We often think of a massage as the ultimate treat a slice of heaven where the world stops, the music is soft, and your stress melts away under the hands of a professional. Most of the time, you leave the clinic feeling like you’re walking on clouds. However, have you ever woken up the next day feeling like you just ran a marathon or got hit by a bus?
If you’ve experienced soreness, fatigue, or even a slight headache after a session, don’t worry. You aren’t “broken,” and your therapist didn’t necessarily go too hard. These are common side effects of massage.
In this guide, we will talk about what happens to your body during and after a session, why certain techniques like deep tissue or Shiatsu massage cause specific reactions, and how you can manage these side effects to get the most out of your therapy.
What Are the Common Side Effects of Massage?
While massage therapy is generally safe, it is a physical intervention. Just as your muscles react to a workout, they react to manual manipulation. Understanding massage therapy side effects helps distinguish between a healing crisis and an actual injury.
The Most Frequent Reactions:
- Muscle Soreness: Often described as “Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness” (DOMS), similar to what you feel after trying a new gym routine.
- Fatigue: Feeling an overwhelming urge to nap immediately after your session.
- Headaches: Occasionally, the release of tension in the neck and shoulders can trigger a temporary tension headache.
- Thirst: Massage stimulates lymphatic drainage, which can lead to mild dehydration if you aren’t prepared.
- Emotional Release: It is surprisingly common to feel tearful or hyper-relaxed, as the body holds onto emotional stress in the muscle tissue.
Why You Might Feel Sore After a Deep Tissue Massage
If you booked a session for massage for muscle tension relief, you likely opted for deep tissue work. Deep tissue massage targets the inner layers of your muscles and connective tissues (fascia).
Deep tissue massage side effects are more pronounced because the therapist uses significant pressure to break down adhesions or “knots.” This process causes micro-inflammation in the tissue. While this sounds scary, it is actually the mechanism that triggers the body to send fresh, oxygenated blood to the area to repair the tissue, eventually leading to better flexibility and less pain.
Why the soreness happens:
When a therapist works on a chronic knot, they are essentially “re-injuring” the area in a controlled way to restart the healing process. This is why you might feel bruised or tender for 24 to 48 hours afterward.
How Massage Affects Your Nervous System
Massage isn’t just about muscles; it’s a conversation with your nervous system. This is where relaxation massage benefits truly shine.
When you receive a massage, your body shifts from the “Sympathetic Nervous System” (Fight or Flight) to the “Parasympathetic Nervous System” (Rest and Digest). This shift can cause:
- Lowered Blood Pressure: You might feel a bit lightheaded when standing up too quickly.
- Digestive Changes: Have you ever noticed your stomach growling loudly on the table? That’s your body finally relaxing enough to focus on digestion.
- Sensitivity: Your skin or nerves might feel “tingly” as blood flow increases to areas that were previously tight and restricted.
Post-Massage Fatigue and Energy Shifts
Why massage makes you tired is one of the most asked questions in clinics. There are two main reasons for this:
- Metabolic Waste Removal: As muscles are manipulated, metabolic byproducts are pushed into the bloodstream to be filtered by the kidneys. This takes energy, leaving you feeling “wiped out.”
- The “Relaxation Hangover”: If you have been living in a state of high stress for weeks, your body is running on adrenaline. Once the massage forces that adrenaline to drop, your true level of exhaustion is revealed.
In some cases, especially after a Shiatsu massage, you might feel an “energy shift.” Shiatsu focuses on pressure points and energy meridians. Clearing a “blockage” can result in a sudden burst of energy followed by a deep, heavy tiredness as the body rebalances itself.
Why You Feel Relaxed and Sleepy After a Massage
On the flip side of fatigue is the wonderful feeling of Bliss. This is one of the primary benefits of massage therapy for stress relief.
During a session, your brain increases the production of:
- Serotonin and Dopamine: The “feel-good” chemicals that stabilize your mood.
- Endorphins: The body’s natural painkillers.
- Oxytocin: The “cuddle hormone” that promotes a sense of safety and belonging.
At the same time, levels of Cortisol (the stress hormone) plummet. This chemical cocktail is the reason you might find yourself drifting off on the table or wanting to head straight to bed once you get home.
Understanding the Specifics: Shiatsu Massage
If you are visiting a Shiatsu Massage Center Waikiki or a similar specialized clinic, your experience might differ from a standard Swedish massage.
Shiatsu massage benefits include improved circulation and reduced stiffness, but because it involves deep finger pressure on specific points (acupressure), the side effects can feel more “localized.” You might feel a “good pain” during the session, followed by a sensation of lightness in your limbs. Because Shiatsu works with the body’s “Qi” (energy), some people report feeling more emotionally “open” or even slightly dizzy as their internal balance resets.
How to Minimize Massage Side Effects
You don’t have to just “suffer” through the soreness. Knowing how to recover after a massage can turn a 2-day recovery into a 4-hour one.
Post-Massage Hydration
This is the golden rule. Post-massage hydration is essential because water helps your kidneys process the metabolic waste released from your muscles. If you don’t drink water, you are more likely to experience a “massage headache” or extreme grogginess.
Gentle Movement
While you shouldn’t go hit a heavy powerlifting session immediately after a massage, gentle stretching or a short walk helps keep the blood flowing and prevents muscles from tightening back up into their old, “knotty” patterns.
Epsom Salt Baths
The magnesium in Epsom salts helps relax muscles and reduce inflammation. A warm bath the evening after your massage can significantly reduce next-day soreness.
Heat or Ice?
If a specific area feels inflamed or “hot,” use an ice pack for 10 minutes. If you just feel generally stiff, a heating pad can help soothe the discomfort.
When to Avoid Massage for Certain Conditions
While we love the benefits, there are times when massage might be counterproductive or even dangerous. These are called “contraindications.”
Avoid or delay a massage if:
- You have a fever: Massage increases circulation, which can actually make a viral or bacterial infection spread faster or make you feel significantly worse.
- Blood Clots: If you have a history of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis), massage can dislodge a clot.
- Recent Injury: Fresh fractures or severe skin rashes should be healed before they are massaged.
- First Trimester of Pregnancy: Always consult with a doctor and ensure you see a therapist certified in prenatal massage.
Conclusion
The side effects of massage from the “day-after” soreness of a deep tissue session to the sleepy “massage brain” after a relaxation treatment are almost always signs that your body is responding to the therapy. It is a process of shedding tension and recalibrating your system.
By staying hydrated, allowing yourself time to rest, and communicating openly with your therapist about pressure levels, you can minimize the discomfort and maximize the healing.
Whether you are looking for Shiatsu massage benefits or just need a simple massage for muscle tension relief, remember that the “side effects” are just your body’s way of saying “Thank you for taking care of me.”
So, the next time you feel a little tender after leaving the spa, grab a big glass of water, put on some comfy clothes, and embrace the recovery. Your muscles will thank you tomorrow!
