People go through life carrying a lot of misconceptions about massage, mostly created by bad media information or by word of mouth from someone else's bad experience. Here, I go through some of the most common myths around:
1. Myth: “Massages Are Just for Relaxation”
Truth: While massages are fantastic for relaxation, they offer more than stress relief. Regular massage therapy can improve circulation, reduce muscle tension, enhance flexibility, and even help manage chronic pain. It also boosts the immune system and improves mental health by reducing anxiety and depression. Sports people use massage to improve performance and speed recovery from exercise and injuries and massage is often used to treat common medical conditions.
2. Myth: “Massages Are Painful”
Truth: No Pain! No Gain! Not true for massage. Effective massages don’t have to be painful. A skilled therapist will work within your pain tolerance, any pain will be brief and should leave you feeling relief from whatever tension was being worked on. Even deep tissue, done competently, will be within your body's tolerances for pain.
3. Myth: “Massages Are a Luxury, Not a Necessity”
Truth: If your serious about holistic health, massages are vital. They benefit those dealing with chronic pain, sports injuries, or high stress levels. It should be considered an investment in long-term well-being.
4. Myth: “Only Athletes Need Regular Massages”
Truth: Everyone can benefit from massage therapy. Reduced muscle tension, stress relief, and improved posture apply to office workers, parents, students, and more.
5. Myth: “Massages Can Spread Illnesses”
Truth: Licensed therapists follow strict hygiene practices. Visiting reputable establishments minimizes any risk of illness transmission.
6. Myth: “Massages Are Only Effective if They’re Long”
Truth: Even short sessions can provide significant benefits. Skill and technique matter more than duration.
7. Myth: “You Should Always Feel Sore After a Massage”
Truth: Post-massage soreness should be mild and temporary, not severe or
long-lasting.
8. Myth: “All massage therapists are the same”
Truth: Just like in any profession, massage therapists vary in their training, skills, and specialties. It’s important to find a therapist who is licensed and experienced in the type of massage you’re seeking. Whether it’s Swedish, deep tissue, sports, or prenatal massage, the right therapist can make all the difference in your experience.
8a. Myth: “All massages are the same”
Truth: The type of treatment you receive depends on your condition. Different types of massages are designed to address specific muscle conditions and ailments.
For example:
Sports Massage – This type of massage has been specifically developed for athletes or people who regularly do sports. It prevents potential injuries, treats injuries sustained during a game, and helps condition the body in preparation for a sporting activity.
Remedial Massage – This massage is designed for rehabilitation. It helps people recover from surgery or from injuries.
Trigger Point Massage – This type of massage focuses on tight muscle fibres that develop from an injury or overuse of the muscles.
9. Myth: “Massages Can Replace Medical Treatment”
Truth: While massages offer numerous health benefits, they are not a substitute for medical treatment. They should be viewed as a complementary therapy that can support and enhance medical care. Always consult with your healthcare provider before beginning any new treatment regimen, especially if you have underlying health conditions.
10. Myth: “Massage Therapy is Only for Adults”
Truth: Massage therapy can be beneficial for individuals of all ages, including children and the elderly. Paediatric massage can help with conditions like colic or growing pains, while geriatric massage can improve circulation and reduce arthritis pain. Therapists can tailor techniques to suit the specific needs and conditions of different age groups.
11. Myth: “Massage is a time for quiet”
Truth: Massage is a time for you to relax and have your tension released or your injuries worked on. If lying still on a couch with your eyes closed isn't for you, feel free to chat, hum, meditate or whatever makes you feel well. Communication with your therapist during the session is important as well. You can tell the therapist about your likes or dislikes during the session. Don't wait until the session has ended! It's too late to ask them to change anything by then.
12. Myth: “Massage only affects the muscles”
Truth: Massage therapy generally involves the muscles, so it’s easy for some people to arrive at this conclusion. However, science has proven that the treatment can do much more for the body than just simple muscle manipulation.
Here are the different ways in which massage therapy can affect certain parts on the body:
It stimulates lymph nodes and enhances the flow of lymph (the fluid that helps fight infections) throughout the body, consequently reducing inflammation.
It increases blood circulation, allowing nutrients to be distributed throughout the body, which promotes natural healing.
Helps alleviate swollen joints.
Aids the recovery of soft tissue injuries.
Helps to breakdown scar tissue.
13. Myth: "Massage gets rid of toxins”
Truth: This myth leads many to believe that massage therapy is an all-in-one miracle cure. Unfortunately, it is not.
While it promotes overall well-being, there is no scientific evidence that massage therapy releases toxins, or any other type of waste, from the body. The good news is that your body has natural components for the job — your kidneys and your liver. In certain circumstances, the lymph system in your body may need some assistance in moving waste and fluids around your body in which case a manual lymphatic drainage massage is called for, but this does not replace your bodies systems.
14. Myth: "Massage is ineffective against migraines or vertigo”
Truth: By applying pressure to trigger points during a massage it helps to release tension which in turn helps ease pain signals responsible for migraines and headaches. The same trigger points and muscles can also be responsible for some causes of vertigo and can relieve the symptoms.
15. Myth: "Massage helps you lose fat”
Truth: This myth has convinced many with weight issues to ger regular massage sessions int he hopes of getting rid of extra fat in the arms, stomach, buttocks and thighs. However, massages don't burn fat. Massage can be used to target subcutaneous fat and reduce the appearance of cellulite, but calories in, calories out is still the simplest way of losing weight for most of us.
16. Myth: "Massage effects are short-lived”
Truth: Massage can "train" the muscles to be stronger and more flexible. This reduces future pain and stress. Regular massage sessions increase and prolong the effects. This is one of the reasons pro athletes are able to push their muscles way beyond normal levels.
Enjoy your massage experience!
Excellent myth busting article!