Massage therapy is one of the most effective ways to relieve tension and stress, but some people experience unexpected soreness afterward. Understanding why your body reacts this way can help you prepare for your next session and recover faster.
In This Article
Why You Feel Sore After a Massage
Has anyone ever gotten a massage and ended up feeling muscle soreness for the next couple of days? Have you ever wondered why you are sore after getting a very relaxing session? There may be a number of causes, but one of them that you can blame may be due to lactic acid.
How Lactic Acid Causes Massage Soreness
Most of the muscles are made of tissue and red blood cells, so when oxygen levels in the body in normal, carbohydrate breaks down into water and carbon dioxide. When oxygen levels are low, carbohydrate breaks down for energy and from there it makes lactic acid. This lactic acid can cause your muscles to get sore.
Lactic acid levels get higher when doing strenuous exercises or other conditions, such as heart failure, a severe infection, or a shock-lower the flow of blood and oxygen throughout the body. Dr. Michael Pritsker, a chiropractor had this to say on the subject: “If your muscles have built up lactic acid due to strenuous exercise or for some other reason, then getting bodywork can cause some soreness as you work out the lactic acid.”
Being sore after a session or a workout isn’t always a bad thing, so if you do not work out often and you get bodywork there is no need to be concerned after a session. The chances of you being sore are pretty high if you don’t work out often as well.
3 Ways To Reduce Soreness After Your Massage
The ways to reduce lactic acid levels in your body is to drink plenty of water and fluid. Drink 8-16 ounces before your workout and 8 ounces of water for every 20 minutes that you work out. Make sure you breathe correctly as well. You should breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Exercise several times a week but be sure to be cautious when lifting weights. Lifting weights tends to promote lactic acid in your body due to the oxygen levels when lifting weights, so decrease the intensity when you feel the burn. Stretching before and after your workout and remain active. You can also reduce lactic acid levels by eating vegetables with magnesium and food high in fatty acids like tuna, salmon, and mackerel.
So don’t be too concerned if you’re sore after your appointment. Look into some of the things that me be causing the soreness. Consider lack of exercise, too much exercise, vitamin deficiencies that may cause your skin to bruise, and much more that may cause bruising after a massage.
Research on Massage and Recovery
According to the American Massage Therapy Association, research supports the use of therapeutic bodywork for reducing inflammation and promoting faster recovery. Regular sessions can help train your muscles to respond more positively over time, which means less soreness after each visit.
If you are new to bodywork or returning after a long break, start with a lighter pressure and gradually increase intensity as your body adapts. Staying hydrated before and after your appointment is one of the simplest ways to minimize discomfort.
Book a Session at Happy Head
Happy Head offers affordable therapeutic sessions at all San Diego locations. Whether you prefer deep tissue, Swedish, or sports recovery work, our trained therapists will customize the pressure to your comfort level. Explore the full range of benefits of massage and schedule your next appointment today.
