Sore Muscles Even After Relaxation Massage – Here’s Why is it Normal?

Most people turn to massage to relieve muscle pain, tension, and soreness. After a massage session, significantly the deep tissue massage, you may have pain in certain body areas. Yes, you heard right, sore massage stimulates certain areas of your body that are inactive for a long duration, and it highlights those areas of your body that you’re holding on to tightness.
So, with this article, we’ll explain when it’s okay to feel sore and when it’s not, and some of the ways to minimize the discomfort after a massage session.
So, let’s move on.
Why Do Muscles Hurt After Deep Tissue Massage?
A therapist stretches various muscles during a massage session by applying varying deep pressure techniques. Standard methods used are trigger point therapy, cross-fiber friction, or myofascial release.
You might feel delayed onset muscle soreness after stimulating muscles that generally aren’t in use, and this inflation can cause discomfort to the body.
Pain can even happen if your muscles aren’t habitual to massage because they need time to get used to being manipulated in different ways. All those areas of your body that need healing, muscles can be sore and inflamed after the relaxation massage.
8 Best Ways to Relieve Massage Soreness
Generally, post-massage soreness subsides within a day or two. But during this time, here are several of the most effective ways to get rid of muscle pain.
Stay Hydrated – The importance of drinking water before & after the massage is high. Good massage therapy releases toxins from your muscles, and that’s why it’s essential to drink extra water for at least 24 hours after every massage session to flush them out from the body.
However, you need to avoid alcohol, sugary, or caffeine drinks as much as possible as they can further dehydrate the body. You need to also look for a healthy option, such as coconut water, vegetable or fruit juice, or herbal tea.
Stretch it out – Stretching is one of the most effective ways to relax muscle tension, improve flexibility, and increase blood circulation. You can do some gentle stretching exercises on your own that help maintains and increase the tissue length.
You should stretch 4-5 times a day, try to hold for at least 30 seconds, and then increase it by 2 seconds each day. It is also one of the best ways to tune into the body, alleviate stress, and quiet the mind.
Heat Therapy – Perhaps you are unaware of the benefits of heat therapy, but it’s also beneficial in reducing the pain and soreness of the body. Warm your body to promote relaxation, and for this, you can take a hot shower or even go to the sauna. Add baking soda or Epsom salt to the bath and soak it for around 30 minutes. You can use the heating pad or hot rice bag on the painful point of your body for 15 minutes only at a time for maximum relief.
Essential Oils – Certain types of pain relief oil are available on the market. Add a few drops of pain relief oil to your bath or shower so that the oil spreads all over your body. However, you can gently rub the oil on those areas of your body that hurts. If you can’t touch the sore muscle, combine these essential oils with a carrier oil for topical application or use in a compress.
Herbal Relief – Different herbs effectively stimulate muscle relaxation and often reduce inflammation. You have the option to take from the capsule, tea, or tincture.
Some of these herbs are:
Turmeric
Clove
Ginger
Black pepper
Cinnamon
Garlic
Cayenne
You can make an herbal tea by using these herbs and drink it once a day before bed. But don’t overdrink it if you live in hot areas as these are warm herbs that can put you in trouble if used in excess.
Enough Rest– Try to have enough rest for a couple of days after the massage therapy. This is because your body needs some time to set back if you haven’t had a relaxation massage for a long time. You should elevate the feet & legs with a pillow and take some time to listen to sound and soothing music. You can also read books or novels and have plenty of sleep for at least 8 hours a day.
Guided Meditation– You should lie down on a cushioned mat or bed & then start listening to mindfulness recordings or music. This can ultimately take the form of guided meditation, body scan, or yoga Nidra. You can check in with your body and notice where you can release muscle tension.
Cold Therapy – According to experts, cold therapy reduces swelling and pain sensitivity. Put the ice pack on the painful area for around 15 minutes, 3-4 times a day. However, you can even prefer an ice bath to relieve inflammation, boost blood flow, and alleviate soreness.
The Takeaway
A massage can be more than a luxury experience or self-pampering. But it’s essential to consult with the massage therapist before choosing the therapy. This is because a therapist needs to understand your issues and can provide the right treatments accordingly.
Also, you should discuss the pressure according to your capacity, as the massage shouldn’t feel painful. By following our top tips on how to get rid of sore muscles after deep tissue massage, you can book your next massage session with Spa.ce the Spa for quality and different types of massages.