I’ve been on both ends of this statement as the Massage Therapist who worked on your muscles and contributed to your soreness and then I’ve been the client that experienced soreness on more than one occasion! Here are a few reasons this could happen:
-You’ve never had professional massage.
-It’s been a long time since your last massage session.
-You’re using massage to treat chronic pain or an injury so the massage is more focused on a certain group of muscles.
-Various massage techniques can cause different levels of soreness, and the above three reasons will most likely occur after a deeper massage.
A strong massage or deep tissue massage is similar to a challenging workout. The massage increases blood circulation to your tight muscles; they get stretched and manipulated during the massage session as well. Our musculature is supposed to be smooth and work fluidly so when an area of muscles gets strained, tight or kinked it becomes more rigid and relies on your surrounding muscles to pitch in and help. Throughout the massage your massage therapist works to stretch, lengthen and break up knots in your muscles, possibly causing micro tears along the way. This is normal in a massage session and helps to heal and bring more bold flow to the area that’s been troubling you. Which can lead to the day after feeling sore and tender.
So before you call your massage therapist and ask “what did you do to me”? Know that it’s totally normal to feel soreness and swelling the day after a massage. You may even feel bruised, but there should not be any actual visible bruises and the soreness should disappear in a couple of days.
This is why we emphasize hydration so much and that it’s important to drink plenty of water before and after your massage appointment (twice as much as you would normally drink) and here’s why:
*Drinking plenty of water keeps muscles hydrated therefore they are more pliable during your massage
*Drinking plenty of water you will help your body flush out any waste that has been released into your system from the massage
*Drinking plenty of water decreases the chances of achy sore muscles and helps you recover faster
So if you didn’t properly hydrate or you did and are sore anyway, here are a few ways you can help decrease soreness post massage:
*Gentle stretching will give relief to sore muscles.
*Take a warm bath with Epson Salts (1/2 to 1 cup for adults) soak for 20-40 minutes.
*Apply ice the 1st 24-48 hours after a massage; by the 3rd day you can alternate heat and cold therapy or just heat.
*Use an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen or for a more natural ingredient like turmeric or moringa.
*Apply gentle pressure to the area with a foam roller or therapy balls to help decrease pain and soreness.
*Get plenty of rest.
If you regularly get massages, you will notice less tension and soreness after sessions because your body has adapted to the bodywork. It also helps to work with the same massage therapist as they get to know your body with more frequent sessions.
If soreness continues for more than two or three days or becomes extremely painful it may be a sign of an injury that could require medical attention. Signs that soreness after massage is abnormal can include extreme tenderness or sharp pains when you try to use your muscles in ordinary ways. In general it’s important to discuss past and current medical history with your massage therapist to identify any causes for concern prior to your massage.
So, what are you waiting for? We’ve made it easy you can book online at: www.IslandMassageOnline.com if your not tech savvy or just like to talk to a human, of course we’d love to hear from you: (727) 864-6688. Make Your Appointment Today!
Written by: Patricia Iorio, Licensed Massage Therapist and Certified Thai Yoga Practitioner. FL MA64528 She has been spreading the power of touch for 12 + years and is now using the power of words to encourage massage and living a healthy lifestyle.