Physio Massage | How and When Massage Helps

Massage in Physiotherapy

Massage gets a bit of an image problem in some clinical circles. Some clinicians simply see it as filler and it isn't clinically meaningful in comparison to utilising the time for exercise or further education. Mention it to others in the medical world and you'll get a slightly dismissive response, as if it's a nice-to-have rather than a legitimate treatment tool. Massage sits in the grey in the middle of the black and white world in which we sometimes view medicine and healthcare. Massage isn't going to fix a rotator cuff tear on its own, but used well, as part of a broader treatment plan, it's one of the most effective tools I have for reducing muscle tension, improving comfort, and creating the conditions for you to actually do the exercise work that drives long-term change. In essence, massage and my hands on treatment on its own won't fix your problem, it's an important part of the toolkit that I think is extremely powerful and often underutilised.

I use massage across almost every presentation I see, from acute muscle strains to the general aches and tightness that build up in athletes managing heavy training loads. It's rarely the whole treatment, but it's very often a valuable part of it. If I am able to improve your movement and comfort by 20-50% with 20 minutes of massage and hands on treatment I think that is a very powerful tool to use, this enables you to move more comfortably, more like yourself, complete more exercises, and ultimately return back to "normal" faster.

Why and When to Use it

What is Massage?

Massage involves the manual manipulation of soft tissue, including muscle, tendon, and fascia, using varying degrees of pressure and a range of techniques depending on the goal. This can range from lighter, broader strokes aimed at improving circulation and general relaxation, through to deeper, more targeted work on specific areas of muscle tightness or trigger points. Often I will have clients who I have suggested a family member or partner provide them with massage as part of their ongoing homework between appointments ask "how am I meant to massage?" And to be perfectly honest I'm not entirely convinced there is a correct answer. I believe that an intervention or a massage can be too painful, in which case if it is too painful I would recommend to ease the pressure. But I feel massage falls very much into the art category when debating the art vs science of physio. It often comes down to what you can feel, feeling and assessing for areas of increased muscle tone and tightness and working these areas to assist in reducing the muscle tone. Different people and different body areas respond to different inputs, each person is incredibly individual, one person may respond better to trigger point release and another may respond better to broad sweeping massage strokes along the area of tension, it's all about experimentation and trusting what your hands feel.

The Benefits of Massage

Massage offers a genuine set of benefits when applied appropriately. It can reduce muscle tension and tightness, particularly in areas that have become overactive or guarded following injury. It can improve local blood flow to a tight or fatigued area, which may assist recovery between training sessions. It has a meaningful effect on pain perception, often providing a noticeable reduction in discomfort that allows a client to move more freely. And for a lot of clients, there's a genuine psychological benefit too, a period of hands-on care and attention that not many other interventions are able to achieve.

One of the difficulties with performing research into interventions such as massage is that it is highly dependent upon two factors, the clinician and the client. What some research has found is that what I feel is consistent time and time again, but between myself and ten other clinicians, we may feel different things in different areas. This isn't to say that some clinicians are wrong and others are right, it's just different. I believe at the end of the day, if what you feel in terms of stiffness, tightness or muscle tone improves throughout the intervention, it is an effective use.

How and When I Use Massage

I most commonly use massage in the early stages of managing an acute injury, where reducing muscle guarding and tension allows a client to move more comfortably and engage more effectively with their rehabilitation. I also use it regularly with athletes managing high training loads, where a degree of muscle tightness is a normal and expected part of a heavy training block, and massage can help keep that tightness from building into a bigger problem. For chronic presentations, massage can provide a useful short-term window of reduced tension and discomfort, which I'll often use strategically on a consistent basis if able to with a family member or a partner to enable ongoing and beneficial use of exercise and strengthening programs to develop greater tissue tolerance.

Why Exercise Still Matters

Here's the honest truth about massage: its effects, while real, tend to be relatively short-lived. A great massage might leave you feeling looser and more comfortable for a day or two, sometimes longer, but it isn't rewriting the underlying strength, movement pattern, or capacity issues that likely contributed to your symptoms in the first place. Massage creates a window of opportunity. It reduces tension and discomfort enough that you can move better and engage more effectively with the exercises that build lasting change. If massage is the only tool in your treatment plan, you'll likely find yourself back in the same position a few weeks down the track. Combined with a well-designed exercise program, it becomes a genuinely valuable piece of a much bigger picture.

Your Questions About Massage in Physio

What is the difference between physio massage and remedial massage?

Both use similar hands-on techniques, but the context is different. Remedial massage focuses on treating muscles and soft tissue through massage. In physio, massage is one tool within a broader plan, guided by a diagnosis from a full assessment and combined with other treatments like joint mobilisations, dry needling and, most importantly, an exercise program to address the cause of your pain. Massage in a physio session is usually more targeted and shorter, with the rest of the session focused on rehab.

Will I be sore after a massage?

Some people feel mild soreness or tenderness for a day or two after a firmer massage, similar to after a workout. This is normal and usually settles quickly. Drinking water, gentle movement and a warm shower can help. Soreness should not be severe or last longer than a couple of days. I always check in about pressure during treatment, and you can ask for lighter pressure at any time. Firmer is not necessarily better.

Is massage enough on its own to fix my injury?

Usually not. Massage can ease pain, reduce muscle tension and make movement more comfortable, which is helpful, particularly early on. However, the effects are mostly short-term, and it does not build the strength and load capacity your body needs to recover and prevent the problem returning. That is why I combine massage with an exercise program tailored to your injury. Think of massage as a way to make your rehab more comfortable, rather than the rehab itself.

Can I claim massage on private health through physio?

Massage provided as part of a physiotherapy consultation is billed as a physio session, so you can claim it under your physiotherapy extras cover like any other session. PRP Physio is not a preferred provider for any fund, so your rebate may be slightly smaller than at a preferred provider. Your fund can confirm the exact amount using item code 500 for your first consultation and 505 for follow-ups. See my pricing page for more.

Physiotherapy and Massage