How Much Pressure Is Too Much In Massage?

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]For most fledgling massage therapists, this is the million-dollar question that could either make or break their career or someone’s bones. All jokes aside, there is no definite definition about the right amount of pressure that should be applied to muscles in massage therapy or self-massage sessions since it could vary from person to person. In a nutshell, people have specific pressure inclinations as they often fire therapists who provide treatments that are too soft or painful. A scientific poll involving massage therapy client have shown that 55 percent of people fire their therapists for being too intense while about 40 percent relieve their therapists because of being too fluffy or unfocused. As painful as it sounds, the trouble with every single therapist is that they stick into their old ways and means instead of being communicative and respectful to their respective clients. Outlined below are the three most common massage pains which are known as the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Good Massage Pain

Good pain is among the most fascinating subjects of massage because it’s an unlikely combination of pain that somehow manages to make complete sense when felt by someone. It is a feeling which is relatively hard to describe but comes with a peculiar and distinctive sensation that is mostly dull and aching. Moreover, good pain also comes in a variety of ways that may include a nasty or gross aspect as well as unpleasant acupressure which is accompanied by a unique sense of relief. What makes a good pain quite tricky is that no one really knows how a painful massage can simultaneously feel good, except for the client itself. In this case, the only thing a therapist can do is to speculate since it is a sensory phenomenon that is almost beyond the realm of science. With the emergence of painful yet relieving analogies in the fields of medicine and biology, the relief model of massage certainly poses some temptation. Nonetheless, every massage therapist should remember that a satisfying sensation does not necessarily indicate successful treatment. Take scratching mosquito bites for instance. Scratching the sensitive points on soft tissues can help someone feel better but it does not really help them resolve or release the pain. In short, clients can’t necessarily put a face value to the good pain sensation since it might not lead to positive outcomes. Meanwhile, another phenomenon which makes massage pain feel good is referred sensation. Basically, referred pain allows the trigger point to feel more essential and bigger. Additionally, referred pain heightens the good or bad pain effect depending upon the intensity of the pressure that is being applied.

Bad Massage Pain

It is common knowledge that nothing well comes with from bad pain. However, the mystery still lies on the pressure question, which is about whether or not bad pain is ever justified. Bad pain can sometimes be defined into two classifications such as unpleasant but worthwhile or both unpleasant and pointless. Making bad pain quite helpful is its ability to help relieve the signs of muscle knots. According to numerous theories, a muscle knot is primarily caused by something that goes awry within the motor-end plate, wherein a nerve fastens to a muscle cell. Muscle knots are a muscular complication, which mainly causes swelling, stiffness, and pains while complicating virtually any injuries or conditions. Other than its extreme potentiality to ease up muscle knots, certain reasons that a painful massage might just be fine is through connective tissue stimulation. While most therapists are fond of reclining connective tissues such as the fascia, ligaments, and tendons, the idea of improving the fascia has been left unproven and implausible, which indicates that it might pose unknown dangers. While painful sensations are not usually good at releasing catharsis, enduring strong sensations can definitely be a meaningful component of the client’s personal growth process. However, too much pressure is also packed with worst-case scenarios such as the risk of complex and neurological complications. A strong massage can sometimes aggravate nerve damages that could result in further consequences. In addition to that is the risk of rhabdomyolysis, which is the dangerous distribution of proteins from damaged muscles into the bloodstream. Interestingly enough, a mild version of rhabdomyolysis is sometimes responsible for swelling and soreness caused by a massage.

Ugly Massage Pain

Ugly pain in massage is defined by therapists as a type of massage that provides clients with less or minimal benefits that could create dangerous side-effects to their skins. Among the most common kinds of ugly pain include the constant disturbance of infected or swollen tissue, which is normally hypersensitive to light massages. Besides that, nerve pinching and fingernail digging sensations, as well as excessive pressure and overstretching, can sometimes cause ugly pains, which is extremely inexcusable in therapies. In relation to sensations, another sensation that could be dangerously alarming is the skin tearing sensation that is primarily done by poor and untrained therapists, who have little to no knowledge about the endangerment sites of the human body. Moreover, ugly pain in massage therapies can be a sign of danger that includes direct and sensory injuries. As a matter of fact, this might tear, bruise or break the client’s tissues most especially if they are suffering a fractured femur. Furthermore, ugly pain is, without question, dangerous whether physically or neurologically since it could cause a fight-or-flight reaction that needs to be avoided at all cost.

What Should Every Massage Therapist Do?

Like it or not, there are only so much that can be accomplished when inflicting good pain on clients that bad pain should be justified vividly and quickly. In short, as dangers, pain, and expenses grow, it is rightful and just to increase benefits. While being communicative is not their strong suit, every massage therapist must talk to their clients and respect their preferences. After all, the satisfaction of each client is far more important than any treatment ideology or concept. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]