Wait, Why Does Massage Increase Inflammation?

If you've ever had a massage, you may have noticed that your body felt a bit more inflamed or sensitive afterwards. This can be a common side effect of massage therapy, and it's actually a sign that the treatment is working to promote healing and recovery in your body.

In this article, we'll explore why massage can sometimes lead to a temporary increase in inflammation, and why this is actually a positive response that indicates the massage is doing its job. We'll also cover some tips to help manage post-massage inflammation and ensure you get the most benefits from your treatment.

What is Inflammation?

Before we dive into the connection between massage and inflammation, let's first talk about what inflammation is and why it's an important part of the body's natural healing process.

Inflammation is your immune system's response to injury, infection, or irritation. When your body detects a problem, it sends a surge of blood, nutrients, and immune cells to the affected area to begin the healing process. This can cause redness, swelling, heat, and pain – in other words, the classic signs of inflammation.

While chronic, uncontrolled inflammation can be harmful to your health, acute inflammation is actually a good thing. It's your body's way of protecting itself and kicking the healing process into high gear.

In fact, without inflammation, injuries and illnesses would take much longer to recover from!

3 Ways Massage Can Increase Inflammation

Now, let's look at three specific ways that massage therapy can – temporarily – increase inflammation in the body.

1. Increased Blood Flow

During a massage, the manipulation of your muscles and soft tissues causes them to receive a boost in blood flow. This increased circulation brings more oxygen, nutrients, and immune cells to the area, which can trigger a localized inflammatory response.

The extra blood flow also helps flush out metabolic waste and toxins that have built up in the muscles. As these substances are released, they can cause a short-term spike in inflammation as your body works to eliminate them.

2. Muscle Repair

Massage therapy can actually cause tiny micro-tears in the muscle fibres. While this might sound concerning, these small tears are part of the muscle repair and strengthening process, so please don’t be worried!

Your body responds to these minor injuries by sending in inflammatory cells to begin the process of healing and rebuilding. This inflammatory response is essential for repairing the muscle damage and making the tissue stronger than before.

3. Immune System Activation

Massage has been shown to provide a temporary boost to the immune system, which can also contribute to increased inflammation. When your immune system becomes more active, it releases more inflammatory chemicals and cells to patrol for and fight off potential threats.

Once again, this heightened immune response is a good thing, as it helps your body better defend itself against illness and infection. However, it can also lead to a short-term spike in inflammation as your immune system goes into high gear.

Tips for Managing Post-Massage Inflammation

While a temporary increase in inflammation is a normal and even beneficial response to massage, there are some things you can do to help minimize any discomfort.

1. Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water before and after your massage can help flush out toxins and reduce inflammation.
2. Use Cold Therapy: Applying a cold pack or taking a cool shower after your massage can help constrict blood vessels and reduce swelling.
3. Rest and Relax: Give your body time to recover by getting plenty of rest in the 24-48 hours following your massage. Avoid strenuous activities that could further irritate the muscles.
4. Listen to Your Body: If the inflammation feels excessive or lasts more than a couple days, don't hesitate to contact your massage therapist or healthcare provider. They can help determine if any adjustments need to be made to your treatment plan.

Embrace Post-Massage Inflammation as a Sign of Healing

While this post-massage inflammation can be uncomfortable, a temporary increase in inflammation is a normal and in fact a beneficial response to massage therapy.

With proper self-care and by giving your body time to rest and recover, the inflammation will usually subside within a day or two. And the end result will be healthier, more relaxed muscles and a stronger, more resilient body.

So the next time you experience a bit of inflammation after a massage, try not to be alarmed. Instead, see it as a sign that the treatment is working and your body is on the road to feeling better than ever.