feel like you’re being electrocuted; sometimes you’ll cringe and even cry because of the pain. It’s painful. (They say it makes PBA players cry!) Your muscles will be sore the following day. But, it can definitely rid all the tightness without the slow and painful strokes of a massage. The downside? The relief is temporary. Once you run again, the tightness will return.

So, guys and girls, that’s what I do to fight ITBS. Once you get ITBS, the battle doesn’t really end. Every time you up your mileage or train for a marathon, the symptoms reappear (well, at least for unlucky flatfooted me.) As a runner, you learn how to manage an injury wisely and keep it from preventing you to run. You gotta teach those injuries who’s boss!

I’m a sucker for spas and deep tissue massages. I also know the value of therapy and treatments for muscle tightness or injuries performed by licensed physical therapists. So, when I dropped by the new Sports Recovery Center on the 2nd floor of Riovana in Bonifacio High Street, I thought I had died and gone to runner’s heaven.

The new Riovana Sports Recovery Center recently opened to service athletes, specifically runners. It’s a spa and clinic in one. While most of us visit a doctor’s clinic only when we’re already injured, the Riovana Sports Recovery Center hopes to change all that by espousing the value of preventive maintenance: getting treatments done even before injury. Simply put, it’s the place to go for pre-race conditioning or post-race recovery treatment, or just to give your body a treat after regular training.

IT’S A PHYSICAL THERAPY CENTER

Owned and operated by MultiSportMatrix, a company with big names in the Philippine sports medicine scene, such as Dr. Gar Eufemio, Dr. Jun Rafanan, and Coach Jim Saret, the center is like the physical therapy area of a sports center with high-tech medical equipment, namely one of three cryo machines in the country, laser and ultrasound. They also offer sports massage, acupuncture by Dr. Philip Tan-Gatue, platelet rich plasma (yes, just like what Kobe and Tiger do!), hydration therapy / oxygen supplementation, kinesio taping, and stretching.

For injured runners, they recommend that you be assessed first in a clinic since the center is manned by nurses and physical therapists.  Having said that, there will still be appearances by doctors as well as conditioning and running experts (need you ask who the running expert will be if it’s in RIOvana?!)

– Riovana Sports Recovery Center Staff (L to R): Tintin, Aileen, Nia, Tina, Dianne, Laura –

As for the staff, I must say that I was quite impressed. When I entered the center, they were very warm and accommodating; they welcomed me with smiles, explained each service, and answered all my questions. I heard the staff—most have a background in nursing or physical therapy and are athletes themselves— were hand picked by Dr. Eufemio himself. With such wonderful and professional personnel like that to spend a full hour or more of treatment with, I felt very comfortable and at ease.

IT’S A SPA

The center is clean, air-conditioned, and spacious enough for each of the beds in a cubicle. There are around six rooms in the center, two of which can be opened and converted into a couple’s room. There’s a room for stretching and another for acupuncture. There’s also a clean shower room for runners who wish to undergo treatments after a run. During the session, there’s relaxing music playing in the background, much like those in spas.

TREATMENTS

Riovana Sports Recovery Center offers the following treatments:

De Luxe Package……….P1000.00
I. For the lower back and both lower extremities
II. For the neck, upper back and both upper extremities

Includes the following:
– Ultrasound/Laser Therapy – Helps decrease inflammation and increase flexibility
– Sports Massage
– Full Body Stretch
– Cryo-therapy – This literally “freezes the pain away…”
° Additional P50 for every modality in excess

Elite Package……….P1800.00
De Luxe Packages I and II combined!

Couples Package……….10% discount
Come in with a partner and get 10% off

For Patients with a Physical Therapy Referral……….P500.00 (for the first body part)
Inclusive of all modalities and exercises
° Additional P50 for every modality in excess

Pre-Event Stretching……….P150.00
Full Body, Approximately 30 minutes

Acupuncture Treatment……….P1200.00

Promotions:
– Pre-pay for 6 sessions and get 10% off
– Pre-pay for 10 sessions and get 2 sessions free
– Combine any package with acupuncture and get 20% off

TBR REVIEW

Thanks to Dr. Eufemio, I got to try a complimentary Elite Package last week.  Dianne, a license physical therapist and an athlete herself, took care of me for almost an hour and a half.  The Elite Package usually takes 2 hours, but due to my hectic schedule, Dianne and I focused on certain areas, particularly my shins, big toes, and Neuromas, instead.

– Dianne with the cryo, ultrasound, and laser machines –

We started with the Ultrasound, a non-invasive and no-pain treatment where Diane placed gel on my skin and used a contraption to decrease inflammation and improve flexibility.  This was actually very relaxing.  This was followed by the Laser therapy where I pointed out specific areas that were painful or tight. Dianne said this could reduce the nodules in muscles much like what a deep tissue massage would do but without the screaming and yelling.

I thought I escaped a deep tissue massage, but it was the third service in the package. Dianne massaged my shins, ITB, and foot, areas that I pointed out needed releasing.  If you’re not in a rush, you can have a full body deep tissue massage. It’s part of the package.

Next, we used the Cryo machine, one out of only 3 cryo machines in the Philippines.  This was my favorite!  It works like an ice pack on your body, but reduces the time from the usual 10 minutes to 3 minutes and without the mess.  It feels cold, but completely relaxing too.

Dianne would’ve ended the entire treatment with stretching, but I had to rush out to pick up the kiddos in school.  So, I passed on the treatment and yet, I felt like I had the works done. I felt completely rejuvenated and my muscles were relaxed and loose.  I felt so great I was tempted to do a tempo run that evening, but I decided against it.

THE VERDICT

Thumbs up to the Riovana Sports Recovery Center.  It’s a novel idea that promotes proper care and therapy for athlete’s bodies to prevent injury and allow us to perform at our best at all times.  The fact that it is backed by top sports and medical experts and manned by knowledgeable and accommodating staff who go out of their way to provide the best service in a comfortable, relaxing setting makes a visit well worth it.  The facilities are clean and well-equipped, price is reasonable, and the location is convenient and accessible.  Perhaps the only downside I foresee is that it will be hard to set an appointment when the rest of the world hears about this gem of a place for relaxation and recovery secretly hidden atop Riovana Running Store.

CONTACT DETAILS
Riovana Sports Recovery Center
Mezzanine Level, Active Fun Bldg., 9th Ave. cor. 28th St. Bonifacio Global City
Open from 10am to 9pm daily
Phone: 478-9408
Mobile: 0916-353-4485
Twitter: msmxrecovery