How do you recover from a bad massage?

Author: Althea Schaefer  |  Last update: Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Relax in a hot shower or bath. This will help to improve circulation and reduce any soreness. If you don't have time for a shower or bath, simply apply a heating pad to the affected area for 20 minutes. You can also try taking a warm Epsom salt bath.

How long does it take to recover from a bad massage?

At a minimum, you should rest for at least 24 hours after your massage to ensure your muscles have plenty of time to repair themselves. Post-massage soreness is completely normal after a sports massage, and your muscles may still feel tight after 48 hours, which is a sign they are still recovering.

What to do if you got a bad massage?

If you've experienced a bad massage, it's important to take steps to address the issue. Communicate Your Concerns: Speak up during or immediately after the massage if something feels off. Providing constructive feedback can help the therapist adjust their technique and improve future sessions.

How to recover after an intense massage?

In addition to getting plenty of rest, it is also important to make time for relaxation. This can include activities such as reading, taking a bath, or spending time in nature. Taking some time for yourself will help your body to recover from the massage and reduce stress levels.

How to get rid of muscle pain after a massage?

Top Five Ways to Reduce Post-Massage Soreness
  1. Take an Epsom Salt Bath. A warm epsom salt bath can do wonders to reduce muscle soreness. ...
  2. Go for a Walk. A nice light walk will help the body to work out any soreness, as gentle activity and exercise like this can help the muscles to move freely. ...
  3. Stretch. ...
  4. Drink Water. ...
  5. Relax.

Why do I get sore after a massage?

How long does inflammation last after massage?

Post-massage soreness is a type of muscle pain or discomfort that typically occurs after a massage and can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. It is a normal and natural body response to the physical manipulation of the muscles during a massage session.

How to get rid of muscle knots?

How to get rid of muscle knots
  1. Therapeutic massage.
  2. Therapeutic stretching techniques.
  3. Dry-needling.
  4. Low-level laser therapy.
  5. Electrostimulation.
  6. Pulsed ultrasound.
  7. Mechanical vibration.
  8. Ischemic compression.

What is a healing crisis after massage?

As the body detoxifies, it is not uncommon to experience flu-like symptoms including dizziness and light-headedness, an odd or metallic taste in the mouth, headache, joint and muscle pain, body aches, sore throat, general malaise, nausea, increased sweating, urination or defecation, chills, skin eruptions, itches or ...

What happens to your body after a hard massage?

So, what happens to the body after deep tissue massage? Most clients report feeling mild soreness akin to DOMS after deep tissue massage. This usually lasts a few days after which time clients report benefits such as pain relief, improved range of motion, better sleep, and lower blood pressure.

What does it mean when a massage hurts?

Often, the pain associated with this type of massage comes from the release of chronic muscle tension. Sometimes, the pain comes from poor technique from the massage therapist, however. If the therapist works too deep, it can damage the tissue, which can cause the pain.

What are red flags in massage therapy?

Poor Communication and Boundary Setting. A professional massage therapist should communicate clearly about the massage process and respect your boundaries. Be wary of therapists who are vague or pushy about undressing. As Mikki noted, “If they're trying to brush past anything or be very quick, that's a red flag.

Can muscles be damaged by massage?

Injury Risk: Applying excessive pressure can cause bruising, inflammation, and even muscle or tissue damage. This can lead to prolonged recovery times and exacerbate existing issues.

Is it common to feel bad after a massage?

During a massage, increased blood flow and pressure on the muscles can dislodge toxins that have built up over time. These toxins are then flushed into the bloodstream for elimination. This process can cause flu-like symptoms such as pain, muscle soreness, headache, nausea, and fatigue.

What body parts should not be massaged?

These are areas of the body where deep, sustained pressure should be avoided because of the structures that lie beneath. Those areas are the anterior and posterior triangles of the neck, suprasternal notch, sternum, axilla, spinal column, umbilical area, inguinal triangle, popliteal fossa, and the antecubital fossa.

What happens if you massage too hard?

Too little pressure can inhibit the rate of healing, while too much pressure is unnecessary and may even damage soft tissues. Every person has a different pain threshold, which makes it difficult to set a hard limit for how much pressure is too much. However, massage therapy should never feel acutely painful.

How do you know if you got a bad massage?

**Excessive Pain or Discomfort**: A certain level of discomfort might be normal, especially during a deep tissue massage, but if you experience sharp, intense pain or prolonged discomfort, it could be a sign that the therapist is applying too much pressure or working incorrectly.

How do you recover from a deep tissue massage?

5 Self-Care Tips for Post-Deep Tissue Massage Recovery
  1. #1: Drink Plenty of Water. ...
  2. #2: Get Plenty of Rest. ...
  3. #3: Stretch Regularly. ...
  4. #4: Avoid Unnecessary Stress. ...
  5. #5: Eat Healthy Meals.

What chemical is released after a massage?

Endorphins. While technically not a toxin, the release of endorphins during a massage is a significant benefit. These "feel-good" hormones naturally boost mood and relieve pain.

How long does inflammation last after deep tissue massage?

Experiencing soreness or tight muscles is normal after a massage, especially if it's been a while since your last massage or you've never had one. Bodner points out that this discomfort usually lasts a few hours to about a day and a half.

How long does post massage sickness last?

Usually, these side effects are minor and are nothing of concern; they will usually subside within a few days.

Can you release trauma through massage?

Massage therapy, the manual manipulation of soft body tissue to promote health and well-being, can provide relief from physical, emotional, and mental stress, and decrease levels of depression, anxiety, irritability, and other symptoms associated with trauma exposure (Collinge, Kahn, & Soltysik, 2012).

What does a healing crisis feel like?

Understanding Healing Crisis. You may feel worse before you feel better. In the process of bringing your body back to good health you may experience some temporary pain or discomfort. Symptoms of cold, flu, dizziness, nausea and fatigue may occur.

Can you rub a muscle knot out?

Initiate the process of hand massaging by gently placing your fingers over the affected muscle knot. Use a firm, but not crushing, grip to apply steady pressure with slow, intentional strokes that follow the grain of the muscle fibers.

What does it feel like when a muscle knot releases?

The first sensation you'll get is a springing give that feels like a release. This is the tissue's elastic component giving way, which means you stop there, you won't see a long-term difference right away because it takes time to get deeper into the more plastic part of the tissue.

How do you get knots out fast?

Best Treatments for a Muscle Knot
  1. Get a massage. Ah, the soothing relief of a massage. ...
  2. Use a foam roller. Foam rollers allow you to perform self-massage by making tight muscles looser. ...
  3. Try a massage gun. ...
  4. Ask a physical therapist about dry needling. ...
  5. Stretch. ...
  6. Use ice or heat. ...
  7. Try acupuncture.

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