If you’re looking for another reason to justify your massage, try science. According to a recent study, getting a massage after strenuous activity (like, say, a 20-miler) significantly decreases Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (aka DOMS.) If you’ve ever had to skip a run because your legs are too sore after a hard workout, you know what DOMS is. What massage does to reduce soreness is reducing the presence of cytokines, which contribute to inflammation. Without the inflammation, the body can adjust to increased demands of exercise.