So you’ve been for a therapeutic/deep tissue or sports massage and the next day you woke up feeling like a truck ran over you! The massaged part of your body is tender to the touch and perhaps a little puffy. It is common to have some mild pain and even slight swelling after receiving deep corrective massage – this is called therapeutic inflammation. It’s the result of new white blood cells arriving at the area to clean out all the old, dead waste products in your tissues. Unfortunately, that can cause a little discomfort. Sometimes when muscles are tight for a long period of time, your brain can shut off sensation to that area. Massage re-awakens your brain’s awareness of those tissues, causing tons of new working blood cells to come in and clean everything out that has built up over time.
The takeaway is that massage can be uncomfortable at times but should never be intolerably painful. Stay hydrated, communicate your comfort levels with your therapist and be aware of the original reasons for coming in for a massage.