{"id":22851,"date":"2023-08-10T15:32:24","date_gmt":"2023-08-10T22:32:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/massagegunadvice.com\/?p=22851"},"modified":"2023-08-10T15:32:26","modified_gmt":"2023-08-10T22:32:26","slug":"feeling-sick-after-a-massage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/massagegunadvice.com\/feeling-sick-after-a-massage\/","title":{"rendered":"Feeling Sick After a Massage: Navigating the Uncomfortable"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Feeling sick after a massage?<\/strong> Don\u2019t worry, it\u2019s not just you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Actually, it turns out that many people feel tired or otherwise lousy after their massage session – but why is this the case, and what can you do about it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rest assured that feeling sick after a massage is usually just your body\u2019s response to some of the changes that happen during a massage, and usually aren\u2019t a sign of anything serious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even better, there are techniques that you can follow to help minimize these side effects and feel your best after a massage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s get going!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ever felt unwell after a massage? Explore why it happens and learn self-care tips to alleviate symptoms just below.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Why Trust Our Advice and Some Disclaimer<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Written by Dr. Alex Stone, DPT, CSCS<\/a>, a licensed PT and our expert board member<\/a>, this post is based on careful testing and research. While we do our best to share reliable info on massage guns, it’s always a good idea to chat with a healthcare expert before trying something new.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Can You Get Sick After a Massage?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While many people attribute feeling sick after a massage to the release of toxins<\/a>, there actually isn\u2019t much research to support this idea. In fact, the American Massage Therapy Association has even declared this to be a complete myth\u200b1\u200b<\/sup><\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, even if you remove toxins from the equation, it\u2019s still very possible to feel sick after a massage for other reasons – here are a few that you should be aware of:<\/p>\n\n\n

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Circulation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It’s is your body\u2019s way of bringing in nutrients to tissues and taking out waste using blood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During a massage, blood flow is altered from the pressure being applied, and your circulation of nutrients or waste changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although circulatory changes are temporary during your massage, they can lead to symptoms after a massage such as headache, dizziness, and fatigue (feeling tired).<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Hydration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This can affect how well your body functions in just about every way, and your body works hard to maintain steady hydration throughout your day for optimal health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During a massage, your body can use up a lot<\/strong> of water in a short amount of time, leading to dehydration for some people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re dehydrated you might notice weakness, lightheadedness, or a dry mouth. In fact, dehydration might be the most common reason for feeling sick after a massage<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Inflammation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is a natural part of your body\u2019s healing process, and the chemicals that drive inflammation can be increased when your body is put under stress (like some types of massage).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even in small amounts, inflammation can lead to a host of side effects that make you feel similar to when your immune system is fighting a disease.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

If you tend to feel unwell after massage<\/strong> you might be wondering, is it normal to feel nauseous after a massage? Because different people react to changes in their circulation, hydration, and inflammation differently, it\u2019s possible to experience nausea after a massage without any serious consequences.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if you find yourself experiencing nausea for long periods (>24 hours) after a massage, it might be a good idea to talk to your primary care doctor to rule out any rare, but possible side effects from your massage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Maybe you\u2019re wondering, how long will I feel sick after massage<\/strong>? Well, the answer varies.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The good news is that for most people, most of the time, there are no side effects of feeling sick or otherwise unwell after a massage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, for those who do experience these side effects, we estimate somewhere in the ballpark of a few hours. Of course, this will vary depending on the individual and the type of massage being used.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Our Advice<\/mark><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most important thing to remember if you\u2019re feeling unwell after a massage is that these side effects are almost always temporary<\/strong>. This means that even if you\u2019re feeling unwell immediately after your massage, or even for a few hours after, you\u2019ll likely feel back to your normal self pretty quickly.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Can a Deep Tissue Massage Make You Sick?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Because deep tissue massage often involves more pressure and squeezing of muscles compared to other massage techniques, it also has more potential to \u201cget things moving\u201d. Although not guaranteed, this may also make side effects of feeling sick or unwell more likely following a deep tissue massage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, if you\u2019re wondering \u201ccan a deep tissue massage make you sick?<\/strong>\u201d the answer to that will still depend on the individual receiving the massage. However, based on what we know about deep tissue massage, it may have more likelihood to make those prone to feeling sick after a massage feel unwell when compared to other popular types of massage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it\u2019s not necessarily expected to feel flu or cold like symptoms after massage, it\u2019s still a normal experience for many people. For example, headache after massage is fairly common, especially after massaging the neck and shoulders. Another common example is fatigue after massage, which can make it more difficult to manage any other symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Deep tissue massage is also a great example for prioritizing hydration before and after getting a massage. Because dehydration likely plays a big role in feeling sick after a massage, and deep tissue massage is more likely than other massage techniques to cause dehydration, it\u2019s especially important to drink water in order to mitigate unwanted massage side effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When working with a massage therapist, make sure to talk to them about your experience with massage and the level of pressure that you tend to respond best to. If they\u2019re experienced, your massage therapist should be able to adjust their technique to avoid giving you too much pressure for your specific needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One other type of massage to consider is lymphatic massage, which focuses on enhancing movement of lymph throughout your body\u200b2\u200b<\/sup><\/span>. Put simply, lymph is a fluid that your body uses to move many different chemicals and natural waste products in the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While lymphatic massage is typically more gentle compared to techniques like deep tissue, it has higher potential to cause side effects in the body even with the use of lighter pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related<\/mark><\/span><\/strong> Massage Gun for Lymphatic Drainage<\/a> \u2013 Worth Using? Which One To Choose?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Okay, but what about massage guns?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Can Deep Tissue Massage Guns Make You Sick?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When we talk about deep tissue massage guns<\/a>, we\u2019re referring to a category of incredibly popular devices that feature a percussing massage head and can be used for a self-massage anywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Here at MassageGunAdvice, we\u2019ve personally tested hundreds of massage gun devices<\/a> and we know just about everything about them.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Unfortunately, there\u2019s no way to say for sure whether massage guns can make you feel sick after a massage in the same way that a traditional massage can. However, we can tell you that it\u2019s possible to achieve many benefits from regular massage gun<\/a> use that many people seek from a deep tissue massage\u200b3,4\u200b<\/sup><\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What this really means is that even if we can\u2019t say massage guns definitely cause feelings of sickness, it\u2019s likely that those who are more sensitive to these side effects after a traditional or deep tissue massage will be more likely to experience these side effects while using a massage gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Ekrin<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Using<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Ekrin<\/a><\/figure>\n
Ekrin B37<\/a> with a fork massage head for deep tissue massage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Because massage guns use a percussing head that is unique from a standard deep tissue massage, here are some additional side effects to be aware of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n