If you have muscle discomfort, you’ve probably considered massage as your first port of call. People around the world regularly visit massage therapists to keep their bodies moving, whether they are suffering from tension headaches, sports injuries, or trying to recover after an accident, this ancient treatment can work miracles.

But, if not executed correctly, the results can be disappointing. Often the first place someone will go for this luxury is a hotel or spa. And while these common treatments are wonderful for helping you relax, they’re not always performed by people with a deep understanding of anatomy, so the effects don’t tend to last.

While commonly practiced treatments like Swedish massage are effective at treating superficial muscular discomfort, techniques like deep tissue treatments will go through them and into the underlying muscles, which could be the source of your pain. This type of therapy requires advanced skills and knowledge, which is why not all professionals offer it.

If you suffer from a long-standing problem, or are in too much pain to even consider letting someone apply pressure to your aggravated area, you should see a physical therapist to help heal your discomfort. There are a variety of different approaches to massage, not just deep tissue or Swedish massage, and sometimes it takes an expert to find the right one.

It is best to find a registered and independent doctor. These can often be searched privately, but are well worth the investment. Also, these practices are often led by professionals who are primarily interested in helping you reduce your pain. And while they, too, will have bills and a mortgage to pay, they’re more concerned with dealing with the problem than charging you for lots of extras.

Try to find a therapist who charges you a flat rate for the length of the session, ie 60 minutes, and offers a free consultation.

Your therapist may want to discuss your specific problem at the beginning of each session. This is not because they are lazy or because they have forgotten what the problem is, it is so that they can treat each session independently of the last, assessing your level of pain and tolerance on that particular day.

Most experienced therapists will understand that your pain will vary from day to day. Often a week or two may pass between sessions and your problem may have gotten worse during that time. So while it may be frustrating to repeat, you’ll soon start to see the benefits of approaching each session as a stand-alone treatment.

Physicians will often be well versed, not only in kinesiology, but also in physiology and orthopedics. They likely have a great deal of experience working with chiropractors and surgeons to help those who are rehabbing from injuries and operations.

This experience will give them a clear advantage over conventional therapists, who tend to offer only one form of treatment. Kinetic massage experts will be able to provide a variety of treatments and will work with you to decide which one is right for you.

Techniques may include sports massage, trigger point therapy, deep tissue, or gua sha, a highly effective traditional Chinese medical treatment for pain relief. However, the most effective treatments will be tailored to your body’s specific needs and will not follow any specific routine.

This is yet another benefit of seeking out a private masseur as no two bodies will be treated the same. Professionals in this sector will understand the need for a unique treatment and will be able to give you an idea of ​​what your body needs to maintain its strength.