From Tension to Release: How Trauma Informed Massage Therapy Aims to Ease Chronic Discomfort
When life gets busy or when we experience sudden, challenging events, our body posture often changes. Why does this happen?
It’s because our bodies instinctively prepare to protect us. An ancient, primal part of our brain signals our body to get ready to defend itself. In the past, we protected ourselves in different ways: by running away, doubling over to shield our chest and abdomen, clenching our fists to prepare for a fight, or even "playing dead."
Even if we don’t consciously act out these fight, flight, or freeze responses, our bodies still prepare for them. Sometimes, these preparations create what we call "tension patterns"—physical states where the body remains ready for action. These tension patterns can vary from person to person because each individual reacts differently to stress.
For example, your body might prepare to fight by raising your shoulders and clenching your fists, while someone else might tighten their thigh muscles as if ready to run. If our bodies stay in these defensive states for too long, it can lead to discomfort and pain.
Consider this: if you clench your fist for several hours, the blood flow to your hand becomes restricted. Blood is essential for carrying oxygen to your muscles and removing waste products. When muscles are deprived of oxygen and waste accumulates, they start sending pain signals to the brain. In response to this pain, the body often adopts a protective posture—what Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) call a "protective posture." This begins a cycle known as the "pain and holding cycle."
The pain and holding cycle is straightforward: muscles tighten to protect an area in pain, creating even more pain, which causes the body to tighten further in a protective posture. This cycle is self-perpetuating, and the only way to break it is to interrupt it. So how can trauma informed massage therapy ease chronic discomfort?
Massage therapy is particularly effective at breaking this cycle, as is a routine of regular stretching that targets specific muscles, along with exercises that help to strengthen and balance the body.
Trauma-informed massage therapy takes this a step further by recognizing that many people develop these holding patterns in response to ongoing stress or sudden changes. It emphasizes respectful collaboration between the therapist and client as they work together to release these patterns.
Importantly, trauma-informed massage does not involve reliving or discussing past traumatic events.
Instead, it focuses on gently and respectfully tracking sensations in the body as tension is released. This ensures that tension is not released too aggressively, which could cause the body to revert to its protective holding pattern.
In essence, trauma-informed massage therapists create a safe, client-centered environment that acknowledges the widespread nature of these tension patterns. It’s a compassionate approach designed to provide a safe and supportive space for healing. It recognizes the complex ways that ongoing or sudden stress can affect the body and tailors massage techniques and home care recommendations to each client’s unique needs.
If you’ve been feeling stuck in a cycle of tension or pain, consider exploring trauma-informed massage therapy. It’s a gentle, effective way to help your body relax, recover, and find balance, providing relief not just for your muscles, but for your whole self.
If what you have read here feels like it resonates with you and the type of massage therapy support you’re looking for, I’d love to work with you. I offer RMT services in Langley at our Murrayville office. You can learn more about me here.
