# External Trauma and Muscle Performance

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/external-trauma-and-muscle-performance/539213
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 12, 2010, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/external-trauma-and-muscle-performance/539213 "2010-05-12T20:20:41Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Chickie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chickie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chickie)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2010, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/external-trauma-and-muscle-performance/539213/1 "2010-05-12T20:20:41Z")

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Can external trauma on muscles speed up their growth and development?

More specifically, I’m a runner. I am also into BDSM. I went to a private party the other night and had a pretty significant singletail whipping that concentrated on the backs of my calves (I still have zebra-stripey bruises on them). Two “rest days” later, I notice a definite improvement in my running and how my muscles feel afterwards.

Now, improvements in running can correspond to the time of the month, what I ate the day before, how much sleep I got, etc etc., but I’m wondering if this could have anything to do with it? Sort of like, a deep tissue massage?

Should I be getting my partner to whip my legs two days before every race? 😃