Massage has long been considered a useful procedure to eliminate many health problems. But not always physiotherapy brings the desired result. Therefore, if after a massage a headache and other unpleasant symptoms are observed, then this is not the norm. In this case, it is worthwhile to suspend treatment until the cause of the discomfort is clarified.
The effect of massage on the body
Physiotherapeutic procedure involves the impact on receptors, which are located not only on the surface of the human body, but also in the structure of tissues, in internal organs, in blood vessels and muscles.
Proper massage, performed taking into account the individual characteristics of a person, contributes to the healing of the body, strengthening its protective functions and the restoration of vitality.
The proven effect of the treatment procedure is as follows:
- the work of the cardiovascular system is normalized;
- blood flow and vascular patency are improved;
- metabolic processes in tissues are restored;
- pain caused by muscle cramps stops;
- the emotional background is normalized after psychological overstrain or stress;
- increased functionality of the limbs;
- muscles are strengthened and their elasticity increases;
- mood improves and vitality is restored.
Contraindications to the procedure
Often, the reason why a headache after massage is a banal disregard for existing contraindications. It is this that leads to the fact that therapeutic therapy, instead of the expected result, can lead to side effects.
Even an experienced massage therapist with extensive experience during the procedure can provoke an exacerbation of concomitant diseases, so you should first pass an examination and consult with your doctor about the appropriateness of physiotherapy.
It is forbidden to massage in the following cases:
- with infectious pathologies during the active phase of development;
- elevated body temperature;
- acquired serious injuries and recent surgery;
- during pregnancy;
- low or high blood pressure;
- menses;
- mental illness;
- acute cardiovascular failure;
- the presence of benign and malignant tumors.
Individual restrictions
During the massage, the load on the circulatory system increases, and as a result, the blood flow to the brain increases. In addition, the procedure implies a prolonged lying of a person, which increases blood flow and accelerates its movement through the vessels. Therefore, people suffering from regular drops in blood pressure experience severe pain after massage, which is complemented by such unpleasant sensations as nausea and dizziness.
These unpleasant signs indicate that the chosen technique of the procedure does not correspond to the individual characteristics of the patient. In this case, the direction of movements should be changed not to the head, but from it to prevent blood vessels from overflowing.
Human factor
Sometimes even a highly qualified specialist is able to make mistakes in work. And any improper impact on the nerve endings in the collar region or involuntary displacement of the vertebrae leads to the fact that the head hurts after massage. Therefore, the risk always exists, especially if the massage therapist does not have a medical education.
Thermal load
Any kind of medical procedure helps to warm up the body. This feature allows you to enhance the metabolism in epidermal cells.
In this case, a headache appears as a reaction of the body to an increased heat load. Physiotherapy should be abandoned if every time it becomes bad after massage.
Pain
Many specialists who graduated from massage courses without a medical education mistakenly believe that the treatment procedure should be accompanied by painful sensations. That only in this case is it able to benefit the patient.
But the pain caused by physiotherapy provokes the release of chemical components into the blood. This leads to a kind of intoxication of the body. As a result, the headache after massage, and other unpleasant symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and dizziness, also appear.
What to do with cephalgia after manual therapy
If the headache after massage, then this symptom cannot be ignored. In case of severe pain, it is necessary to use painkillers to stop the discomfort.
The most suitable drugs are:
- Pentalgin;
- "Spazmalgon";
- "Papaverine";
- No-Shpa;
- Fanigan
Medications help relieve a headache, but this symptom is not the norm, so its appearance after the session should be reported to the masseur, as well as to the attending physician. This will help to adjust the technique of the procedure.
Also, if your head hurts after massage, you can eliminate unpleasant consequences without resorting to medication.
To do this, you need to apply the following methods:
- Lie on the couch, relax and put a cold compress on your forehead. Within 20 minutes, the pain should recede.
- Wipe your forehead and temples with a fresh slice of lemon or cucumber or apply their slices to the temples. Repeat the procedure until the pain completely recedes.
In the event of an unpleasant symptom and after the next session of treatment therapy, it is necessary to verify the professionalism of a specialist and consult a doctor about the possibility of eliminating this problem.
To avoid the recurrence of a headache after a physiotherapy session, you can not quickly get up after the procedure, but it is worth remaining in a prone position for another 20 minutes. In addition, it is necessary to avoid during the remaining day strong physical exertion and prolonged stay in one position.
The right choice for a massage therapist
The cause of the appearance of unpleasant symptoms may be an unqualified specialist who does not have enough knowledge.
Now you can meet both private masseurs and those working in public institutions. But a prerequisite for confirming their qualifications should be a medical education, that is, a specialist should be familiar with the anatomical structure of the human body. Therefore, do not be shy to ask about the availability of a diploma or certificate, since the effectiveness of the entire treatment directly depends on this.
Now it is often possible to meet hairdressers or manicurists who graduated from massage courses without a medical education and offer physiotherapy. But in this case, the risk of side effects increases significantly, since such a specialist has no idea about the body's work and the physiological processes occurring in it.
To avoid unpleasant consequences, you must first familiarize yourself with the reviews about the massage therapist, clarify the experience and the number of patients. By these criteria, you can get an idea of his qualifications.
Massage should be carried out using special tools and professional equipment. That guarantees the correct position of the body throughout the session.
Reviews about the massage therapist must be collected from various sources, and not just take into account those on the site. It is best if this specialist is recommended by a person who can be trusted and who has a positive result after the treatment.
When choosing, it is worth considering the duration of the practice, it should be at least 3 years of continuous work. But at the same time, the higher this indicator, the better.
By the number of patients per day, one can also judge the professionalism of a state or private masseur. If their number is minimal, then, most likely, the specialist does not arouse the trust of patients and his services are not in demand. The maximum number of procedures during the day indicates the unprofessional approach of a massage therapist. Since the intake of more than 6-7 patients per day indicates greed and a superficial procedure.
How to recognize an unscrupulous masseur
There are several criteria by which an unprofessional specialist can be recognized. Therefore, if available, you should abandon its services so as not to harm your health.
- The diagnosis is made according to the patient, without a preliminary examination and the opinion of the attending physician.
- The specialist completely promises to cure the pathology in several sessions.
- The duration of the course is determined by phone, that is, in absentia.
- During the procedure, proposals are constantly being received to replace the treatment prescribed by the doctor with various miracles or nutritional supplements.
- The masseur simultaneously offers to get rid of toxins in the body and conduct a comprehensive rejuvenation of the body for a certain number of procedures and an additional fee.
Despite the apparent simplicity of the action, a professional massage is a complex system of procedures that should be carried out by a professional, taking into account the individual characteristics of the person. Any violation during a physiotherapy session can not only nullify its positive effect, but also cause harm to health. And as a result, the head hurts after the massage, and other unpleasant symptoms also appear.