Why does it hurt when I get a massage? Massage pain often arises from the therapist working out tight muscles, adhesions, or knots, which, while temporarily uncomfortable, can lead to increased flexibility and relaxation.
The most common reason for pain during massage is the wrong pressure. While your masseuse might think they're applying the right amount of pressure, you may feel too much. This is very typical when having a deep tissue massage because it is a type of massage that requires intense pressure to massage the tissue.
Massage can hurt, and the level of discomfort will have a story to tell about current tissue condition. However, whether it hurts to receive deep tissue massage, or not is not an indicator of the effectiveness of treatment. The following paragraphs explain scenarios why massage does not need to feel painful.
Knots create a localised area of tightness within the muscle, which can cause pain when touched or pressed. Moreover, it is typically caused by overuse of the muscle, poor posture, stress, or trauma.
One of the first red flags in a massage session is a lack of communication. If the therapist doesn't take the time to ask about your pain points or preferences before starting, that's a sign of trouble.
In rare cases, deep tissue massage can lead to nerve damage. This usually happens when too much pressure is applied near a nerve or when a nerve is compressed for an extended period. If you experience numbness, tingling, or sharp pain during your massage, speak up right away.
This myofascial release has a comparable sensation to being rocked by your mother when you were a baby. It causes a pleasant wave sensation to travel throughout the body. It is, in fact, a relaxing experience. That wave infiltrates the restricted areas to allow for softening.
If your muscles were particularly tense or knotted before the massage, the manipulation could lead to soreness as those knots are worked out. Individual sensitivity. Everyone's body reacts differently to massage. Some people might be more sensitive and experience soreness even with a gentle massage.
Trigger point massage can be firm and specific pressure to the areas of restriction or “knots” and cause release of that knot. Effleurage massage after a workout or strengthening exercises can prevent or reduce the tightness or restriction that one may feel.
1. What are the general massage frequency guidelines? It is generally recommended to get a massage once a month to maintain the benefits of relaxation and stress relief. However, some individuals may benefit from more frequent sessions, especially if they have specific health concerns or physical discomfort.
Massage helps to relieve pain by increasing blood circulation, interrupting the pain cycle and releasing endorphins. Massage helps to decrease tension in the muscles. Muscles often tighten up around painful areas to protect them. Tight muscles can put pressure on nerves, causing numbness, tingling and pain.
When too much pressure is applied, your muscles take an additional beating that can lead to more bruises, nerve damage, and trauma. This pain can last days after your massage, and neither you nor your massage therapist would certainly want that.
You Are Super Stressed
When the massage begins all the signs are there. Our poor muscles become taut and tense during stressful times, especially so in the shoulders, nec,k and head. Constant muscle tension causes aches and pains too so there are usually some tender areas as well.
Throughout your massage you might feel times of discomfort, and the pain you do feel should be met with a feeling of relief. Your therapist can read your body language, but they can't read your mind. 'Good pain' should be like scratching an itch. You know it's uncomfortable, but it definitely feels good!
Standard Tip Percentage Guidelines for a Massage
A good rule of thumb for tipping in the massage industry is between 15% and 20% of the total service cost, which is the standard practice in the broader service industry.
If you're experiencing muscle soreness after a massage it is because the soft tissues have been manipulated to break down adhesions, knots and holding patterns to restore muscle condition to a functional state.
4 Talking about tightness suggests an uncanny ability to feel your pain. The therapist is saying, in effect, “I can tell that you are feeling stiff, because I can feel your tight muscles.” This is a good way to impress anyone with a body.
Knots are comprised of tense muscle fibers. "Muscle knots are actually hyperirritable spots in muscle or fascial tissue [bands or sheets of connective tissue] known as myofascial trigger points," Charleston says. Trigger points typically fall into one of two categories: Active.
When you massage a knot, it often feels like you are stretching a rope or taffy which is stuck in your muscle tissues. This may be a result of increased blood flow to the site of tension, but it also may be due to the relaxation of the connective tissue that surrounds your muscles (called fascia).
With proper use and caution, muscle massage guns can be an effective tool for managing muscle knots and improving overall quality of life.
For some people, adhesions can worsen over time, causing the fascia to compress and contort the muscles it surrounds. This can result in hard, tender knots in the muscles, called trigger points. Myofascial pain syndrome is a condition in which those trigger points cause pain to occur: During movement.
It's important to know that it isn't unusual to feel a degree of discomfort during the massage itself. The whole point of this treatment is to break up muscle tension, adhesions and scar tissue that often lie in deeper musculature, so your therapist will likely be applying a good deal of pressure.
Your urine may become darker and smelly due to the stimulation of the kidneys. Your urination frequency may also increase throughout the day because your body is ridding itself of all the excess toxins. Lastly, you may feel sore and fatigued following your session.
Tell the therapist if you have these conditions
Contagious skin conditions (boils, warts, or herpes) Other skin conditions (burns, rashes, or sores) Circulatory system issues (high blood pressure, varicose veins, or stroke) Digestive system issues (ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, or colitis)