Does Massage Therapy Hurt?

BySasha A Scott

For those who have not had massage yet, perhaps you're wondering if it hurts. And then, there are also some people who have had massage and still wonder if massage normally hurts; maybe because of their painful experience. But does it really hurt?

First and foremost, you have to understand that, although the therapist does the job, you're in control of the pressure that he or she is applying on your body. Before the therapy starts, the therapist should ask you the pressure that you would like to be applied on you. This is your chance to tell them if you want to receive light, moderate or hard massage. However, let me clarify that during the massage, there are certain areas in your body that may need lighter or bigger pressure. You can always inform the therapist if you want him or her to apply more or less pressure in certain areas of your body. Don't be afraid or ashamed to tell your therapist this. They would be more than willing to follow your wish.

However, there are some people who believe that the more painful it is, the better it is for them. Do you also believe the same? Well, the truth is, too much pressure can cause your body to stiffen more. It may even resist the treatment. In short, it defeats the whole purpose of the massage. On the other hand, gentle massage styles offer more benefits. It helps release toxins and helps in the realignment of the body. Although it boils down to preference, you also have to be careful about the pressure that your body is getting. It would be a waste of money if after the therapy, you still feel stiff and bruised too.

If you're the type of person who hates or cannot tolerate pain, then a Swedish massage would be great for you. At the same time, you should also inform the therapist to apply light pressure on your body. A relaxation massage would also be ideal. There are also other types of gentle massage styles that you can enjoy and these are the following:

1. Lymphatic drainage
2. Reflexology
3. Cranio-sacral therapy
4. Reiki
5. Polarity therapy

However, if you prefer intense pressure, then a deep tissue massage would be great for you. There are people who are suffering from chronic or long-term muscle problems. If you have this, you may want to try trigger point therapy. A slight discomfort may be felt but it is surely worth it.

I hope this article helped you understand what massage really feels during the therapy. Make sure that if you can't tolerate the pain, inform your therapist as soon as possible so he or she can adjust the pressure according to what you prefer, says Massage St Kilda. For more information regarding massage therapy, just visit Sports Massage Melbourne.

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Sports Massage: New Study Shows Positive Benefits of Massage Therapy Treatment on Athletes

ByPenny Q Jones

A new scientific study shows that sports massage provides anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing benefits. Offering healing relief for pros and recreationists alike, massage therapy now has empirical evidence illustrating its advantages for the treatment of athletes.

Anecdotal and experiential evidence have long shown that massage therapy can provide healthful benefits to both amateur and professional athletes. Until recently, there has been little scientific research performed to confirm these findings. However, with a new study published in the February 1 edition of Science Translational Medicine (online), there is now empirical data supporting the long-held belief that massage techniques can provide relief following strenuous physical activity.

This study, a collaboration between the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and McMaster University (Hamilton, Ontario), involved a comparative analysis of muscle biopsies performed on several male athletes, with samples taken prior to exercise and following exercise. Using one leg as a control, the other leg was massaged; both legs were then biopsied after 10 minutes of massage treatment and again following a 2.5-hour rest period.

Utilizing genetic analysis, the researchers found an increase in the biogenesis of mitochondria (energy-producing parts of a cell) as well as a decrease in inflammatory cytokines. As the study contributor who performed the genetic analysis, Buck Institute Dr. Simon Melov, noted, massage therapy's pain reducing benefits may hinge on the same mechanisms as traditional anti-inflammatory medication.

Since the advent of therapeutic massage, people have known that the treatment can create pain relief as well as relaxation, but it hasn't been well understood precisely why. This new research from the Buck Institute is helping to shed light on just why seeing a massage therapist feels so good.

Particularly with situations of muscle exhaustion and athletic stress, the body is generating a great deal of inflammatory cytokines, which can lead to the muscle soreness you experience a day or two later (delayed onset muscle soreness, or DOMS). By using sports massage treatment to suppress those inflammatory responses, you can help to reduce that muscle discomfort.

So the next time someone tells you that massage is relaxing but not physically beneficial, or someone tries to claim that the pain-relieving aspect of sports massage is all in your head, refer them to the Buck Institute study. With clear evidence that massage therapy works to reduce inflammatory cytokines and boost the creation of mitochondria in muscle cells, we now know for sure that massage treatment is scientifically beneficial to your body following intense exercise. Additional research will be needed to expand our understanding of how and why massage provides healthful benefits beyond sports treatment, but for now, there is finally empirical data to support massage therapy's pain relieving results.

Penny Jones is an avid runner and a massage therapy enthusiast. She is also an online marketing professional for Prospect Genius, offering affordable search engine optimization for local businesses.

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