Bruising from deep tissue massage - advice please!

[Opireeappeada]

Hi all,

I would like some advice please! I am a case study for my friend who is doing a Sports Massage diploma and she massaged me last week. Anyway, the same day my muscles were extremely tender and I came up in really big bruises that have only just started to fade (this was a week ago).
The thing is, she needs to do two more treatments on me to complete her case study and I don't want to let her down. I have told her about the bruises and she did check with her tutor, who said that this can happen. I have agreed to more treatment, as I don't want to offend or let her down, but I am just a bit nervous of it happening again. Can anyone give me any advice?
Thank you! x

 

[kristinhah]

Clara, I'm so sorry to hear this.
She is working too deeply too quickly and failing to properly consider your your tissue. Yes, SOME bruising MAY occour with deep tissue work, but severe and extensive bruising as you describe is poor technique. HARDER IS NOT BETTER.

 

[hockeyking_21]

Hi Clara

To quote from Mel Cash's standard textbook on 'Sports and Remedial Massage Therapy' (1996 edition, page 45):


If you read the recent biographies of Paula Radcliffe and Kelly Holmes, it is clear that they both regularly receive quite painful massage. But most therapists wouldn’t want to bruise clients if it can be avoided: it isn’t a very good advertisement for the therapist’s practice! It does seem that your therapist has ‘gone overboard’ and gone in too hard: unless a client specifically wants a deep treatment to help disperse existing scar tissue, a good therapist should be cautious when treating a client for the first time. You should ask your therapist to be gentler next time she treats you (and perhaps concentrate on a different area).

Regards

Alan

 

[haleybear]

Hi Clara,

My thoughts are thus:
Bruising does sometimes occur with deep tissue massage and this can be indicative of an effective treatment. (I have only seen it once; they were on me by another therapist.) HoweverSEVERE bruises as you describe do indicatepoor, over eagertechnique.

I would definitely discuss this with your friend. Good case studies are hard to find.

As well as your obvious concerns for your own health I would also point out, as a practicing therapist, the importance of building up a good base of repeat clients and in the real world you would be unlikely to return for a second treatment.

One final thought:
Perhaps on your next treatment she could focus on lighter techniques accompanied with some assisted stretching.

Hope this helps.

Adam

 

[JR EWING]

Hi Clara[/align][/align]When you receive your next treatment, it is important to give your friend a running commentary on how it feels to you, the deeper the massage over an area the more discomfort is felt, so in a way you can help your friend by indicating the amount of discomfort you are felling.[/align][/align]It can unfortunately take a little while for someone to develop the sensitivity in their fingers to know how deep they are going, but most people achieve this quicker with good feedback [/align]

 

[Brenda S]

Thanks for all of your advice, it is much appreciated.
I will definitely give more feedback to my friend. She is aware of the bruises and I do think she is a good therapist. She was asking me to rate my pain/discomfort on a scale of 1-10 and also to concentrate on my breathing, and this does help. I will let you know how I get on!

 

[Wicked Awsome]

To relieve the existing bruises, you could try Hirudoid Gel, which is available over-the-counter from a pharmacist (around £2.50 for 50g). Its active ingredient is (I believe) an extract of leeches, which inhibits blood clotting at the site of inflammation. Use carefully though, following the instructions which are included.

You've got to give more feedback to your therapist I think, and don't do any work on the affected areas until they are completely recovered. I am having a Rolfing treatment at present, and it's a key client responsibility to do this in that therapy.