Does massage get rid of muscle pain? You bet it can!
But this has been an amazing week because I have received so many emails and questions about pain following massage.
That’s not good!
But massage IS good.
So here’s the deal.
1. There are all types of massage practitioners. Some have a little training and some have a ton. Depending on the location some have no training! Some understand bodies and some really don’t. It all depends on who taught them and the filters the information passed through on the way to the practitioners’ brain. It depends on personalities and all kinds of things.
2. The most common thing that massage practitioners do wrong is spending most or all of the session on muscles on the back. Those might be the muscles that are complaining the most but those complaints are often only symptoms.
The cause of the symptoms is often somewhere else. Back muscles may be strained because shorter muscles in the legs or front of the body are pulling you forward.
Most practitioners do NOT understand how bodies work but they often can do a great relaxation or stress reduction massage.
A full-body massage treats ALL of the areas of the body so you end up being balanced. That’s the goal. Balance.
Whether you have a complaint (like back pain) or just want a lovely vacation in an hour, please ask your massage practitioner to treat your whole body.
A legitimate practitioner knows how to drape modestly so nothing will be exposed that he or she shouldn’t see or touch.
- So can massage get rid of muscles aches and pain?
- Can it help you feel better?
- Is it the best natural medicine in the world for all ages?
YES!
But you may have to direct your massage so that it benefits you most. You may know more than your practitioner does. After all, it is your body. 🙂
And you might have to search for the therapist who is best for you because massage is not “one size fits all.”
Hi Kathy,
I read your article about muscle soreness and all of the responses. I had a deep tissue massage yesterday and was left sore. I know I should have spoken up during the massage but in any case, my question is related to the length of a session. What is your recommended session length to get the most relief? The deep tissue massage I had was a 60 minute session and I just made an appointment for a 90 minute swedish massage in 2 weeks.
Thanks,
Jacquie
Hi Jacquie,
The therapist matters more than the type of massage. Some massage therapists work really deeply and some work way too light to make a difference.
The size of the client also matters. A half-hour session is long enough for a small person, child or elderly person. A very large person or one with a lot of areas to treat may find one hour to be too short.
Now that you know about appropriate pressure for YOU, the 90 minute session will probably be fine as long as you direct the pressure.
If the therapist doesn’t ‘get into’ or ‘meet’ the muscles–if they just glide over the skin with oil–then nothing changes and you will probably wonder why you spent the money.
If the massage is deep enough that you wince and try to escape then it’s not productive. There is a middle ground where there may be some discomfort but it feels like ‘good pain.’ It feels appropriate.
I’m sure you would be safe with a 60 minute Swedish massage but, depending on the therapist, your size and the pressure, 90 minutes may also be fine for you.
Thank you for writing and I’d love to know how you like your next massage. Since it’s so soon I don’t think you will experience the soreness that you had following the deep tissue massage.
Kathryn
The Pain Relief Coach