Massages are a good way to unwind and relax, allowing your body to let go of stress.
However, there can be times when your body starts to feel soreness creep in after a massage. If this has been your first time experiencing it, you shouldn’t worry. This type of post massage soreness is common and is not as serious as it might feel.
A massage is a lot like exercise. The major difference between the two is that in one you stimulate your muscles through specific movements. And in the other, a specialized therapist will be working on your muscles to reduce pain and stiffness.
Therefore, just like exercise, a massage can create micro tears in your muscles, which leads to inflammation in the body. Inflammation is your body’s natural response to healing muscles and joints, which can cause the soreness.
You had Knots in your muscles
When a therapist starts stimulating your muscles, blood will start flowing into them bringing in nutrients and taking out toxins. Chances are that your therapist is also looking to reduce your knots, which can be an uncomfortable experience. Knots that form deep in the muscles usually require a lot more force to break up. This deeper work can leave a lasting sting.
New to Massage
Another reason why you are experiencing pain is that your body is not used to a massage. The parallels with exercise increase here, as this is the same type of soreness you experience when going to the gym after a long time. So, if you like to go to a massage therapist occasionally or you have gone after a lengthy period with no muscle work (massage), you can expect this soreness.
Pain in the Muscles
Soreness is usually a good sign when you are done with your massage, as it means that the techniques worked as intended. You might feel some pain during the massage depending on the technique that a therapist is using or by the pressure they are applying. If the pain is too intense, this is the indicator it is too much pressure. You should mention it to the therapist so they can lighten the technique.
While massage professionals are good at finding knots and releasing them, they don’t know if the pressure is appropriate for you without input. Therefore, you should speak up if a technique is too painful or if you feel an unusual pain afterwards.
Managing Soreness
Fortunately, the soreness you experience after a massage rarely lasts longer than a few hours or two days. However, those two days can be very difficult to work through because of the soreness. Icing and over-the-counter ‘analgesic creams’ can prove to be effective, as they can restrict blood flow to specific areas. Reduced blood flow also means reduced inflammation and a numb feeling, which can help with the pain.
You can also try taking a warm bath with Epsom Salts to soothe and relax your muscles. Finally, you should get plenty of rest to better heal from your massage and allow the body to repair your muscles.