Here’s our top 7 simple aftercare advices to boost the benefits of a deep tissue massage therapy session and relieve any muscles soreness really fast!
WHY MASSAGE THERAPISTS RECOMMEND TO WAIT 24 HOURS TO EXERCISE AFTER A TREATMENT?
In order to rip the best benefits out of your Deep tissue Massage London or any massage therapy really, it is best to wait at least 24 hours for 4 main reasons, which we have listed below.
1) THIXOTROPIC EFFECT
Have you ever heard of the thixotropic effect? With this term we define the effect that sustained pressure has on connective tissue, making it become more gel-like. The increased softness of the tissue lasts around 24 hours therefore during this time you are at higher risk of pulling the tissue (thus injuring muscles) or simply moving it back to old patterns, which compromises the value of the soft-tissue work and benefits of the deep tissue massage you’ve just received.
2) MUSCLE SORENESS
Exercising after a massage can further increase the muscle soreness you’re experiencing after the session. During a deep tissue massage, we try to break up groups of muscles (the so-called knots), possibly causing tiny micro-tears in the muscle along the way. This normal function of massage therapy allows an influx of oxygen-rich blood to reach the muscles, flushing out the byproducts of hard exercise, delivering fresh nutrients, thus healing that area, but it can also lead to that after massage soreness and you may also feel sick a little bit.
3) MUSCLE RECOVERY TIME
Muscle Recovery is the time a muscle takes to heal after a strenuous workout. During this process lactic acid and old muscles, fibres are removed and replaced with new muscle fibres. A muscle needs around 24-48 hours to repair and rebuild, therefore exercising too soon could just cause tissue breakdown instead of building new strong healthy fibres.
Exercising strenuously or doing a long run the day after a massage therapy session, will only be counterproductive to the benefits of a deep tissue massage, as you will simply contract your muscles more, introduce more waste products, and further dehydrating the muscles.
4) RELAXATION
You will be likely to feel both relaxed and tired. A good massage therapy session usually switches on the “repairing” mode in your body, the process of cleaning and healing, which will naturally slow you down. If you exercise, the oxygen that was supposed to supply your muscles for repair and rebuild, it would be used for your workout and you would come out of the beautiful post-massage feeling!
WHAT TO DO AFTER RECEIVING OUR SIGNATURE DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE LONDON
Remember that every time you receive a deep tissue massage, you may react in a very different way, depending on your condition prior to the treatment. For example, if you go out the night before your treatment and drink a little too much, you may get some headache or feel sick after the massage; if you have been running a long-distance or exercise strenuously prior the treatment, it is very likely that you will have some sort of after massage soreness.
Keep this in mind every time you book a treatment and try to follow the following tips.
OUR 7 TOP TIPS: WHAT TO DO AFTER A DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE SESSION
1) Avoid strenuous exercise (such as running, weight lifting, high-intensity aerobics, or power yoga classes), Relax and take it easy for at least 24 hours after a bodywork session.
WHY? Avoid injuries and give time to your body to heal itself.
2) Drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine.
WHY DO YOU NEED TO DRINK WATER AFTER A MASSAGE? Water may speed up the body’s digestion and assist the kidneys to flush out the toxins that have been moved back into the bloodstream through the deep bodywork.
3) Take a hot Epsom salt bath (1/2 cup to 1 cup), and soak for 20-40 minutes.
WHY? Epsom salts are an inexpensive and effective way to further help your body rid itself of toxins and reduce muscle inflammation.
4) Experiencing after massage soreness? The best way how to relieve sore muscles fast would be to apply some ice in the area for 10-15 minutes or do some light foam rolling (if you would like to know more about foam rolling, read our article how to use a foam roller or check our foam rolling video library)
5) Try to eat healthily and fuel up on whole foods
6) If you do want to exercise, choose moderate walking, gentle stretching, or swimming laps
If you are super active and want to work out on the day of the treatment, make sure you exercise before coming for the massage! I actually recommend doing a strenuous work out before a deep tissue massage therapy as the treatment can help you to get rid of the extra lactic acid that was developed during training and make sure you recover much faster.
7) ENJOY the post-massage naturally high feeling effect thanks to the release of all those ’ feel good’ endorphins!
OUR DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE CITY OF LONDON
Book today your first appointment, achieve your sport goals and release aches and pain with our super effective deep tissue massage London!
We hope you have now a better idea of how to relieve sore muscles after a workout and how to rip all the maximum benefits out of your deep tissue massage London!
