If you are thinking about getting a massage, there are likely some things that you might believe that some people might have told you. Chances are, most negative aspects you might have learned from somebody or somewhere else about massages are not true, and they are totally worth the money being spent. Here are a few myths about massage therapy that we have debunked.
1. All massages are the same.
Considering that all massages involve rubbing or striking the body in a relaxing way, many people get under the assumption that all types of massages do the same thing, but we can easily say that that is not the case. There are various types of massages that serve varying purposes. For instance, a spa massage focuses on the relief of stress, and can work to reduce soreness in the muscles. There are even massages especially for athletes that can help refine their muscles and joints in between exercises every day. There is even Bexley massage therapy for patients who have suffered injuries and want to recover as quickly as possible. All in all, there are no two massages that are exactly alike.
2. Massages only work for a short period of time.
There is also a belief that you will only feel great for about a day following the message and you will soon be back to feeling stressed shortly after, as if the massage had no effect on you. However, this cannot be further from the truth. A Bexley massage therapist is capable of retraining the memory for your muscles so that any pain and stress can be reduced weeks or even months following a massage. While one massage is great, have a massage scheduled at regular intervals, however, can really improve the long-term benefits to one’s lifestyle, especially for chronic pain or muscle cramp sufferers.
3. Massages only involve moving around your muscles.
While the primary task in most massages involve manipulating muscles, there is much more that is done. Massages also help stretch tissues that are connected to muscles, organs, and bones. Massages are also capable of loosening joints, allowing you to move and flex better, and reduce swelling. Massage therapy can also help to increase circulation throughout the body, in which blood and nutrients can flow from head to toe.
4. Massages hurt the day after, which is an indicator that they did not work.
There are some people who believe that since he or she hurts from the massage, that it did not work. This is a common concern for those that choose a deep tissue massage, considering that the muscles get a lot of activity from being worked and stretched. Sometimes the muscles feel tender, sometimes the muscles feel sore, or they can even feel like normal. Neither of these feelings, however, are signs of a failed massage. If you feel sore following the massage session, it is best not to worry.
5. It’s not okay to interrupt a massage therapist.
It might seem like interrupting the therapist during the session is something you should do if you are experiencing pain, but the odds of a painful experience are moderately unlikely. You may feel some discomfort when a “knot” of muscle tissue is being released, as “good” kinds of pain should only last within seconds. But if the sensations continue, it’s alright to tell the therapist about it. The therapist is definitely willing to stop to see what the problem that you are facing might be. He or she will see what can be done so that the massage can proceed as normal.