What to Do When You're Sore After a Massage

Getting a massage can be a great way to relax and reduce stress, but it can also leave you feeling sore afterwards. Inflammation and discomfort usually last from a few hours to about a day and a half. Fortunately, there are several ways to relieve pain and get back to feeling your best. The same steps you do to treat sore muscles after exercise can ease pain after a massage.

Taking a hot bath, using a heating pad or rice bag, and drinking plenty of water are all helpful. Massage doesn't have to hurt to be effective, so if you're feeling more than just general pain, be sure to tell your therapist. Many massage therapists are trained in multiple techniques that vary in pressure and time, so they'll be happy to adjust the pressure and style and, at the same time, suggest tips for managing pain in the future. If you haven't had a massage recently or if it's your first, you're more likely to experience pain later.

This is because the massage increases tension in the muscles when it continues and can also cause the muscles to feel a little sore the next day. If you frequently experience pain after massages, don't let that stop you from receiving the massage, just report it to your sports massage therapist. It's perfectly normal to have some sore and stiff muscles and feel a little bruised the day after receiving this type of massage. So how long does it take to recover from a sports massage? You'll feel pain for one or three days, depending on how new you are to sports massage, how often you do it, and your general lifestyle, such as hydration, stress and activity levels.

An expert sports massage therapist can help you recover 2 or 3 days after a race or event and relieve pain symptoms. Keep improving your well-being and reducing pain by taking care of yourself after each massage. In my experience, only several times did clients feel severe pain after the massage. Read on to learn more about why you might feel pain after a massage, how to minimize discomfort, and the different types of massages available.

Dora Peckens
Dora Peckens

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