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This newsletter is about Massage
This is a guest article by Lorena Morales
Sept. 18, 2010
Should Massage Hurt?
By Lorena Morales
Hi ,
One of the questions I'm often asked, "Is massage supposed to hurt? Many people I've talked with and have told massage need not hurt to be effective.
It's surprising how many people perceive massage as a painful therapy. Some massage therapists and clients believe it needs to be painful to be effective, so how many people avoid massage because of their fear of being hurt?
Yet, it is ironic that in some circles massage has a reputation for being painful when a primary reason people receive massage is for relief from pain and discomfort.
I think this paradox stems from confusion between skillful deep-tissue work and poor technique. Many clients comment that deep pressure on tense muscles "hurts so good." It seems that the "good" pain people crave occurs during the release of chronic muscle tension; whereas the pain people avoid is inflicted by insensitive technique. If the work is too deep or inappropriate, it can damage tissue and elicit a guarding response, both of which will lead to more discomfort and stress.
Pain is a subjective experience. Addressing pain needs to be (you, client-centered), not only because people's perceptions of bodily sensations differ, but because there are so many diverse physiological and psychosocial factors that contribute to the experience of pain. Bodyworkers tend to focus on neuromuscular pain associated with muscle spasm, but other causes of pain include inflammation, illness, injury, or emotional distress.
Each cause requires a different approach. People who live with pain from chronic illnesses, such as arthritis, lupus, and fibromyalgia, may have difficulty with massage therapists trying to alleviate their symptoms with neuromuscular techniques. As a result, these people are reluctant to get massage because they fear leaving with more stress than they had when they came in.
I would like to welcome you to come in and have a massage by me, I Taylor my techniques to each clients special needs and look forward to meeting each of you and answering any questions you may have.
For the month of October, Happy Halloween treat yourself to a one hour massage $45 regularly $65.
Massage Practitioner - Lorena Morales
(916) 521-2100 For Questions or Appointments
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