Deep Tissue Massage Tulsa can cause pain, and it is important that your therapist knows your tolerance. If the treatment becomes uncomfortable or painful, speak up and ask your therapist to adjust the pressure.
Some soreness after a deep tissue massage is normal, but it should subside within a day or two. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and aid the recovery process.
Deep tissue massage is a powerful tool in pain relief and recovery. It can help you recover from sports injuries, chronic conditions like sciatica and fibromyalgia, as well as everyday stress. If you’re considering a massage, be sure to identify what your goals are and communicate them with the massage therapist. This will ensure that you get the most out of your appointment.
During a deep tissue massage, the massage therapist will apply pressure to your muscles through slow and steady strokes with their hands, fingers, knuckles, elbows, and forearms. They may also use a variety of other techniques, such as stretching and kneading. During this process, the massage therapist may find knots or adhesions in your muscle tissues and work to break them up using friction. This can cause some discomfort, but it shouldn’t be painful. The therapist will monitor your pain levels and adjust the level of pressure as needed.
Massage has been found to increase circulation, which can help with healing and reduce inflammation. It can also loosen tight muscle tissue and release toxins. It’s important to drink plenty of water after a massage to help flush out the toxins and prevent them from building up in your body.
People who live sedentary lifestyles, such as office workers or truck drivers, often have pent-up tension in their shoulders, neck, back, and legs. A good deep tissue massage can release these toxins, which can alleviate the symptoms of many health problems. Massage has also been shown to lower blood pressure, improve sleep quality, and increase serotonin production.
If you’re thinking about getting a deep tissue massage, speak with your healthcare provider to learn more about the benefits and side effects. A reputable massage therapist will be able to tell you if this type of massage is right for you. It’s also important to avoid massage if you have any open wounds, fractures, or are experiencing an illness or fever. If you’re not a candidate for a deep tissue massage, your practitioner can recommend a gentler type of massage that will still provide the same health benefits.
What You Can Expect
A qualified massage therapist will begin by warming up your muscles with a lighter touch. They’ll use their thumbs, knuckles, forearms or elbows to create a gliding pressure across the fibers of your muscles and release any knots and adhesions. You may feel some discomfort, but it shouldn’t be unbearable. A good massage therapist will check on you often and apply more or less pressure to suit your comfort level. It’s important to let them know if the pressure is too much or not enough, so they can adjust their technique accordingly.
It’s also normal to feel some aching after the treatment. This is due to the release of toxins and other inflammatory substances in your muscles. Drinking water and resting after a massage should help to relieve this discomfort. If the pain persists, you can try applying ice packs to your body.
The discomfort associated with a deep tissue massage is typically felt as the therapist works their way through the layers of muscle tissues, breaking up scar tissue and knots in the process. This type of massage can also improve the flexibility of your joints and increase range of motion in your muscles, tendons and ligaments. It can also break up and reduce the buildup of lactic acid in your muscles, which can cause soreness and stiffness.
If you have a medical condition such as blood clots or osteoporosis, it’s best to consult with your doctor before trying this type of massage. The deeper pressure and movements involved in this type of massage can dislodge blood clots, which could be dangerous. It’s also not recommended for people with open wounds, or those who are suffering from hernias, rashes or skin conditions that make sustained physical contact difficult — such as impetigo.
For many people, a deep tissue massage can be helpful in alleviating symptoms of arthritis such as joint pain and stiffness, as well as improving sleep issues caused by the pain. Moderate, therapeutic massages can also help to lower cortisol levels in the body, which are known to contribute to weight gain, sleep problems and a weakened immune system.
Precautions
Deep tissue massage should not be done directly over bruises, inflamed or infected skin, rashes, unhealed wounds, tumors, abdominal hernia or areas of recent fractures. In addition, you should avoid this type of massage if you have blood clots (thrombophlebitis or deep vein thrombosis), heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, severe headache or migraine, or if you are pregnant.
Before receiving a deep tissue massage, it’s important to communicate with your therapist. Tell them your goals, as well as any medical condition that may affect the effectiveness of the treatment. This information will help your therapist select the right techniques and adjust their pressure to accommodate your comfort level. It’s also helpful if you tell your therapist where the pain or tension is located so they can focus on those areas.
The risk of adverse reactions to a deep tissue massage is generally considered low. However, you should always monitor your body during and after the session to make sure it tolerates the intensity of the treatment. Some people experience a heightened heart rate or dizziness after a massage, and some may even develop muscle soreness. If you notice any of these symptoms, you should contact your therapist immediately.
During your massage, it’s recommended that you drink water to stay hydrated. This will also help to flush the released toxins from your system. You should also ice inflamed areas as soon as possible after your session, to reduce the swelling.
As a massage therapist, you should familiarize yourself with contraindications and precautions for this type of massage before starting your practice. This will ensure that you have a thorough intake and assessment process that can identify conditions that are not suitable for this type of treatment. A good way to do this is by using a comprehensive client questionnaire that covers many of the common illnesses and disorders that could be exacerbated by this type of massage.
The questionnaire should include questions about previous surgeries, recent injuries and ailments that can cause complications during a deep tissue massage. It is also a good idea to ask clients to sign a waiver before they begin the session, which will protect you in case the client has an accident or experiences any other kind of unwanted side effect.
Side Effects
It’s not uncommon to feel tired or a little nauseous after a deep tissue massage. This has to do with toxins being on the move in your body after the session. Staying hydrated and staying relaxed will help alleviate these feelings.
Your muscles may also be a bit swollen after the treatment, especially if you have had a large amount of work done on one particular area of the body. This is a good sign as it means that the blood flow is working properly.
A good therapist will always communicate with you throughout the treatment to ensure that they aren’t causing any pain beyond what is acceptable. If you find that you’re moving past what is considered a “good hurt,” it is your responsibility to speak up and ask the therapist to ease off of the pressure. Keeping open lines of communication with your therapist will allow them to make the necessary adjustments during your session so that you can enjoy the full benefits of the treatment.
You should avoid getting a massage on bruises, inflamed or infected skin, open wounds, rashes, abdominal hernias, abrasions, fragile bones, or overly sensitive areas of the body. In addition, people suffering from a bleeding disorder or blood clots should consult their doctor before having a deep tissue massage.
If you are on blood thinners, it’s important to tell your therapist before you get a massage as the treatment could increase the chances of a blood clot forming in a vein or artery. People who have osteoporosis or brittle bone disease should also be careful as the intense pressure from a deep tissue massage could cause fractures in bones.
It’s also a good idea to avoid caffeine and alcohol after a deep tissue massage as they will reintroduce toxins into your system that you have spent time flushing out during the massage. You also don’t want to exercise right after a treatment, as this will put unnecessary strain on your body. It’s best to wait a day or two before doing anything strenuous. Instead, try stretching or going for a light walk to help your body get back to its normal functioning.