Welcome to part 1 of Feel Amazing’s Misconceptions blog post series.
Misconceptions about health-related care can arise from a combination of factors, including limited understanding of their scope and benefits, lack of access to research, and a tendency to focus on specific aspects of treatment while overlooking the broader context.
In this month’s blog posts (a 3-part series) we will be discussing some of the common misconceptions for the treatments of Massage, Acupuncture and Chiropractic.
Today’s post will be on Massage Therapy.
Massage Therapy: Does having a massage result in more than just feeling better?
Myth 1: “A painful massage means it’s helping.”
This is a common belief, but not necessarily true. Discomfort during a massage isn’t always a sign of effectiveness, and a gentle, targeted approach can be just as beneficial, if not more so.
Firstly, at Feel Amazing, we specialise in remedial massage which covers techniques such as relaxation, deep tissue, sports, and pregnancy massage. Our team are fully trained and qualified to offer these massages. We also have a well-considered intake process and treatment protocols in place to ensure that your individual needs are met, we can be made aware of any health-related concerns you may have, and so we can treat your presenting symptoms in a safe and clean environment.
Many clients say they notice the difference when having a massage done by a Feel Amazing massage therapist compared to one from a fast-paced heavy hand that hasn’t even asked you about your body. Unfortunately, people can walk away feeling like they’ve had an intensive session, but a forced quick release of a tight muscle won’t stop the problem from coming back within a short period of time.
Some people are even surprised that gentle soft tissue work, when done by an experienced practitioner, is so effective for their symptoms. So, pain is not an indicator that it’s helping, especially for the longer-term gain.
Related myths around Massage
Pregnancy massage is another area that unfortunately generates mistaken beliefs that don’t have a medical basis for their reasoning. We posted a blog post on this topic a while back that you can read here. The most common misconception about the safety of massage during pregnancy causes undue fear and hinders treatment that could otherwise help.
The truth about Pregnancy Massage
Pregnancy massage is safe throughout pregnancy (prenatal to postnatal), unless you have been advised otherwise by your treating medical professional.
The following makes a difference:
- seeing a fully qualified remedial massage therapist, who has received additional training in pregnancy massage
- who offers a safe and supportive pregnancy designed body support system (more than a cushion and not just a hole in a table)
Pregnancy massage is an essential tool in helping the body adjust to significant changes taking place during this time. There are many benefits for both physical and emotional health. This is why Feel Amazing Chatswood has become so well known for our pregnancy massages.
The truth about Remedial Massage
Massage doesn’t ‘just’ help you to feel amazing. One of the most common phrases we hear people say as they walk out of their treatment room is “that was amazing”. While we think remedial massage is great for the feel good and emotional benefits, we also know that massage can offer you so much more. (There’s a reason it’s in our business name!)
As we’ve mentioned before, massage is good for your physical and mental wellbeing, including for the following reasons:
- It is known to lower stress hormones such as cortisol
- Improves circulation (blood flow) so contributes to healing
- Relaxes muscles and improves range of movement
- Promotes relaxation, which can improve sleep
- Improves immune function by stimulating the production of lymphocytes
- Can help improve mood through releasing endorphins
- Is a valuable tool in managing chronic conditions and contributing to quality of life
- Reducing pain by interrupting the pain cycle, and through the mechanisms listed above.
Pain and firm pressure
You’ve probably heard of the phrase “no pain, no gain”. Along the way, people thought that deep tissue, or firm pressure massage was the only way to release tight muscles and to get results. While there may be areas on your body that can be painful to treat, the practitioner should adjust their treatment to your tolerance and how your tissue responds. In some people, triggering a painful response can cause even more sensitivity. In others, the pain response is inhibited due to neural pathways being interrupted, so the pain perceived could even be minimal at that time.
Meanwhile, light touch can improve circulation, help release effective hormonal responses, trigger relaxation, support lymphatic drainage and influence regions of the brain involved in pain perception. So, light touch doesn’t mean it’s not effective.
A good massage should be tailored to what your body needs. There are also other techniques that can help when tissue is tight (services we offer include dry needling and cupping).
Having said that, if you feel better with a firmer touch, then let your practitioner know so we can accommodate your preference.
What about treating injury?
Massage therapy isn’t just for people with injuries or muscle pain, but some people worry about having a massage if they have recently sustained an injury. Because this is such an important topic, we will be posting about this again later this month, so keep an eye out for that email.
It is important to listen to your body and seek treatment by an experienced therapist who understands the process of healing and rehabilitation. Your body is going to respond with an innate healing process which can be supported through rest, managing pain, ensuring good nutrition, and treatment that help the compensatory aspects of recovery.
Are there research-backed benefits of massage?
Yes! One of our previous posts mentioned research summaries on the massage related benefits for pain, stress, immunity and mood improvement. There is a lot of research out there, so if you are reading up on it and have any questions, you can always get in touch with us or speak to your treating practitioner. Just remember that research needs to come from reputable sources, not just someone’s view on the subject.
What do our practitioners say about the benefits they see in their massage clients?
Feel Amazing Chatswood massage therapists all agree that remedial massage helps people feel better. When asked how, they mentioned their clients leave the room looking like a weight has been lifted from their shoulders, relief and a sense of calm shows on their client’s faces, while some people look like they could benefit from a nap! (It’s important to listen to your body after a massage and take it easy if you can.)
From a physical perspective, massage therapists can feel the changes in the body as the muscles lengthen, the tissues release and the positioning of posture and alignment changes. This is the process of change towards healing. They can feel and see the difference. It’s also heart warming to visually watch someone walking out in less pain, being able to move freer and appearing more relaxed and emotionally happier. What a privilege it is to be able to make a difference.
So, to answer the question posed at the start, does having a massage result in more than just feeling better – with the evidence posted above, the answer is a resounding YES!
Part 2 of Feel Amazing’s Misconceptions blog series will look at Chiropractic Care and Acupuncture misconceptions. Keep an eye out for the next newsletter email.