Do you experience flu-like symptoms after a massage but don’t know why?
Many people feel sick after a deep tissue massage session. These claims have been substantiated by medical science.
When you walk into a spa for massage therapy, you probably have expectations. You believe that you will feel relieved, refreshed, and energized. Furthermore, you expect deep tissue massage to improve your immune system — or at least not harm it!
But this is not the case for some people! While some walk away feeling amazing, others can develop adverse short-term reactions.
If you feel this way, it is not because a deep tissue massage is bad for you. It simply means that the deep tissue massage keeps triggering a response, which leads to (short-lived) flu-like symptoms.
In this article, we’ll discuss the phenomenon of flu-like symptoms after a deep tissue massage.
Stages of Flu-Like Symptoms After Massage
There are different stages of flu-like symptoms after the deep tissue massage. People experience these symptoms at different stages.
Let us review them.
1. Nauseous Feeling After Massage
Some people feel nauseous after a deep tissue massage therapy session. If you feel like vomiting, it does not mean that you are sick.
Rather, it is evidence that your body is responding to the massage stimulation, as you will see later in the article.
2. Flu Symptoms After Massage
For those who immediately feel sick after leaving a deep tissue massage table, this could be a sign that you are experiencing orthostatic hypotension.
This condition is caused by a drop in blood pressure. It is triggered when you sit or lie down for too long. A massage can take 1 hour plus, in a pretty constant position. This may be what you’re experiencing.
In any of these positions, you may begin to feel nauseous, you may experience some swelling, etc.. The good news is that the feeling will subside after a while.
3. Feeling Sick Hours After The Massage Session
Another stage of this phenomenon is when you begin to feel sick a few hours after the session is over. This may seem strange to you, but rest easy as this is only a side effect of the deep tissue massage.
Some people experience the symptoms soon after the session. For others, the feeling takes a while to become evident. For others, it may even take a few days.
There are cases when the client may vomit due to the effects they are feeling. If you ever vomit after a deep tissue massage session, do not be alarmed.
Vomiting is a sign that the session was effective. Your lymphatic system is ridding your body of biological waste.
There are also cases when the client may vomit due to the effects they are feeling. If you ever vomit after a massage session, do not be alarmed. Vomiting is a sign that the session was effective. Your lymphatic system is ridding your body of biological waste.
Other unpleasant experiences may cause you to feel sick after a massage. This includes sore muscle aches and anxiety after a massage.
If you ever feel sick after a deep tissue massage, bear in mind that your body is ejecting waste from your muscles and tissues, such as bacteria, allergens, and viruses that would have caused you to fall ill at a later date.
The sore muscles and flu will only last for a short time. And there are steps you can take to treat sore muscles like resting a while after the deep tissue session.
Causes Of Flu-Like Symptoms After Massage
There are reasons why you feel sick after undergoing deep tissue massage.
The body organs process nutrients and oxygen at a much faster rate during a massage session. This, in turn triggers, blood flow. This flow draws water from your bloodstream while decreasing blood volume.
The entire process flushes out toxins from the body and boosts muscle metabolism.
The body organs process nutrients and oxygen at a much faster rate during a massage session. This, in turn, triggers blood flow.
Without toxin release, the immune system will be compromised in trying to process so much metabolic waste. This is one of the leading causes of ailments after massage sessions.
Remember that the human body is constantly flooded with waste. This may be from interactions with other humans, objects, and nature in general.
These toxins congregate in your muscle tissue. And during massage sessions, the muscles are stimulated by the massage therapist.
This constant muscle-flexing triggers the lymphatic system to drain the metabolic waste. This action will boost your immune system and strengthen deep tissue in the body.
Dizziness After a Massage Session
It’s not uncommon to feel dizzy and sick after a massage session. You remain in a lying position for a significant time when you are massaged and you experience significant pressure and blood flow changes. Your body gets used to this position.
When you eventually stand up, your body will be forced to pump more blood into your heart. This may lead to a decrease in blood pressure. This condition is called postural hypotension. Other reasons why you may feel dizzy include:
- Eating disorders
- Anemia
- Dehydration
- Emotional stress
- Toxic shock syndrome
So if you feel dizzy after a massage, try to remain still and calm. Your body should get used to your posture before moving around.
It is also important to take enough water to counter dehydration. As well as relieve you of post-massage soreness.
The feeling will go away shortly, and you’ll end up feeling better on the other end.
Ways To Treat Flu-Like Symptoms After Massage
You may not be able to prevent how your body reacts to massage therapy. But you can limit the impact by doing the following.
1. Stay hydrated
As we pointed out in a previous paragraph, always stay hydrated during a massage session. Avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages before you go for a massage but drink plenty of water before and after the massage therapy to stay hydrated.
2. Stretch and Flex your muscles
After the session is done by the massage therapist, don’t be in a hurry to make a run for the exit.
Take your time to flex your muscles through stretching.
Stretching will reduce muscular tension and steady blood flow. This act alone will release pent-up stress from remaining in one position for a long time.
3. Take A Warm Bath
Take a warm bath after the session to improve blood flow. For best results, you can add Epsom salt to the warm bath and soak yourself in it for about 30 minutes.
This will ease body pains after the visit to the massage therapist.
4. Diffuse Essential Oils
Essential Oils are useful for triggering emotional release. Consider adding a few drops to your diffuser or humidifier.
If you don’t have a diffuser, you can soak a cotton board with a drop and water. Then inhale or drop a few drops into hot water and inhale. This will calm your nerves.
Conclusion
Flu-like symptoms after massages are common. If you feel sick after visiting a massage therapist, it is only your body reacting to the experience. After a short while, the flu will dissipate, and you will be fine again.
