Is my Sports Massage going to be painful?
I often get asked "Is my Sports Massage going to hurt?" My response to this is usually "yes" The reason for a Sports Massage is to help ease tight muscles, break down scar tissue and to find general tension areas that need an `iron out`
I explain that if you want a nice relaxing tickle that's fine but the problems you are experiencing will still be there after the massage, sometimes you have to experience a little discomfort to feel better, as the saying goes... "no pain, no gain"
So why can sports massage sometimes be painful?
Sports massage is a form of deep tissue massage, so a great deal of pressure is sometimes put on the muscles in order to treat them (sometimes we have to use fists or elbows to get the right amount of pressure) This pressure can be uncomfortable and the more tense your muscles are, the more uncomfortable it is going to be because they cannot be stretched or manipulated as easily while they are tense. The more relaxed you are going into a massage, the less discomfort you will feel, so regular massage, stretching and foam rolling will help you to loosen up your muscles and have a more comfortable experience
You may also find that your muscles ache for a day or two after a sports massage. The muscles that were worked on during the massage may feel tender the next day in a similar way to how they ache after a good gym session. There may also be some mild inflammation around the area. A good sports massage is basically like a workout for the body as your muscles are being manipulated in ways that they might not be used to, and the increased rush of blood to the muscles and the toxins being flushed out can be causes of the pain you feel the next day
The discomfort you feel during and after a massage is completely normal and, on the whole, it means it is working. The amount of pressure required will be different for each individual as everyone has a different pain threshold so we always check the pressure with you as it should sometimes feel uncomfortable but not unbearable
So next time you're feeling the pain from a massage, just enjoy it because it means the massage is working and you'll soon be feeling loose and relaxed...!
