When faced with muscular discomfort, it’s common for people’s first option to book a therapeutic massage instead of making a trip to see the doctor. So it is the responsibility of each person to seek out a suitable massage therapist for the specific problem or issue they’re having.
It is essential to do one’s homework and search out a company with a good reputation, good reviews, and licensed massage professionals who possess the certifications for the specific work you need done. When this research is not done, a lot of problems can come up during and after your massage. Here are some examples:
Esthetic/reductive massages are done for the purpose of reducing cellulite or flaccidity in the tissues.
- How it goes wrong: There are cases of people (mainly ones with high blood pressure and liquid retention) who have suffered edema after getting a reductive massage since it involves percussion and rapid movements of the tissue, which can cause a bad reaction or inflammation.
- What you can do: Mention any preconditions to your massage therapist prior to starting the massage, and point out areas which are inflamed or retain a lot of liquid so the therapist can avoid working there.
Lymphatic drainage massage is a specific technique that aids the body in the removal of toxins and waste. However, this kind of massage can cause significant discomfort if administered incorrectly.
- How it goes wrong: The body’s lymphatic fluids need to be moved in a specific direction which assists the body in flushing toxins out. If the treatment is done in the opposite direction, the valves can get clogged.
- What you can do: Make sure the therapist who is performing the massage has knowledge/certification in the area of Manual Lymphatic Drainage, as the body’s lymphatic system is very delicate and directly impacts our immune system.
Deep tissue massage, as the name implies, uses pressure that can sometimes be intense in order to ease muscle aches. But if not properly done, it has the potential to cause more tension than alleviation.
- How it goes wrong: Deep tissue is great for pain management as long as the client maintains deep, steady breaths that help keep the body in a constant state of relaxation. If the pressure is too much and it causes the person to tense up and hold their breath, then their body is simply rejecting the massage. So, the “Pain-Relieving Deep Tissue Massage” ends up just being a PAINFUL MASSAGE and the client ends up worse off than before.
- What you can do: Communicate with your massage therapist! You are not hurting our feelings if you ask for less (or more) pressure. And on our side, the therapist should be able to detect when the pressure is too much when they see the client start to tense up and immediately apply less pressure.
It’s awful when you pay good money for a service but don’t end up enjoying it one bit. That’s why we encourage you to do your research and go to a massage studio you can rely on, with licensed therapists and excellent client testimonials.
At Healing Hands we proudly average 5.0 stars on Yelp and 4.9 stars on Google. Our therapists are all licensed professionals with many years of experience. Come check us out, you won’t be disappointed!