Feeling Dizzy After Massage? Here is What to Do

Last Updated on December 16, 2022 by

Massage therapy is meant to make you feel relaxed, improve your performance in sports, and prevent or rehabilitate an injury. Unfortunately, many people often feel dizzy after a deep tissue massage. And since no one goes into a massage room with the aim of feeling dizzy afterward, you’ll want to learn why this happens and how to mitigate the problem. While dizziness after a massage is a common harmless occurrence, there are certain steps you can take to reduce dizziness before or after a massage.

Consult Your Doctor Beforehand

Deep-tissue massage targets tight muscles by applying firm pressure to those areas. This type of massage is very popular among athletes and people who suffer from chronic pain. By releasing the muscles that bind together in your back, you can improve your blood flow and reduce inflammation. As a result, you can help your body to heal more quickly and easily from various injuries. This can also help you to have a more active lifestyle.

You should know that deep-tissue massages can be especially tough and painful on your muscles and body. It is okay to have hard massages because they are designed to be extremely tough on muscles and the underlying tissue. But some people may not like getting those deep-tissue massages because of certain side effects. You are advised to check with your doctor before you do any deep-tissue massages if you are currently under a physician’s care for any medical condition.

Deep tissue massage may not be appropriate for people who are enduring cancer treatments. Likewise, people with blood clotting disorders and those who take blood thinners are also not recommended to have deep tissue massage. People suffering from osteoporosis or who are pregnant are also contraindicated from undergoing deep-tissue therapy because it may damage their bones and cause permanent damage to the body.

Potential Causes of Dizziness After Massage

So, why do some people become dizzy after a massage? Do we really need to be worried about dizziness after a massage? Generally speaking, feeling dizzy after having a massage is normal. There can be many reasons why you may feel dizzy after having a massage. Some are not serious, but some are serious.

1. Postural Hypotension

Postural hypertensionhappens when you stand up from sitting or lying down and suddenly start breathing heavily. It’s a type of low blood pressure that can happen any time you stand up from sitting down or lying down, and not just when you get off a massage table. Low blood pressure can cause you to be lightheaded, dizzy, or faint.

Other side effects that may accompany postural hypotension include:

  • Weakness
  • Nausea
  • Blurred vision
  • Confusion

2. Low Blood Pressure

If you have low blood pressure that is more chronic (you have low pressure that stays the same even if you lay down and stand up again), you might feel lightheaded after a massage. It may be because you have not eaten in a long time or have other conditions that cause you to have low pressure.

If some health issues cause you to have low blood pressure, be sure to tell your massage therapist about those conditions. If you are having trouble taking your medication, tell your therapist about it before you have a massage. This will allow them to offer you the proper advice on the right things that will cause your blood pressure to rise again.

3. Prescription Medicines

Another good thing to tell your massage therapist is whether or not you are taking any prescription medication. Taking certain medications can make it difficult to have a massage because of these contraindications. This is for the safety of both the client and the therapist.

If you are a patient whose cancer is in progress, there is a certain time that you should not have a massage. If you have chemo and get a massage right after you have been treated, you may be able to pass some of that chemo along to your therapist.

That said, if you have cancer, massage can help you feel better. Massages that involve only light pressure and are designed to help you relax are safe for all types of cancer. However, if you’re too sick to allow a therapist to give you a massage after you have finished chemotherapy, you may need to avoid massage. But if your doctor allows you to get a massage while you have been hospitalized, your therapist may choose to wear gloves while you get treatment.

4. Eating Disorders

If you have an eating disorder like anorexia or bulimia, you may feel dizzy more easily after a massage. In the long run, you’ll feel dizzy because your body isn’t receiving the nutrients it needs. Studies have shown that massage therapy can help people who have eating disorders feel happier about themselves. These are some truly incredible benefits of getting a massage.

5. Dehydration or Heat Stroke

If you are highly dehydrated or suffering a heat stroke, you can bet that dizziness is going to be one of the side effects. There’s a reason your massage therapist gives you water after the massage. Massage stroke-like movements get fluids flowing throughout your body, and drinking water helps with that process.

Drinking water after a massage can cause you to feel more relaxed. But if you are severely dehydrated, your body fluids will not be able to move well, and they will become stuck because they don’t have enough water to move around your body.

If you are dehydrated before a massage, you will feel dizzy. But don’t worry; you should feel fine if you drink plenty of water. But don’t chug a lot of water because doing that will stress your system. Instead, drink plenty of water by drinking small quantities frequently to allow your body to properly hydrate itself.

6. Anemia

Anemia means that you are not getting enough iron, and it is common among women. If you feel dizzy after a massage, that may be a symptom of anemia.

Other common symptoms of anemia are:

  • Rapid heart rate
  • Easily fatigued
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pale skin
  • Insomnia
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Leg cramps

Check with your doctor to ensure you aren’t anemic. But generally speaking, massage is safe even for anemic people and won’t make anemia worse.

7. Toxic Shock Syndrome

If a person suffers from toxic shock syndrome, it will take a long time to heal. The patient may experience the following symptoms:

  • Confusion
  • Low blood pressure
  • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • Headaches
  • Muscle aches
  • Redness of your eyes
  • Seizures

This medical condition is very serious and requires medical intervention immediately. If it is suspected that you may be suffering from toxic shock syndrome, please contact your doctor immediately.

8. Emotional Stress

It is surprising how much emotional distress can affect the ability of people to get around when they are feeling dizzy. If you’re having a really stressful week, you may feel a little dizzy after a massage. Even though it’s been a particularly hectic week, it is still perfectly acceptable to get a massage afterward. Massages provide many benefits, relaxation among them.

9. Heart Problems

Poor circulation is one of the major causes of dizziness, and if you have a heart condition, you need to tell your massage therapist as soon as possible. It is possible that if you have a heart condition, you can still get a massage. If you tell your therapist about yourself, they will be able to adapt their massage techniques to better suit your needs.

What to Do To Prevent Dizziness After Massage

Rehydrating your body is one way you can help it function properly. Drink plenty of water and rest your muscles for some hours to give them time to regenerate. Try drinking something that has electrolytes in it to help rehydrate them.

Deep tissue massages can really drain you. It is as though you are having your muscles re-energized. There isn’t any need for anyone to get a deep-tissue massage every time, except if you are an athlete. Because eventually, you will become desensitized to doing that. If you continue doing that regularly, you will become more and more addicted, which is not healthy.

Having some kind of massage, whether it be a deep tissue massage or a relaxing massage, is just what you need to keep your muscles healthy. You may need to talk with your therapist about whether a deep tissue massage is necessary before booking your appointment. Rest properly and rehydrate yourself well afterward.

The thing to do after you get a good massage is to take your time getting off the table. Swing your legs over the table for a few moments while you re-center yourself. Slowly get up and lay your legs across the massage table. While you do that, wait for a few minutes to be able to relax and think about getting out of the table.

If you quickly get up and walk away from the massage table, your blood will not have time to flow through your system. Blood won’t reach your head adequately, causing you to go completely black. This is when you will be totally confused. If you start feeling dizzy after getting a massage, it is normal and will go away very soon. If you have severe dizziness, talk to your therapist. If possible, request to sit in the waiting area of your massage chair before you start to drive home.

FAQs

Is It Safe To Drive After A Massage?

If you suddenly feel dizzy after a massage, wait until you return to normal behavior. Ask to sit, drink water, and take a nap while you regain your composure. Your massage therapist should be more than happy to allow you to stay as long as you need.

Can I Take Dramamine Before A Massage To Prevent Dizziness?

It is not recommended to take any medicine before having a massage, as it may cause you to feel less pain or cause you to feel dizzy. If you take any medication that causes you to feel dizzy, you may not be able to tell whether or not a massage is too painful or if the pressure is too much. You could end up with painful or broken bones.

This is also true if you take dizziness medications, like Dramamine, before your massage. Dizziness is usually an indicator that some other condition is happening that is not related to your massage therapy. You want all of your senses to be engaged 100% to make sure you know what’s really wrong.

Wrapping Up

If you experience any of these symptoms, it isn’t because you are getting a massage. Rather, it is because massage strokes stimulate the circulation of blood and lymph fluids. If you can’t control the way your brain handles these fluids, you could suddenly feel dizzy or get very dizzy. While minor dizziness is pretty normal, talk to your doctor or therapist if the symptoms persist.

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