Is it normal to get bruises from the massage therapist at Chiropractors Office?

[forgetful]

I was rearended 3 months ago and had upper back and neck injuries. When I went to one of my chiropractor office visits yesterday , the massage therapy part of the visit was very painful. I had sore spots and the therapist was rubbing them out. I was crying from the pain when he was pressing hard on these spots and thought it was necessary to achieve benefits if he got the "knots" out. I have some bruises from this therapy session and want to know if this is normal since I've never had bruising from previous treatments.

 

[arosentexas]

I am a massage therapist. "Knots" or tender points can be very painful, yes. However, there are different techniques a therapist can do if they are trained in them that should be much less painful. One such technique is called Strain/Counterstrain.

In my experience sometimes clients are afraid to speak up about what is comfortable/uncomfortable and unfortunately suffer when they don't speak up during a massage. I always let clients know that it is their duty to speak up. I cannot be inside their body and cannot know what they feel. By the sound of it, you did try to let your therapist know...which leads me to my next point.

Some therapists don't pay attention to some of the signs or unspoken cues their client is giving. It is my practice to be attentive to this and also to check in about pressure and comfort at least once or twice during the session. This way I can be sure that there aren't any problems.

Finally, it is important that you drink lots of water to help minimize bruising and soreness.

Hope this helped a little.

 

[irenaaneri1980]

Forget "normal or abnormal" but listen to your own body.If the massage is causing you pain change therapists.Like in all professions,there are some better and some worse.Your massage is meant to be relaxing,therapeutic and beneficial and not causing you unbearable pain and crying because your therapist feels he "HAS to get the knots out" He's meant to be listening to you and working with you/your needs/your body,not just keep doing something that doesnt feel right to you because he single mindedly feels its right.
I received a massage once approx 3 years ago at a chiropractors and in all honesty it was the worse massage i had ever received.The massage therapists there gave such "clinical" massages,their hands were rough,awkward and not relaxing to the touch,their minds were absent-in general it was just sooooo unrelaxing.

 

[fretochose]

I have had bruises on my arms from one massage therapist. I did not go back to her.

 

[Bree]

no no no no.
thats not good at allll.

 

[cyndiann]

Sounds like he was doing deep tissue or another similar technique. I've had them done and it did hurt but didn't bruise me. Keep in mind that some therapists are much better than others at doing this and also that some people bruise easier than others. Without being there it is hard to say if it was his fault or not but if possible try a different masseuse next time so you have something to compare it to. If I had to guess I'd say it was his lack of talent but that is just a guess. The really good ones are hard to find unfortunately and when you do find one hold on to him/her!