Side effects massage

This is why feeling worse after a massage has a function!

A massage increases your resistance, stimulates blood circulation and gives energy. In addition, your stress levels also drop significantly, and it strengthens the balance between body and mind. Still, you don't always feel better right after. Massage therapist Michiel Kaemingk of Tension Tamers knows all about this. He is regularly called by his clients after giving a massage. Twice to be exact. The first time to share the resulting headache and fatigue complaints with him. The second time to tell him enthusiastically that the massage has done its job after all. What about the delay in the positive effect? Michiel explains it to you below. He also mentions the adverse effects that you can experience shortly after a massage and what to do with them.

Michiel: “Enough is known about the benefits of a massage. But how is it that we sometimes feel worse after a massage, and only then do the benefits become tangible? Below I will discuss the most common side effects of a massage and give you advice on how to deal with them properly.

Headache

The most common complaint after a massage is a headache. This is the body's response to dehydration. Heat is released during a massage. Your blood vessels dilate and more fluid goes to your organs (including your kidneys and intestines) that are put to work. Do you drink too little anyway (which is the case with many people)? Then that loss of moisture during a massage has an extra impact on your well-being. Drinking water is necessary to dispose of waste products and is very important for our brains: it consists of 75% water. If the fluid balance is not up to standard, this can cause annoying headaches.

Fatigue

Some clients find themselves very tired after a massage. That is not crazy. The body is put to work and the self-healing capacity is addressed. This simply costs your body a lot of energy. For example, the blood circulation is stimulated by the massage. Your lymph nodes are also extra motivated by the touch to filter waste products from the fluid in your body. The disposal thereof is quite a task. In addition, it may also be that the massage makes you aware of the tiredness that was actually there before that time. Think of this as the same physical response of your body as when you go on vacation; then you are usually very tired for the first few days before you start to refurbish.

Sore muscles

Micro-cracks form in the muscle tissue when you are massaged, especially in the tense muscles. Your body will work hard to repair these cracks. The same happens with sports. A sore feeling after a massage can therefore be compared to "muscle pain". A massage, on the other hand, also provides extra blood flow to the muscles. This creates more energy in the cells and you have a better metabolism. So the recovery is fast, luckily!

Emotional

It can also happen that you are a bit more emotional after a massage. You are then completely connected with your own body again. Perhaps the hustle and bustle of everyday life has made you ignore the signals from your body for a while. Suddenly, after the massage, you become extra aware of all feelings, sensations and needs. In addition, touch can also release unprocessed emotions. A massage takes away stress. This creates space for old memories. Try to take a moment to let this all go down, take it easy, and find a healthy outlet for your emotions. Pushing them away will only create new stress in your body.

Side effects with a function

Some extra tips for these side effects: drink enough water before and after the massage. Always indicate to the masseur which pressure feels comfortable for you. Take enough rest after the massage, because your body will be working extra hard the following days. And take the time to feel what the massage has done for you. On a physical and emotional level. The side effects may not always be pleasant, but they definitely have a function. The more you learn to listen to your body, the better you will experience that a massage will ultimately only bring something positive. “