Success in Athletics and how to obtain it

CHAPTER XXII MASSAGE OR RUBBING FROM the first it must be understood that massage 1s an accomplishment which requires education. It is a skilled method of improving the condition of the muscles and other structures. There are far too many unskilled methods used in the endeavour to "improve" athletes. · Trainers- so called- are often prone to engage rubbers, or they themselves go in for rubbing. It may be said at the outset that most of the rubbing is done without skill and often is most pernicious. Before and after a period of training the trainer to justify his position comes along and rubs his protege. What is he doing? He follows Qld ideas. Himself an old athlete, he does what was done to him. Old errors are thus perpetuated, for he goes on along the same old lines day after day. To suggest that he is fol– lowing obsolete and inefficient methods convinces him that you know nothing about the business. He is so imbued with his own knowledge, and he is himself so hypnotised by past practice and experience, that he is not to be interfered with ; and he who comes and makes a scientific, but unorthodox sugges- 2I4