# How much would a massage help? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 1, 2003, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-massage-help/192302 "2003-08-01T05:52:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-massage-help/192302/1 "2003-08-01T05:52:17Z")
I’ve been moving heavy boxes and doing other bending/lifting/blah blah stuff for the last 4 days… and my back hurts so bad I feel like I’m gonna die. It’s a muscle thing, just to the left of my spine, a few inches below my shoulder blade. This is where it always hurts when I get a sore back, by the way. My gym has a professional massage parlor… how much would it help? Can they really work a knot out? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-massage-help/192302/2 "2003-08-01T06:11:05Z")
It certainly wouldn’t hurt. I’ll be right over :D. OK, seriously, it probably would help to get a sports massage. Just tell them where you are sore. If possible, ask them to show you a few stretches that you can do to work out the soreness. A hot soak before the massage would be a good idea too if there is a jacuzzi in the club. Haj ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-massage-help/192302/3 "2003-08-01T12:59:40Z")
Ah, a trapezius muscle knot! I get them a lot. I have had the wonderful fortune to get both my wife and a friend of hers to give that area (and only that area!) a vigorous massage! Oh, it hurts sooooo good! And it seems to break up the knot faster. Go for it! Either that or rub it up against a doorframe. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-massage-help/192302/4 "2003-08-01T16:09:46Z")
A good massage is fantastic for working knotts out of shoulders and back. Go for it. If looking at prices remember it is customary to tip the Masseur (sp?). ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-massage-help/192302/5 "2003-08-01T16:19:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan \* > Either that or rub it up against a doorframe. Me too, except my wife is scared to push hard enough to get through to the ones I seem to get. A few of my coworkers find it disturbing that I seem to lean in such a strange way against doorframes. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-massage-help/192302/6 "2003-08-01T17:24:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by drachillix \* > \*\*Me too, except my wife is scared to push hard enough to get through to the ones I seem to get. \*\* I know what you mean. The wife is always too timid, even with proper encouragement. I’m always exhorting her to really **rub** on that sucker, hammer it hard, show it who’s boss! Go after that hard knob of muscle, and don’t stop until it’s soft! Thankfully our dear friend Liza is unafraid to use her extra-firm touch where I need it so bad! And yes, I’m still talking about my upper back, you deves! ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-massage-help/192302/7 "2003-08-01T17:53:40Z")
I do doorframes. I also have this weird looking wooden thing that looks like a rolling pin designed by Dali that I lie on and scoot my back over… but none of these self-help methods have really been fruitful. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-massage-help/192302/8 "2003-08-01T20:02:53Z")
**Opalcat** , I have found that for me, 20 to 30 minutes of _really forceful_ massage every other day for 4 or 6 days really speeds the resolution of these things. I note that personally, mine can resolve in a week or two, whereas in the past they would persist for months and months. This is anecdotal info only, and not meant to be taken as an official medical position (wow, how often does that happen?). ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-massage-help/192302/9 "2003-08-01T22:04:25Z")
I don’t think I could afford a massage every other day lol! I’m going to see if I can get an appointment for Sunday or Monday though. I need it sooo bad. Now my thighs are killing me, too. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-massage-help/192302/10 "2003-08-01T22:14:42Z")
Well, motivated close friends with strong fingers work for me. Just invite a few selected ones over, and tell them it’s a group grope! ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-massage-help/192302/11 "2003-08-01T22:21:09Z")
Don’t have any ☹ ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-massage-help/192302/12 "2003-08-02T02:13:59Z")
When you choose you massage, don’t choose the rare or the well-done: the massage is the medium. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-massage-help/192302/13 "2003-08-02T02:20:12Z")
I doubt a professional would want to reek like this, but maybe you can get someone to pound some Tiger Balm into you? I tried it for the first time in high school, while trying out for the soccer team (for which I was really, really not in shape). You can find it in Chinese pharmacies, or sometimes in health food stores. Stuff reeks something awful, but really helps muscle soreness.