The Misguided Notion of ‘No Pain, No Gain’
We've all heard it before, whether it came from a coach, in the locker room, or at the gym: "No pain, no gain." I absolutely cringe when I hear this saying. Let me share a story from early on in my massage career that illustrates why this mentality can be so harmful.
A weightlifter came in for a massage appointment, experiencing extreme arm pain. After consulting with him, I left the room so he could undress and get on the massage table. When I came back and pulled back the sheets, I was shocked to find that his deltoid was completely detached. How did I know? There was an empty space where his enormous deltoid used to be and a large, hot, angry ball on top of his shoulder where his deltoid now resided. Side note: No matter how skilled I may be, I cannot "fix" a muscle that has cleanly ripped away from the bone.
I asked him how this happened. He told me that he was lifting weights, heard a huge popping sound, and then felt a terrible burning sensation and pain in his upper arm. When I asked what he did after that happened, he said, and I quote, "Kept lifting weights."
This is why I completely disagree with the ‘No Pain, No Gain’ mentality. This man gained absolutely nothing by working through the pain of a complete tendon tear that detached his deltoid from the bone. He didn’t need a good massage or to just try harder—he needed surgery, which is the only way to fix this injury.
Pain is our body's warning system, alerting us that we are causing damage. Should we work through discomfort? Absolutely, but pain and discomfort are wildly different things. Discomfort is where growth occurs; this is the space in which we push ourselves mentally and physically to achieve something greater than our previous state. This is why I make no qualms about saying that my massages can be uncomfortable. Dysfunctional muscle hurts, and there will be discomfort working through it. I'm not a spa massage therapist, and I don't hide the fact that I don't do relaxation massage. Discomfort is OK; it's going to get you to a better place. Pain is not OK, and you will not reap any benefits from enduring it.
When we continually ignore what our bodies are telling us, we become disconnected from them until one day, the pain that has been hiding below the surface rises up and refuses to be ignored any longer.
In massage therapy, the ‘No Pain, No Gain’ mentality can be particularly damaging. Effective massage therapy should never cause pain that feels harmful or unbearable. Therapeutic discomfort, yes; debilitating pain, no. Our goal at Health & Harmony is to resolve crisis-levels of pain and to help you maintain a healthier body AND a healthier understanding of your body.
By listening to our bodies and distinguishing between discomfort and pain, we can pursue fitness and well-being in a way that truly supports long-term health and happiness. Remember, it's not about pushing through pain; it's about understanding our limits and working within them to achieve sustainable growth.
Stay healthy and be kind to your body! ~ Kim
