04/06/2026
Working with a client in the middle of a pain flareup can be challenging. Sometimes massage can help greatly - and both you and the client feel like your massage is the thing that fixed them! The problem is this is more uncommon than it is common, and it can leave you wondering why you’re not able to achieve the same results consistently. This is because pain is complex! Especially for clients who have a lot going on.
More likely than not massage can help, but it is when we can take a step back and look at the bigger picture that we can assess the factors most likely making the biggest contribution to the pain. Remember we are complex biological organisms, not just influenced by biomechanical forces. If you get poor sleep, have a poor diet, experience structural oppression, are going through PTSD, and have an autoimmune disorder, it is unlikely that a massage is going to fix your pain for good! Grief is another life experience that can heighten our sensation of physical pain. I say all this to illuminate that if you are the one going through a pain flareup right now, there are many things you can do to try to help reduce it. And, there are many factors outside your control! And, if you are a massage therapist trying to help people get out of pain, it is also important for you to know that there are many factors outside your control too.
More than anything, try to stay patient and stay curious and open minded as you explore pain and symptom management such as massage while in the middle of a flareup. Please know that you are not alone and that while your pain may recur, it does not mean that you are broken ❤️🩹 Do your best to keep moving and reach out for help and support when you can!
