Massages are extraordinary remedies for relieving various body ailments, such as body aches, circulatory disorders, and chronic pain (back pain).
Performed in-depth, they have beneficial effects on the tissues, muscles, and joints. Nevertheless, some people experience pain when being massaged or after the massage.
Are these sensations “normal” or are they the result of poor practice?
We tell you more about the different possible causes of painful massages and how to prevent them.
A wellness massage is supposed to bring comfort. Any pain felt by the massaged person may seem paradoxical, even unproductive. In this context, it is legitimate to question the quality and effectiveness of the gestures performed by the masseur.
You should know that all messages are not alike and that the gestures can be very different. For example, Californian massages are essentially based on gentle strokes and fluid gestures.
Swedish massages are much more dynamic and require stronger pressure. Traditional Thai massages are broken down into several gestures of varying intensity: stretching, percussion, kneading, and pressure.
It is, therefore, normal to feel a wide range of sensations during a wellness massage., which can be interpreted as mild discomfort or annoyance. True pain, on the other hand, can alter the full benefits of massage.
The body tenses up, while the alert mind is in the grip of stress: the effect obtained is, therefore, the opposite of what was intended. In the case of painful massages, it is important to find the cause.
There is favorable ground, such as chronic pain
People who suffer from skin problems (acne, eczema), chronic diseases, such as low back pain and osteoarthritis, or who have muscle weakness associated or not with adhesions, may find certain gestures unpleasant because they are more sensitive to pain.
Similarly, pregnant women and people who have had recent surgery are more fragile. This is why massages should always be personalized and adapted on a case-by-case basis.
Communication between the wellness massage practitioner and his client is, in this respect, essential. Each service should be preceded by a brief questioning aimed at eliminating any risk factor and determining which massages are contraindicated according to the state of health of the person being massaged.
the gestures performed by the massage therapist are good, but the massage technique is deep and highlights your tensions and other aches
When you are massaged and you choose a massage technique based on very present, in-depth work, it is not abnormal to feel some pain.
Indeed, deep work on your calves, for example, can highlight a surplus of lactic acid in the tissues and cause momentary pain. It is totally normal. In the world of wellness massage, this is called the pain that feels good. This technique will secondarily help relieve body tension and free your body.
You will feel these sensations if you opt for techniques such as Thai floor massage, Swedish massage, or Thai oil massage. This does not mean that the massage is badly done but that these techniques aim to relieve deep tensions in the body.
However, when this message is correctly given, the painful sensation is present only at the time and then disappears.
Finally, if you are wondering how can you opt for a massage that hurts, tell yourself that some people aim for massage above all to get back in shape, which does not prevent them from savoring the present moment.
The gestures made by the therapist are clumsy
In the absence of chronic disease, pre-existing discomfort, and the choice of a strong massage technique, there is no reason for a massage to be painful.
More or less severe pain can therefore be caused by poor practice or a gesture error by the massage therapist. The gestures of the massage therapist must always be progressive in order to allow him to gauge the individual sensitivity and to adapt, if necessary, the intensity of the pressures.
It is also important to follow the internal movements of the body, such as blood circulation. To relieve heavy legs, for example, you must first massage from bottom to top, from the feet to the heart, and not from top to bottom.
Can we massage without experience?
Neophytes who do not have this knowledge and wish to massage members of their entourage, for example, should always take extra precautions by adopting very gentle gestures.
Certain areas must be absolutely avoided, such as the neck and the cervical vertebrae. Remember that becoming a massage therapist requires solid training.
The well-being massage practitioner must have in-depth theoretical knowledge, such as palpatory anatomy and human physiology, which allow him to know and recognize the areas of the body: muscles, joints, and skeleton.
