



Steering clear of alcohol and caffeine can help stop you getting dehydrated.Īpplying heat therapy to your aching muscles can also help, so perhaps consider hopping in the bath if you can, or going for a sauna after your massage. Research shows that sports massage may reduce heart rate and high blood pressure. Before you chase pain, its extremely helpful to know that the piriformis (pi-ri-FOR-mis) is rarely tight.Instead, the piriformis muscle is not fully capable of playing its role to the best of its ability.How your piriformis muscle. A 2017 study looked at the effects of deep tissue massage in 31 males with ankylosing spondylitis, a. Sports Injury Clinic describes deep tissue massage as helping to stretch and reduce tension in the calf muscles and plantar fascia, as well as to break up scar tissue. the use of knuckles, fingers, opposing thumbs, the heel of a foot or hand, a flat elbow, or a forearm. Staying hydrated is key, for example, and drinking water before and after the session can help you flush out any toxins. How muscles respond to deep tissue massage delivered by an elbow and a lacrosse ball causes more tightness. The various techniques require different physical approaches, i.e. There are ways in which you can ease the pain yourself at home, as well as preventing it from becoming too problematic in the first instance. Of course, you can always get in touch with your massage therapist if you are concerned and they’ll be able to put your mind at ease. It’s important to remember that this is entirely normal and perhaps should even be expected after you’ve been for a massage of this kind, so there’s no need to worry overly about any aches and pains you may be experiencing. Micro tears are caused in your muscle tissues during a session, as can happen during training at the gym – which is why you may experience a few similar symptoms, including pain, swelling and stiffness. " Evidence of the physiotherapeutic interventions used currently after exercise-induced muscle damage: Systematic review and meta-analysis." Physical Therapy in Sport Volume 13, Issue 2, May 2012, Pages 101–114.As relaxing as massaging can be, it can also leave you feeling a bit sore, stiff and bruised the next day, especially if you’ve been for a deep tissue massage, which specifically targets certain areas of the body to get rid of knots and tightness.ĭuring this kind of massage therapy, deep pressure is applied to your muscles and tissues, while various techniques are employed that can be uncomfortable, including myofascial release, trigger point therapy and cross-fibre friction. This is the type of pain you should be concerned about.

Bad pain will leave you only feeling pain with no relief. This type of pain is normal during a deep tissue massage. Good pain will make you feel discomfort, but you will feel relief afterward. Torres R, Ribeiro F, Alberto Duarte J, Cabri JM. Second, you need to be able to differentiate between good pain and bad pain. You can also try an OTC pain reliever if you don't have time. This generally isn't necessary after a Swedish massage, as it's more geared toward relaxation, but after Deep Tissue/Therapeutic massage, I definitely recommend it. Due to the pressurised techniques used in a deep tissue massage, some people have suffered from some version of pain during and/or after their therapy session. Massage Alleviates Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness after Strenuous Exercise: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. I always recommend my clients ice the muscles that we've focused on after a massage. An Evidence-Based Approach for Choosing Post-exercise Recovery Techniques to Reduce Markers of Muscle Damage, Soreness, Fatigue, and Inflammation: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis. 2008 Jul 40(7):1289-96.ĭupuy O, Douzi W, Theurot D, Bosquet L, Dugué B. Post-massage soreness is completely normal after a sports massage, and your muscles may still feel tight after 48 hours, which is a sign they are still. "Cyclic compressive loading facilitates recovery after eccentric exercise." Med Sci Sports Exerc. " Effectiveness of Sports Massage for Recovery of Skeletal Muscle From Strenuous Exercise." Clin J Sport Med. You can expect to feel a little tender after your deep tissue massage, this is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about.
