should massage hurt?

[Des]

Hi everyone

Yesterday I was around my friends house and told her how lately I can't sleep and she offered to give me a massage to help me unwind.

The only way I can describe it is that I was begging her to stop! lol
I was wincing as she massaged my shoulders and pressing into the muscle around my shoulder blades and she said it was cause I was so tense. I asked her to do it a bit lighter and she said i was a wuss that she was using normal pressure.

Today the top of my trapezius muscle is swollen and I look like a body builder.

I've studied ITEC holisitc massage and she did VTCT swedish and I know her tutor cause I went to do Indian head with him but dropped it cause he was a pompous idiot unwilling to recognise my ITEC anatomy and physiology qual cause it had the word "holistic" attached. He also told one girl her breath smelled and another that she was should take some herbs to help her weight.

I've also had a massage by someone previously and it didn't hurt. She was under the impression that it meant it was working that it hurt.

is her technigue really bad or am I just that tense. Today I can't even touch the area

Jade

 

[Rickbarbes]

Hiya
There's a very similar thread here:

http://www.healthypages.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=59692&highlight=massage+hurt

 

[my_lady_warrior]

I would say her technique leaves a lot to be desired. Massage can hurt if there are a lot tension, but sensitive use of effleurage and petrissage should be used to find and isolate these areas. Then frictions used to work the tension out, but it doesn't need t be hard and just holding your thumb on the area for a prolonged moment will remove the area of tension without the need to overwork the muscle.

Myarka.

 

[Raga]

I've since taken arnica to see if that will ease the pain. If I lie down I have to make sure the pillow doesn't touch my shoulders or it hurts like hell

i understand that tension can cause pain or discomfort, I've had pressure applied by my chiropractor which hurt at the time but as soon as she stopped it went.

I feel like I need another massage now but dare not let anyone touch there.

 

[Jack Mania]

I agree with myarka on your 'friend's' technique and would also question her professionalism. Every person is different and it's what YOU feel that counts. If you say it's hurting, then it's hurting - plain and simple.
If it's as swollen as you say, she's definitely overdone it and you need to get the pain and swelling down as much as you can

Hope it's better very soon

Chaz

 

[Mark P]

HI ya Jadegirl again (just left a reply on the reiki forum)

Unfortunately there are a few massage therapists who can be bloody minded and think that pain is gain. I have clients who have the same mentality. Personally I think there are situations that call for deep tissue work and sometimes for a more light touch approach. Massage is a healing art, it's ashame that some people forget this.

Best Wishes

Massage Pixie

 

[Just Curious!]

A massage might feel uncomfortable if you haven't had one before, or for a very long time. But if this is not the case, then I would definitely say it's because of her method.

 

[Ellissss?]

I had a client tonight who was so tense I had to use the gentlest of pressure. Even gentle was just as much as she could take.

I also had a woman tonight who could take my body weight thru my elbows on her back.

Anyone who does massage has to be able to adapt technique to the client. Personally I do not believe in "pain" as such...a wee bit of nice soreness at most.

If you are in that much pain today and had to ask her to back off then she was going far too heavy.

Patchouli

 

[Ash T]

sounds like she is very inexperienced that she couldn't tell what was good pain and bad pain. My clients sometimes say its painful, akin to touching a bruise, I always offer to decrease the pressure but they quickly reassure me that it is good pain and they get some pleasure out of it.

My instincts is to do a gently massage as its what I would like, but I am not receiving the massage, my paying client is, so I do pressure to their preference.

a good therapist would change pressure throughout the treatment anyway, its much more sensory to apply differing pressures throughout the massage.

If I do find tension, I work at it in different ways, I apply varying pressures and varying techniques from broad forearm strokes to stationary pressure with my thumbs, from knuckling to stretching.

Tell your friend to get off her high horse and that her techniques need more practise.

I've been doing massage for 15 years and I am still learning, so one courses does not make you a perfect masseuse.