Muscle Soreness After Massages—What Causes It and How Can You Prevent It?

Practiced for thousands of years, massage is one of the oldest forms of medical therapy in the world. Tui Na is the oldest documented massage technique. It originated in traditional China, around the 2nd century B.C. Various massage techniques have gradually developed independently of one another around the world, and all shared the same goal: when applied correctly, they allow us to relax both mentally and physically and recharge our batteries. 

Occasionally, however, muscle pain can occur after a massage, and there are several possible causes for this. Today, we’d like to take a closer look at what those causes are, how you can avoid them, and whether they’re a cause for concern.

 

Recommended Reading: From Head to Toe: How Massages Help 

 

Why can muscle pain occur after a massage?

We go for a massage to relieve existing pain, release tension, or simply to treat ourselves to some holistic self-care. However, if you find yourself experiencing pain after a massage treatment, it’s understandable that you might feel concerned. Don’t worry—this is usually a natural reaction of the body that can occur especially with manual therapies, but why is that? 

In most cases, this is an initial worsening of symptoms. This refers to a reaction to the treatment itself that can temporarily intensify existing symptoms or even affect adjacent areas. One reason for this may be, for example, that different areas of the body react with varying degrees of sensitivity to the pressure applied during treatment. This also explains why manual massages more frequently produce this effect, since it is difficult—even for experienced massage therapists—to maintain consistent pressure across different areas of the body using only their hands. 

The intensity of the pain itself can also vary. Some people may feel only a slight pulling or burning sensation in their muscles, while others experience severe muscle soreness accompanied by dizziness, exhaustion, or even nausea. Essentially, it is a form of the well-known muscle soreness. 

The good news: This initial worsening usually subsides after one to three days and primarily affects people who have never had a massage before, which is why they rarely recognize it as such but instead mistake it for some other kind of pain. 

In addition to classic muscle soreness, there are other reasons for pain that may occur after a massage.

 

• Tissue Stimulation: Massage can cause the body to flush toxins out of the tissues, which may temporarily lead to pain. This occurs as a result of increased blood flow, but can also be specifically induced through lymphatic drainage. 
• Artificially Induced Inflammation: Kneading the muscles can, in cases of overexertion, simulate inflammation, to which the body responds with an inflammatory reaction.
• Compensatory Tension: If one muscle group is tense, adjacent muscles may also become tense, essentially to create balance or compensation. Releasing tension in one area can thus lead to new sensations of tension before the muscles fully relax over the long term. Our movement patterns may also change slightly when existing tension subsides, which in turn can lead to increased strain on surrounding muscle groups. 
• Contraindications: Depending on your health condition, massage may be discouraged, as it can lead to unwanted symptoms. It is therefore recommended that you consult a healthcare professional in the following cases: acute injuries, fever and infectious diseases, skin conditions, during pregnancy, osteoporosis, severe heart problems , or thrombosis and blood clotting disorders.
   

More Pain After the Massage Than Before—What Can You Do?

Overall, there are many reasons why discomfort may occur after a massage, and these are often a natural reaction of the body to the treatment. If in doubt, however, you should always consult a doctor. As a rule, though, any pain that occurs can be easily managed with simple measures. 

What helps relieve pain from a massage?

Since the main cause of these symptoms is similar to that of muscle soreness, the treatment is almost identical. Here are some tips for relief: 

• Drink plenty of water: Before and after your massage, you should drink plenty of water to keep your muscles hydrated. This helps flush toxins out of your body.
• Warm Baths: A warm bath with Epsom salt can help relieve pain and reduce inflammation. The warm water increases blood flow, which helps relieve muscle tension. Epsom salt, on the other hand, contains magnesium sulfate, which is absorbed through the skin and can relieve muscle cramps. It can also have an anti-inflammatory effect by reducing swelling and relieving pain.
• Get plenty of rest and sleep: After the massage, you should allow your body plenty of rest and sleep; this speeds up recovery.
• Gentle stretching exercises: These can help relax your muscles and improve blood circulation. It’s important to keep the intensity low, since a sore muscle has usually already been overused. 
• Creams That Promote Blood Circulation: For severe pain, creams that promote blood circulation can provide relief.

If the symptoms do not improve within a few days, you should seek medical advice, as there may be a contraindication. 

 

How Massage Chairs Can Reduce the Risk of Pain After a Massage

Massage chairs can help prevent and relieve pain after massages. These chairs provide targeted massages and can relax muscles while promoting recovery and improving blood circulation. They’re definitely a good option if you regularly experience muscle tension. 

One of the most important factors in preventing massage-related discomfort is consistent pressure. Massage chairs provide consistent pressure, which is difficult to achieve with a manual massage. This can help release deep-seated tension without applying excessive pressure to sensitive areas. This, in turn, reduces the risk of muscle soreness after a massage treatment. 

Customizable intensity settings are now also standard features of massage chairs. This ensures that the massage is tailored exactly to your needs and that your muscles aren’t overstrained by the treatment, which also helps prevent unwanted effects after the massage.

Recommended Reading: How effective are massages, really?

In general, recovery time can be shortened by using the gentle programs offered by a massage chair. These programs are designed to promote holistic well-being, with intensity levels tailored to your individual needs and targeting the specific areas of your body you choose. As a rule, even if you’re experiencing pain after a manual massage, a relaxation program in a massage chair can provide relief. You can relax completely in the comfort of your own home, exactly when you want to.

 

Raise Awareness and Enjoy Pain-Free Massages

If you understand the causes and mechanisms that can lead to occasional pain after a massage, you can prepare for it. Such side effects shouldn't prevent you from enjoying all the relaxing benefits of this form of therapy; instead, the goal is to eliminate the risks associated with it. 

Wellness and physical well-being are the primary goals of a massage. With the right pain-relief measures and the option to use massage chairs as a preventive measure, you can ensure that you experience only the positive effects of the treatment, without any pain at all. 

Experience pure relaxation, stress relief, and overall well-being through soothing massages, just as people have been doing for 2,000 years. You don't have to go all the way to China to do so.