How's the Pressure?

When clients call to schedule an appointment with Absolute Body Balance they let us know of any specific muscle aches or pains they may be experiencing and how much pressure they typically like. Pressure is relative to the individual. One client may come in for a massage and say he wants heavy pressure, but then the muscles in his leg twitch and shake so it is important for the therapist to know when to back off. Or a client may come in and say they want a deep tissue massage, but then when that same therapist applies heavy pressure, he asks for an even deeper massage.

It is our job as the therapist to find the balance between too much and not enough. We take into consideration what the client says, but then we must also take into consideration the feedback that we are getting from the muscle tissue. There are many different techniques that we can use to achieve similar results and they don't always involve extremely deep pressure.

Sometimes with heavier pressure a client may feel soreness, tenderness, burning or even a tickling sensation in the muscle tissue. When a client verbally gives us the feedback about how it feels, we can adjust accordingly with more or less pressure. With therapist and client communication we can find that balance. The therapist may not need to adjust the pressure, they may just adjust the speed of the massage stroke or the surface area of the tool they are using.

You may find that your massage therapist uses heavy pressure on your back but lighter pressure on your neck or arms. If the therapist does not find areas of tension that need to be addressed, then your body is likely not asking them to do deep work in that area. Just because the work is not deep it does not mean it is ineffective. If your therapist does not ask you, you should still inform them if it feels too light or too heavy.

Deep tissue massage refers to a specific massage technique, not to how heavy the massage is. A deep tissue stroke requires that the therapist engages pressure where the muscle starts and keeps that pressure consistent throughout the full length of the muscle. This technique is used to lengthen tissues that are constantly in a short or contracted state. A therapist may find that Swedish massage is more appropriate for your pain management, but then they can add in some TriggerPoint therapy if they find knots in a specific muscle group.

It is very important that the therapist takes your feedback in to account. If you find yourself telling a massage therapist that the pressure is too much and you are being told that it's supposed to hurt or that you'll be fine or just a few more seconds, that may not be the right therapist for you. If you are finding yourself sore in the areas that were worked on for more than two days after your massage, that may not be the right amount of pressure for you. If you are finding yourself bruised every time you leave your massage, that may not be the right amount of pressure for you. The "no pain, no gain" mentality does not apply to massage therapy. Due to past injuries, traumas, posture or lifestyle, the body may be locked in a holding pattern and no matter how hard the therapist pushes, for whatever reason, that muscle may not be ready to let go. Having said that, your therapist might coach you in some deep breathing exercises to get through TriggerPoint therapy. By forcefully exhaling, your body can shut off some of the pain signals that it is firing to the brain. Your therapist may instruct you to breath out deeply as they are applying more force. On the other hand, and this does happen; if you are constantly asking for more pressure and your therapist does not adjust accordingly, they might not be the right fit for you either.

A great massage is not measured by the amount of pressure used. Recognize how you feel before, during and after the massage and try to be open to more or less pressure than you may be used to. Your therapist at Absolute Body Balance will check in with you during the session and follow up with you afterwards through email or phone contact to get an idea of how to best structure your next massage.