Bottom Line. So, is too much massage harmful? The answer is yes, it can be. The best way to answer this is to listen to your body and talk openly with your massage therapist.
Is it bad to get a massage everyday? For general wellness and relaxation you may safely enjoy a relaxation massage twice a day – in the morning and one at night! For treatment of a chronic condition; it can take some time for muscle pain relief with targeted massage therapy sessions that are less frequent.
Excessive use is known to lead to muscle damage, inflammation, and bruised tissues in addition to causing harm to the internal massage chair motor. So, take it slow and easy with your massage chair, especially when you're using it for the first time. The cost of overuse does not outweigh any perceived benefit.
The risk of harmful effects from massage therapy appears to be low. However, there have been rare reports of serious side effects, such as a blood clot, nerve injury, or bone fracture.
Medical Reporter Lori Lyle explains. Done right, a massage can help everything from stress and migraines to serious illnesses like Parkinson's and Sickle Cell Anemia. But a bad massage can actually injure nerves and cause muscle spasms and inflammation.
Yes, you can damage nerves by massaging your neck, but it's rare and rarely serious.
Side effects
Although massage has a low risk of harm, deep tissue massage may not be suitable for everyone. People may want to first check with their doctor if they have any of the following: a blood clotting disorder. increased risk of injury, such as bone fractures.
from Press Modern Massage
For more of a general tuneup, or for stress-relief, every 4-6 weeks is the average time frame. Although Brogan says, ultimately, "It depends on your needs, and that could even be one or twice per year." Another factor to consider is how often you are using your body.
The answer depends on your pain and physical needs, your stress and emotional needs, and of course, your budget. Receiving massage regularly will have the most benefit. A massage once a week, or every two weeks would be ideal, but may not be realistic for every person.
If relaxation is your goal, then a 50 or 60 minute massage is generally appropriate. You can certainly do a longer session of 80 or 90 minutes if you like, but anything much longer than that may tend to feel a bit repetitive or may leave you groggy afterward. Specific work is generally more time-consuming.
Massages are typically 30 to 120 minutes long. I recommend at least one hour, if not more. A longer massage releases more of the toxins and tension built up in your muscles and throughout your body. For example, a full body treatment usually takes me 90 minutes on average.
In some cases, there is a possibility that a deep tissue massage has caused a new injury. Most reported cases of this are in areas of the back and neck. It is likely a muscle injury, but also may indicate nerve damage. Prolonged lower back pain is not a normal effect of massage.
There are no standard guidelines for the number of massages you can get, but a massage therapist or your doctor may be able to recommend a frequency and duration that work best for your needs. Massages for injury are typically more frequent, while massages for pampering or relaxation purposes can occur less often.
Benefits of massage
Reducing stress and increasing relaxation. Reducing pain and muscle soreness and tension. Improving circulation, energy and alertness. Lowering heart rate and blood pressure.
The first five years of practice are the most difficult because you're not used to the physical demands, and many massage therapists quit due to burnout. Acclimating to the emotional demands are difficult as well. Clients come to you with frustrations and complaints, often times breaking down and crying in the room.
We usually recommend deep tissue massages about every 3-6 weeks for the best results. However, some patients with chronic pain may be able to get massages every 1-2 weeks initially, then spread out their treatments once their pain has been reduced. The proper interval for you depends on your condition and your health.
How often should you massage muscle knots? For the best results, you should massage each muscle group for up to 6 minutes a day. This is entirely dependent on each individual and how bad the muscle knot is. You can massage muscle knots every day, but don't over-do it as this could actually cause more irritation.
Neck massage should not be performed by patients. Neck massage/manipulation continues to be a cause of stroke to consider. Ischemic stroke after CS and carotid body manipulation is due to thromboembolism by rupture of a plaque or by hypoperfusion due to repetitive hypotension.
In rare cases when a massage is applied too hard or if a preexisting injury exists in the neck, massage can lead to serious complications, such as vertebral artery damage and stroke. To experience the soothing effects of a neck massage, most people do not need the massage to be vigorous.
You may experience inflammation and soreness in areas that need healing. If you have neck pain after a massage, for example, it can be a sign that you carry a lot of tension in that area. You may have limited flexibility and mobility in your neck due to working at a desk or bending forward repeatedly.
Because it stimulates muscles and sensation, massage may trigger autonomic dysreflexia and severe spasms, which can be quite unpleasant and uncomfortable. As a result, massage should begin with light touch and progress to deeper massage. Deep massage may further damage muscle fibers in paralyzed or atrophied muscles.
A popular treatment option that can help reduce back pain is massage therapy. However, in some cases, massage therapy can make back pain worse if the condition you are suffering from requires other treatment. In these situations, massage therapy will not be effective in reducing back pain and can even make it worse.
Deep tissue massages may cause you a little discomfort or slight pain in the areas that are causing you trouble. Discomfort is normal with this type of massage therapy. Most clients say it's a “good hurt” where it's a little uncomfortable but feels good at the same time.