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Why are some clients sore after a Deep Tissue Massage and others are not?
I've been practicing Massage for about a year now. During the Massage Program I completed, we learned Deep Tissue and even practiced it on each other. I always tried to work with one person in particular because she was so strong and did amazing DT work. There were times when I felt as though the pressure was too much, but I never told her to let up and I never developed any soreness - of course, at this point, we were practicing on each other 3-4 times a week, meaning I was getting several Massages each week for several months.
In the past year, since finishing the program and working on my own, I've come across a lot of different levels of soreness after DT work. I have some clients who come in, haven't had a Massage in a couple of years, receive a DT Massage (and I know I'm strong based on client feedback) and have NO soreness. I have other clients who come in and are extremely sore after their first DT Massage, and then I have OTHER clients who are not sore after their first couple of DT Massages, but become sore after their third, fourth or fifth DT Massage. I've even put together a spreadsheet looking for any sort of consistency in what causes the soreness, but I have yet to come across any patterns.
Two other factors - I ALWAYS do Trigger Point work when I do DT, and I try to ensure that I work slowly - starting superficially and working deeper.
Does anyone know or have a theory on why some clients develop soreness, why some never do, and why some develop it later after several treatments?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Lolita Knight on
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There have been so many replies, I am confused about who asked me about classes near CA. I am teaching at 4 places in NM in October. Working right now on getting those details on my web page www.fijianmassage.com. Should be up in a short while. Let me know if you found them. Lolita
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Permalink Reply by Gary W Addis, LMT on
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Daniel, that is a beautiful video. In exchange for work on an instructor's website, he gave me a 2-hr full body on my table. He incorporated shiatsu, MFT, PNF, NMT for the trigger points, but most of the time was spent with lomi lomi. The strokes underneath and over the top at once was absolutely great. He went bare table--no sheets, draped with a towel--and basted me with oil :). But, god, I can't imagine that anyone who experiences skillful lomi lomi would whine afterward that not enough pressure was used.
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Permalink Reply by Daniel Cohen on
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Gary at the Hawaii-Festival in Bavaria we did lomi directly on the table. The table was oiled so you just floated in the arms. Tables were opened on the lawn while classes occupied the rooms. After dinner and through the night people met inside to use the tables and exchange massage. We had up to 8 hand massages going on. After massage people (including me) had to be walked back to their cabins. It was amazing. I wish the American conferences were less commercial and more free session exchange. But if they were I might never have discovered beautiful Bavaria.
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Lolita, your method of querying about the pressure is a very good idea--I'll use it from now on. But our school clinic limits us. We work on clients in curtained cubicles, so we must speak in whispers, and my hearing is very bad even with two hearing aids. I have to get within inches of their prone face in order to hear any response.
In the clinic we are held strictly to the hour framework, 55 minutes or shorter of actual work. If client requests extra work in a particular area, they likely won't get the full body worked. This is frustrating for me and disappointing for the client, who may leave the table still feeling the pain of tight muscles and/or tense emotional state.After I receive my certification (another year) I will probably go to work in one of the casino spas. There, too, I'll be limited. Clients pay from $120 to $285 for 1, maybe 1.5 hours depending on modality. For the therapist it is one body off, five minutes to set up, then another body, back to back hurried massages for the entire shift, Hard to imagine at this point in my career-- I put everything I have into a massage, emotionally at least, so it takes me a bit to reset. (each massage is kinda like a competition with myself, trying to be better with this one than the last) During a 4-6 hour clinic evening, I perform at most three massages. But, yes, I know that I will by necessity have to become more businesslike and invest less emotional energy in a harried professional clinic setting. I expect that this will deprive me of some of my enjoyment in giving massage. Sigh.
Lolita Knight said:Think I am replying to both Gary and Gordon. Gary, did you call to remind your clients of their appointments.?? Also, I often give 2 hour massages. In fact, for me to give a full body massage takes 4 hours. This is like a body tune-up massaging the sides of the fingers, the top of the fingers, the bottom of the fingers etc etc. Plus you have the option of giving a deep tissue followed by a relaxing massage or a facial/scalp massage.
Gordon--I try to not ask "yes or no" questions about pressure. i.e. "is the pressure okay" as they normally say "yes" but could mean "no". Instead I ask "Would you like the pressure lighter or deeper". That way they have to think and tell you exactly what they want. cheers, Lolita
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Good point Lolita. Anytime you want an answer to a question you might not get a useful response with just yes or no. Making them search within for the response is much more useful.
Gary W Addis said:
Lolita, your method of querying about the pressure is a very good idea--I'll use it from now on. But our school clinic limits us. We work on clients in curtained cubicles, so we must speak in whispers, and my hearing is very bad even with two hearing aids. I have to get within inches of their prone face in order to hear any response.
In the clinic we are held strictly to the hour framework, 55 minutes or shorter of actual work. If client requests extra work in a particular area, they likely won't get the full body worked. This is frustrating for me and disappointing for the client, who may leave the table still feeling the pain of tight muscles and/or tense emotional state.After I receive my certification (another year) I will probably go to work in one of the casino spas. There, too, I'll be limited. Clients pay from $120 to $285 for 1, maybe 1.5 hours depending on modality. For the therapist it is one body off, five minutes to set up, then another body, back to back hurried massages for the entire shift, Hard to imagine at this point in my career-- I put everything I have into a massage, emotionally at least, so it takes me a bit to reset. (each massage is kinda like a competition with myself, trying to be better with this one than the last) During a 4-6 hour clinic evening, I perform at most three massages. But, yes, I know that I will by necessity have to become more businesslike and invest less emotional energy in a harried professional clinic setting. I expect that this will deprive me of some of my enjoyment in giving massage. Sigh.
Lolita Knight said:Think I am replying to both Gary and Gordon. Gary, did you call to remind your clients of their appointments.?? Also, I often give 2 hour massages. In fact, for me to give a full body massage takes 4 hours. This is like a body tune-up massaging the sides of the fingers, the top of the fingers, the bottom of the fingers etc etc. Plus you have the option of giving a deep tissue followed by a relaxing massage or a facial/scalp massage.
Gordon--I try to not ask "yes or no" questions about pressure. i.e. "is the pressure okay" as they normally say "yes" but could mean "no". Instead I ask "Would you like the pressure lighter or deeper". That way they have to think and tell you exactly what they want. cheers, Lolita
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Daniel, the next time you go, can I hitch a ride in your luggage? What oil did you use? My instructor/friend used safflower oil from a grocery store. It worked great, and I didn't notice any smell. He really slathered it on. It was great.
Daniel Cohen said:
Gary at the Hawaii-Festival in Bavaria we did lomi directly on the table. The table was oiled so you just floated in the arms. Tables were opened on the lawn while classes occupied the rooms. After dinner and through the night people met inside to use the tables and exchange massage. We had up to 8 hand massages going on. After massage people (including me) had to be walked back to their cabins. It was amazing. I wish the American conferences were less commercial and more free session exchange. But if they were I might never have discovered beautiful Bavaria.
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They used coconut oil. You and your wife should plan on coming to the Festival next year in May. They plan to allow only 20 more attendees so it doesn't become unmanageable or commercialized. This year 220 attended from 10 countries. Bavaria is amazing with the nature and friendly people. Everywhere you go are mountains, rivers, lakes, wild flowers and the air is so clean and fresh. Amazing and then combined with Lomi massages brimming with the Aloha spirit of the festival....... Ahhhhh........
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Unfortunately, the wife and I are living on my social security. We can hardly afford a trip to the beach--and it's about 100 yards from my apt door! In a couple of years maybe, after I make my first million giving massages. :)
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Permalink Reply by Massage Gnome on
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That is how I do my massage as well. I want to come have one from you just from reading your statement. LOL
Joan Cole said:
1) It's not just about whether the pressure was too much. Sometimes it's that your strategy isn't right. Very often, the actual problem isn't where the pain is. The pain is an arrow, but the problem is somewhere else, and THAT'S what needs to be released. Don't go trying to lengthen tissue that is in crisis because it is already overstretched. Lengthen the tissue on the other side of the chain that is CAUSING the painful tissue to be overstretched. It's like chess - you need to be reasoning several moves ahead.
2) Compression isn't the only game. Often the tissue needs decompression, torsion, shear or needs to be approached from a more oblique angle than what you are attempting.
3) Don't spend too much time in one place, as that DOES tend to traumatize. If it isn't releasing, hammering on isn't going to make it release. There may be something wrong with how you have the client positioned. For instance, they may need to be sidelying for you to successfully position an extremity to release that spot, and trying to do it with them prone isn't going to get you anywhere. Your angle may be wrong. Your depth may be wrong. Try searching in a shallower layer. You may be working on the wrong spot. You may not be relaxed in your own body. Stop and reconsider. Release something elsewhere in the chain and come back after taking a break.
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Permalink Reply by Gordon J. Wallis on
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OMG you guys think to much???
Massage Gnome said:
That is how I do my massage as well. I want to come have one from you just from reading your statement. LOL
Joan Cole said:
1) It's not just about whether the pressure was too much. Sometimes it's that your strategy isn't right. Very often, the actual problem isn't where the pain is. The pain is an arrow, but the problem is somewhere else, and THAT'S what needs to be released. Don't go trying to lengthen tissue that is in crisis because it is already overstretched. Lengthen the tissue on the other side of the chain that is CAUSING the painful tissue to be overstretched. It's like chess - you need to be reasoning several moves ahead.
2) Compression isn't the only game. Often the tissue needs decompression, torsion, shear or needs to be approached from a more oblique angle than what you are attempting.
3) Don't spend too much time in one place, as that DOES tend to traumatize. If it isn't releasing, hammering on isn't going to make it release. There may be something wrong with how you have the client positioned. For instance, they may need to be sidelying for you to successfully position an extremity to release that spot, and trying to do it with them prone isn't going to get you anywhere. Your angle may be wrong. Your depth may be wrong. Try searching in a shallower layer. You may be working on the wrong spot. You may not be relaxed in your own body. Stop and reconsider. Release something elsewhere in the chain and come back after taking a break.
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I have to think when a client wants an explanation but when I work I just feel and follow.
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Well I dont know? I mean Im no expert? I just think and do things so very much different then what I hear in here? I mean almost completely? But at the same time Im always learning.. I work tomorrow,,, and I cant wait... I only have a difficult time at work when I dont get enough sleep.
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