Getting a massage is a relaxing, therapeutic, and healing experience. Why, then, does your body ache after massage sessions sometimes? No, it doesn’t mean that something has gone wrong or that massage is meant to hurt to be effective. There are a series of reasons your body aches after massage that may be in play.
Today, we’re answering the question, “why do I get body aches after massage?” as well as how to manage them or even potentially prevent them from happening at all. Read on, and let's get you relaxed!
Why You May Get Body Aches After Massage
While it’s true that massages relieve aches and pains, an “after massage body ache” is completely normal. This is especially true if you’re new to massage or don’t get them on a regular basis. Consider it similar to stimulating muscles you may not usually use or engage. Body aches after massage are indicative of a physical response to your body healing from inflammation or bodily damage.
If you’re new to getting a massage, your muscles aren’t used to being worked and manipulated the way different massage techniques do. Whether it’s a therapeutic Swedish massage or deep tissue massage benefits you’re seeking, your body is being worked over inside and out. In the same way that your body gets used to working out if you’ve not been active in a while, your muscles need time to get used to being manipulated in certain ways.
After massage, body ache experiences are also common if you have inflammation and soreness in areas that need healing. For example, a little aching in the neck after massage may be a sign you hold a lot of tension in that area. This could be the result of poor posture or physical strain. You may also have body aches after massage in areas experiencing repetitive motion injuries, as those spots are actively repairing themselves.
Whether you’re at a traditional massage therapy appointment or experiencing the benefits of massage therapy at home using a luxury massage chair, body aches are typically nothing to be concerned about. Massage is meant to allow for new ranges of motion, break down scar tissue and reverse muscle imbalances in your body, so some aches as your body heals itself may occur. The overall benefits of massage therapy, however, enhance bodily healing and provide a plethora of advantages as part of a regular health routine.
How to Deal With Body Aches After Having Massage Sessions
If you’ve got body aches after massage, what should you do? Post-massage soreness usually subsides on its own within a day or so, but there are plenty of actions you can take to help yourself along the way. Some of the best methods for how to deal with body aches after having massage sessions include:
- Drinking plenty of water
- Gently stretching your body
- Applying heat therapy (bonus points for heated massage chairs!)
- Meditating for mental and physical relief
- Soaking in an Epsom salt bath
After massage, body aches may be normal, but that doesn’t mean you want them to stick around. These tips may help with how to deal with body aches after having massage sessions to get you feeling deeply relaxed and refreshed more quickly. Try them out and see which works best for you!
Body Aches After Massage Aren’t Required
Just because you get body aches after massage sometimes doesn’t mean it’s a requirement for massage to be working! This is the misconception some people have about massage. The belief that you have to experience pain to receive a positive massage outcome is factually inaccurate. This is especially true if you’re using massage for sports injuries or other ailments.
When it comes to massage, there’s a fine line between too little pressure, which can leave you bereft of all the potential benefits of your session, and too much pressure, which can be detrimental to your physical wellness. If you’re at a traditional massage therapy appointment, you should speak up immediately to correct pressure if you’re getting too little or too much. For those using massage chairs at home, this can be adjusted easily in your settings to give you the perfect massage every time you use your chair.
Using a Massage Chair May Prevent Body Aches After Massage
Wouldn’t it be great to avoid body aches after massage altogether? While each person’s body responds differently to massage, there are ways you might consider to prevent them before they even start. One of the most effective ways is by using a massage chair instead of traditional massage therapy sessions.
The advancements of today’s luxury massage chairs have effectively eliminated any differences between using a massage chair vs human massage. This means you can get the same perks from a massage chair on your schedule and as often as you need! Getting massages regularly adapts your body to be more used to the muscle manipulation that goes along with it. Instead of expensive ongoing massage therapy appointments, owning a massage chair pays for itself many times over with consistent use.
The benefits of owning a massage chair to prevent body aches after massage don’t stop there. Massage chair features like heat therapy, chromotherapy, and zero gravity position reclining all contribute to an enhanced experience that helps your body heal faster and deepen relaxation. At the touch of a button, you can have all the best elements of a massage right in the comfort of your home and potentially without the aches afterward.
Furthermore, some people may feel uncomfortable asking a massage therapist to adjust the pressure during a massage and simply decide to endure it. Not only is this a wasted massage session, but it’s what can lead to body aches after massage experiences, too. Using a massage chair at home allows you to make the adjustments you need without worrying about any awkward feelings or communications.
Body aches after massage aren’t automatically a sign that anything went wrong. Instead, it could be indicative of your body’s healing process and adapting to the muscle manipulation that massage provides. Having massages on a regular basis, knowing how to recover after massage, and using a massage chair to potentially avoid post-massage body aches altogether all contribute towards a positive experience that elevates your overall wellness.
Curious about getting a massage chair for your home? Check out the Ogawa Active L Plus Massage Chair that has everything you need and more.
