Rachaelvan der Bol-Costa,
Certified Massage Therapist
MassageTherapy
Rachaelvan der Bol-Costa,
Certified Massage Therapist
Does MassageHave to Hurt to Help?
Unfortunately, thisquestion is asked all too often, and I find it disturbing. I haveheard numerous stories of people being severely hurt during amassage and some even sustaining injury. So here is my view onmassage that hurts.
There are many different massage techniques used by therapiststoday. Techniques such as Swedish massage, Reflexology, and LymphaticDrainage, utilize medium to light pressure and should result inrelaxation and an overall sense of well-being. Deeper treatments,such as Neuromuscular Therapy or Myofascial Release, are morespecific for treating chronic pain, and may be uncomfortable duringtreatment, but should NEVER be unbearable. Here is a good guidelineto use in communicating pressure; on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 ispainless & 10 is extremely painful), the pressure must staywithin a range of 5 to 7. This level of pressure may be uncomfortablewhen treating a trigger point or tender area, but the client shouldstill be able to keep the muscle relaxed and not have to tenseup. Again, the purpose of these treatments is to relieve painand dysfunction in the muscles and fascia. So, while working toaccomplish relief, some discomfort is expected, but it shouldbe no more uncomfortable than the painful problem being treated.
Communication between a therapist and client is of the utmostimportance. During deep tissue treatments, you should expect yourtherapist to constantly check with you on the level of pressurebeing used. As a client, do not be afraid to say that the pressureis too hard. Whatever level of pressure you are comfortable withis going to do you the most good. Too much pressure will causebruising and will have no benefit. It will also cause your musclesto contract, in order to protect you from injury, so the therapistwould be fighting against the muscle instead of working with it.
If anyone has received a painful massage and has decided not totry massage again, I urge you to reconsider. Ask around for inputfrom family or friends that have had a positive experience withmassage. Don't give up on massage therapy because of one bad experience.If you have muscular pain or dysfunction that massage could help,give it a try. Go into your massage with confidence, and insiston appropriate pressure from your therapist.
Rachael van der Bol-Costa
Under ThePalms