Did My Massage Therapist Give Me DOMS?

(D)elayed (O)nset (M)uslce (S)oreness . . . that achy, flu-like feeling in muscles that have been worked harder than usual. DOMS is a combination of by products of tissue damage and metabolites left over from cell function that has built up in the muscle faster than your blood and lymphatic systems can flush it out. Intense and unaccustomed exercise increases cell metabolism and therefor waste metabolites in the muscles. That type of exercise can also cause little micro tears in the muscle tissue that trigger your nervous system to trigger your endocrine system to send in a little inflammation (flood of nutrient bearing lymphatic fluid and increased oxygen bearing blood circulation) to heal the damage. Result? DOMS. A regular massage that does not break up fibrotic hypertonic tissue will not cause DOMS unless you are already dehydrated, malnourished, or full of waste metabolites. If you are one of those then a good massage can turn loose enough waste metabolites to create DOMS. However, when structural body work is done to release fascia that has become fibrotic and caused restrictions in circulation of blood and/or lymph or maybe decreased range of motion . . . then the massage therapist can accidentally cause micro tears in muscle fiber walls if he or she is not careful or skilled enough. Result? DOMS. So, yes. Your massage therapist could have given you DOMS. However, before you get upset with that person, ask yourself if you are in good physical shape, are drinking enough fluids, eating well, and getting enough rest. This is one reason why most body work establishments have a policy of recommending that clients drink plenty of water after a session and do some gentle stretching of the area worked to increase circulation of blood and lymph.

How Often Should I Get a Massage?

Well, Bob Hope got a massage every day! Too bad we can’t all do that. The benefits of massage can be cumulative at an interval of as long as five weeks. Ideal is once per week. Average for truly stressed out folks is once every two weeks. (They just don’t have time to come in more often!) Injury or surgery rehab and pre-hab massage can be two to three times per week or up to once a month. It is really up to you, your schedule, and your budget. If your favorite therapist is not available as often as you would like then ask them to recommend a therapist whose work would benefit you.