Massage is just a luxury.

Massage therapy is a legitimate medical treatment used to manage pain, reduce stress hormones, improve circulation, and support recovery from injury. Many doctors recommend it as part of a comprehensive wellness plan.

You have to be in pain to benefit from massage.

Regular massage is one of the best preventive health tools available. It keeps muscles supple, reduces everyday tension, and helps you stay ahead of chronic pain before it starts.

Deep tissue massage should always hurt.

Effective deep tissue work should feel like "good pressure" — not sharp or unbearable pain. Communication with your therapist is key. Pain signals the body to tighten up, which is counterproductive.

You need to drink a lot of water after a massage.

Staying hydrated is always a good idea, but there is no scientific evidence that you must drink extra water specifically after a massage. Drink water because it is good for you — not out of obligation.

Massage spreads cancer.

This is a common misconception. Oncology massage, performed by trained therapists, is safe and can significantly improve quality of life for cancer patients by reducing anxiety, pain, and fatigue.

Massage Therapy Tips & Advice – Anthem AZ | Bodies in Balance Massage Blog

Massage therapist working on the infraspinatus and shoulder blade area

September 18, 2026

Why Does This Hurt? Infraspinatus

If you have pain in the back of your shoulder or around the shoulder blade, your infraspinatus may be part of the problem.

Massage therapist working on the erector spinae muscles along the spine

August 19, 2026

Why Does This Hurt? Erector Spinae

If you've ever felt a deep, achy soreness running along either side of your spine, there's a good chance your erector spinae muscles are involved. These muscles play an important role in keeping you upright, supporting your spine, and helping you move your back throughout the day.

Massage therapist working on a client's bicep and upper arm muscle

July 21, 2026

Why Does This Hurt? Biceps

The biceps muscle is one of the most recognizable muscles in the body, located on the front of the upper arm between the shoulder and elbow. The biceps helps bend the elbow, rotate the forearm, and assist with movements that bring the arm toward the body. Because it is involved in many everyday activities, as well as lifting, pulling, and repetitive arm movements, the biceps can become overworked and develop soreness and tension.

Massage therapist performing head and temple massage on a client

June 1, 2026

Why Does This Hurt? Temporalis

One often overlooked muscle that's a source of headache pain is the temporalis muscle. Located on the sides of the head above the ears, the temporalis helps move the jaw when you chew, talk, yawn, or clench your teeth. Because it's active throughout the day, this muscle can become overworked and develop tension.

Massage therapist working on the side of a client's neck

May 3, 2026

Why Does This Hurt? The Scalenes

If you've ever felt a nagging ache along the side of your neck, a strange pinch when you turn your head, or even tingling down your arm, the culprit might not be where you think. Often, the source of that discomfort is a group of muscles called the scalenes.

Massage therapist working on the upper back and between the shoulder blades

April 15, 2026

Why Does This Hurt? Rhomboids (Major and Minor)

If you've ever felt a nagging ache between your shoulder blades — especially after a long day at a desk or an intense workout — you're not alone. That discomfort often comes from a group of muscles called the rhomboids. So, why does it hurt?

Physical therapist working on a client's shoulder and upper arm

March 31, 2026

Why Does This Hurt? Pectoralis Major

If you've ever felt a deep, nagging ache in your chest, shoulder, or upper arm, you might have asked yourself: why does this hurt? One often-overlooked culprit is the pectoralis major — a large, powerful muscle that plays a central role in nearly every pushing and reaching movement you make.

Massage therapist massaging the lower back of a client

March 23, 2026

Why Does This Hurt? QL

If you've ever felt a deep, nagging ache in your lower back that just won't stretch out, there's a good chance your quadratus lumborum — better known as the QL muscle — is involved.

Physical therapist working on a client's hamstring and back of thigh

March 4, 2026

Why Does This Hurt? Hamstrings

It's one of the most common questions I hear on the table — especially when I'm working on the back of the thigh. The hamstrings have a way of getting our attention.

Physical therapist assisting a patient with shoulder rehabilitation

February 18, 2026

Why Does This Hurt? Supraspinatus

If you've ever felt a sharp twinge when lifting your arm to the side — or a deep ache at the top of your shoulder that just won't go away — you might be dealing with irritation of the supraspinatus muscle.

Massage therapist massaging the calf of a client

January 29, 2026

Why Does This Hurt? Gastrocnemius

If your calf feels tight, sore, or like it's constantly on the verge of cramping, the gastrocnemius muscle is often the culprit.

Massage therapist stretching and working on a client's neck and shoulder

January 9, 2026

Why Does This Hurt? Levator Scapula

Neck and shoulder pain is one of the most common reasons clients seek massage therapy. A frequent culprit behind this discomfort is a muscle called the levator scapula.

Therapist examining and treating neck muscles of a patient

December 29, 2025

Why Does This Hurt? The SCM

If you've ever had a sore neck that seems to wrap from behind your ear down to your collarbone — or even trigger headaches or jaw tension — the culprit might be the sternocleidomastoid, better known as the SCM.

Massage Therapy Blog

Massage Therapy: Myths vs. Facts

Why Does This Hurt? — Article Series