Many people push their pain threshold to the limit when they self-massage, but this can cause damage such as neuropathy or the accumulation of fluid in the muscle tissue. Severe pain has no obvious and immediate benefits, and it is usually sharp, burning, or hot. While a massage can help with stress and migraines, a bad massage can injure nerves and cause muscle spasm and inflammation. This property is called thixotropy.
The big question is whether severe pain is ever justified or not. If done right, a massage can be therapeutic, but if there isn't enough pressure to harm you, you may have some type of neurological problem that needs to be addressed. Trigger point massages can be tried at home and they'll make you feel great. Relaxing on the massage table while the therapist works magic with sore muscles is the best part of getting a massage.
Swedish massages and deep tissue massages are two popular types of massages. With all its benefits for the body and mind, a massage is much more than a luxurious experience or a treat for yourself. Massaging for injury to the surrounding musculature can help reduce inflammation and speed up the recovery process. People vote with their feet, and it seems clear that many people aren't satisfied with the pressure they've received during the massage.
The oldest way of thinking was that you should rest your injured muscles for at least 2 or 3 days before scheduling a massage session. Continue to improve your well-being and reduce pain by taking care of yourself after each massage. It's clumsy to use too much force, and it's simply not necessary - that's not what defines “intensity” in a good massage. You'll most likely schedule a massage to enter a euphoric state of relaxation and ease some of tense muscles, pain, or injuries.
Experiment with different types, pressure therapists and massage therapists to find the one that best suits your goals and needs. In massage therapy, so much can be achieved while inflicting only good pain on patients that severe pain must be justified with vivid, rapid and somewhat lasting benefits, which is a very high bar to overcome. It's a myth that the typical massage increases circulation to a significant degree14, but possible exceptions probably involve a more intense massage. Deep tissue massage involves penetrating deeper layers of tissue and is not based on the amount of pressure applied to the tissue.
Read on to learn more about why you may feel pain after a massage, how to minimize discomfort, and the different types of massages available.
