Why You Might Feel Sore After a Massage
You’re having a stressful week at work, so you decide to go out and get a massage over the weekend. Hours after spoiling yourself with a period of relaxation, you notice that you feel sore. You don’t remember lifting heavy objects, doing exercises, or sleeping in any bad positions, so what could it be? Slowly, your mind realizes that it might be from the massage you had hours ago. You’ve heard of all of the benefits, but you begin to wonder why you’re feeling this. “Is this normal?” you ask yourself.
Soreness after massage is perfectly normal. In fact, it has a name: Post-Massage Soreness and Malaise. But what exactly is going on to cause this? There are a few explanations worth noting:
Therapeutic Muscle Trauma
Similar to exercise, there may be a small physical cost in order to reap the full benefits of massage therapy. Like with exercise, soreness can be caused by bruises or tears to the muscles as the muscle memory begins to be reshaped into healthier patterns. In order to get the benefit of better muscle function, leading to increased circulation, tissue that restricts circulation will need to be dealt with. Thus, the bruising and micro-tears involved in dealing with these restrictions may cause temporary inflammation.
Body-Type
Everyone comes in many different shapes and sizes, and because of this we’re given different experiences in life. This reality sometimes plays as a variable in increasing post-massage soreness. Bruising after massage, for example, may occur more within those who have higher amounts of fatty tissue. This is because getting to the muscle, through massage, is difficult as the fatty tissue blocks the way. On the flip side, however, lack of fatty tissue can have a similar effect. With lack of fat present, leaner muscle tissue can be more prone to tearing.
Being a First Timer
Like breaking into a new pair of tight-fitted shoes, experiencing a massage meant to tackle problems areas for the first time may feel uncomfortable. If you only occasionally receive massages, this may also contribute to the soreness as this will not allow the body to get used to the therapy. When receiving massage as a therapeutic treatment, it is best to create a regular schedule to receive them frequently.
Type of Massage
Soreness may depend on the type of massage that you get. While a relaxation-type massage may not leave you feeling very sore, massages that focus on problem areas in the body likely will. For example, deep-tissue massage, which tackles musculoskeletal problems, involves deeper pressure than some other forms of massage. This may lead to soreness later on.
Remedies for Post-Massage Soreness
Considering that there are many variables that may cause soreness after a massage, there are remedies that you can consider using. Being intentional about hydration before and after a massage will help keep muscles more flexible and may decrease soreness. A warm Epsom salt bath is also one of the most relaxing post-massage care routines to consider. Both the warm water and the Epsom salt can reduce inflammation. In contrast to the anti-inflammatory effects of heat, a drop in temperature may help as well. Applying cold packs to the sore areas can numb the nerve endings, resulting in a reduction of impulses sent to the brain. With a lowering of the impulses, the brain’s perception of pain is lowered. Lastly, consume food that may have anti-inflammatory properties. Watermelon, for example, contains a specific amino acid which has been found to reduce muscle soreness.
Post-Massage Soreness and Malaise is a normal reaction to massage, and there are ways to ease the soreness, so there’s no reason to be overly anxious about the feeling. And, of course, the benefits outweigh the pain! If you’d like to consider a massage session, don’t be shy to hit us up with a booking. Here at EPIC, we’re ready to serve your needs.