13/11/2025
Apologies for the very long post - but I need to get something off my chest..!!
No Pain, No Gain? Not in Massage Therapy!
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard new clients nervously say, “I’ve been told it’s going to hurt — that means it’s working, right?” including 2 clients just this week…
The idea that “it has to hurt to work” is one of the biggest myths in sports and manual therapy. Painful, deep pressure doesn’t make treatment more effective—it often does the opposite. True healing isn’t about “beating” muscles into submission; it’s about calming your nervous system and creating the right environment for me to work with your body so it can heal itself. When your body feels safe and relaxed, it can let go of tension naturally.
Your muscles aren’t lumps of clay that need to be forcefully moulded—they’re part of a complex system guided by your nervous system. Considered, precise, and purposeful techniques target the body’s sensory receptors, helping to reduce pain, ease muscle tone, and restore balance. On the other hand, excessive force and painful treatments can overstimulate your nerves, tighten muscles further, and even cause bruising or inflammation.
Yes, some areas may feel tender or uncomfortable during treatment, but there’s a big difference between discomfort and pain. The goal is to work with your body, not against it. Any therapist worth ‘half their salt’ will work within your pain and discomfort levels. So next time you’re on the table, remember: pain is pain—not progress. A good therapist uses skill, not brute strength. A good therapist will take their time to carefully consider how best to treat and will treat accordingly. They will use a range of styles and techniques and not just run forearms up your IT Band whilst laughing as you squirm in the inevitable pain. Sports massage is meant to aid recovery, ease tired muscles, improve ROM, keep DOMS at bay and improve performance - now tell me how an hour of gritting teeth whilst a so-called therapist batters the f&*k out of your legs is going to to help with that…!?!
When it comes to your body, deeper isn’t always better—smarter always is.
Get in touch to chat or book. 07713 155583.
