IS the Massage Working?

Published October 16, 2026 | Jessica Deardorff, LMT | Inspire Movements Massage Therapy

You walk out of your massage feeling better. Your shoulders aren’t sitting quite so close to your ears, your low back feels more comfortable, and you’re moving around a little easier. That’s encouraging! But…what happens three days later? Or a week later? How do you know whether your massage is making a meaningful difference beyond how you feel immediately afterward?

At Inspire Movements Massage Therapy in Briargate, Colorado Springs, I encourage those I massage to look beyond the treatment table when evaluating their progress. While the pain relief lasts for a period of time, know the fact that the underlying injury has lived there for who know how much longer.

Pain relief matters. But what you’re able to do in your everyday life matters, too.

Why Feeling Better Immediately Isn’t the Only Measure

Most people naturally judge a massage by how they feel when they get off the table.

Did that tight spot loosen up?

Does the neck feel better?

Can you bend forward more comfortably?

Those observations are useful, but they don’t tell the entire story.

Researchers studying persistent pain often distinguish between pain intensity and pain interference, which describes how much pain disrupts daily activities, work, sleep, and other parts of life. The distinction matters because a lower pain score doesn’t always mean someone’s physical function has improved to the same degree. That’s why I like asking questions about your day-to-day experiences, not just whether you are actively hurting or not.

1. Everyday Movements Feel More Manageable

Think about the movements you perform without much thought. Getting out of your vehicle. Reaching into an overhead cabinet. Bending down to put on your shoes. Turning your head while backing out of a parking space. These ordinary activities can become frustrating when muscle tension or discomfort interferes. A useful sign of progress might be noticing that a previously uncomfortable movement feels easier.

Pay Attention to the Activities That Used to Bother You

If you originally scheduled massage because your low back felt uncomfortable after sitting at your desk, ask yourself whether getting up from your chair feels different now. Or, how many days go by before you know you need to schedule again because that pain is back. If shoulder tension was your primary concern, notice whether reaching overhead feels more comfortable. The goal isn’t to prove that every movement is perfect. It’s to identify changes that matter to you.

2. Your Symptoms Interfere Less With Your Routine

Here’s a question worth considering:

How much of your day revolves around managing discomfort?

Maybe you used to think about your back every time you drove across Colorado Springs. Perhaps you frequently adjusted your position during meetings because your hips felt uncomfortable. Or maybe neck tension made it difficult to concentrate through the afternoon. Progress might mean those symptoms are less disruptive, even if they haven’t disappeared entirely. For someone experiencing recurrent headaches, that could mean tracking headache frequency, severity, and interference with daily activities alongside their medical care. Massage therapy isn’t a cure for migraines or nerve-related conditions, but appropriately selected therapeutic work may be a helpful complementary option for certain musculoskeletal symptoms.

3. You’re Noticing Changes Between Appointments

One thing I encourage everyone to observe is what happens after they return to their normal routines.

How does your body feel several days after the session?

Are you noticing familiar areas of tension returning at the same intensity?

Are particular activities more manageable? Does your discomfort interfere with fewer tasks?

These observations give us something useful to discuss at your next appointment. This is also why we communicate between appointments. If you notice something, please tell me! The goal is to keep you getting better on and off the table.

One thing I’ve noticed throughout my years in practice is that some people wait until their discomfort becomes nearly unbearable before scheduling an appointment. By that point, their bodies may be highly sensitive, and even appropriate therapeutic pressure can feel uncomfortable. It may be common that you’ll experience some shooting nerve pain, deep discomfort, or various other sensations. Massage Flu is a real thing. The nervous system’s protective responses can influence how much treatment someone comfortably tolerates during a session.

That’s one reason I encourage consistency rather than waiting for a crisis so we can avoid some of that discomfort. Regular appointments give us opportunities to reassess your progress, adjust techniques, and work within your body’s tolerance levels instead of expecting one session to resolve discomfort that’s been building for weeks at a time, if not months.

Why Your Feedback Changes the Treatment Plan

I don’t want every appointment to become an automatic repeat of the previous one. If your neck is improving but your hips continue to bother you, that’s worth discussing! If your back feels more comfortable but certain movements still aggravate it, I want to know that, too.

Your feedback is so valuable! It helps me adjust the focus of the session within my professional scope of practice.

Consistency gives us opportunities to observe patterns over time, although it doesn’t guarantee that symptoms will improve or prevent future injuries.

4. You’re Becoming More Aware of Your Body’s Patterns

Sometimes progress begins with understanding when discomfort appears. Maybe you’ve realized your shoulders tighten during long computer sessions. Perhaps your low back becomes uncomfortable after extended driving, or your jaw feels more tense during particularly demanding workweeks. Those observations don’t necessarily identify the medical cause of your symptoms. However, they can help you recognize activities and habits worth discussing. At Inspire Movements Massage, I want people to understand their bodies better, not feel dependent on an appointment every time something feels uncomfortable. That might mean discussing movement breaks, positioning, gentle self-care, or when an evaluation by another healthcare professional would be appropriate.

5. Your Treatment Goals Become More Specific

When someone first comes to see me, their goal might simply be:

“My back hurts. I want it to feel better.”

That’s a reasonable starting point! As we work together, we can make that goal more specific. Maybe you want to sit through a work meeting more comfortably, return to recreational activities with less discomfort, or manage recurring muscle tension more effectively.

Progress Isn’t Always a Straight Line

There may be appointments where you notice a substantial difference and others where the changes are less obvious. Work demands, activity levels, sleep, medical conditions, and other factors can influence how you feel. If your symptoms aren’t improving, are worsening, or are changing in concerning ways, that’s a reason to reassess the plan rather than simply schedule more massage. New weakness, progressive numbness, or other concerning neurological symptoms warrant medical evaluation.

Progress on pain means paying attention to meaningful changes, not promising that pain will disappear. This is why tracking and check-ins between sessions are important.

How I Approach Progress at Inspire Movements Massage Therapy

My approach is individualized because two people with similar complaints may have very different goals. Someone working at a desk near Research Parkway may want to address recurring neck and shoulder tension. A healthcare professional working near UCHealth Memorial North may be concerned about back discomfort after demanding work shifts. Another may want to feel more comfortable during everyday activities after recovering from a previous injury. At Inspire Movements Massage Therapy, I use therapeutic ashiatsu massage and cupping therapy as part of customized sessions designed around each person’s needs and comfort. Ashiatsu allows me to apply broad, sustained pressure using my feet, while cupping therapy provides another way to address soft-tissue tension. These techniques are tools, not guarantees. The important question is whether the approach is appropriate for you and whether you’re experiencing meaningful benefits.

For those who find ongoing massage helpful, appointments approximately every 2-weeks may provide a useful opportunity to reassess their progress and adjust the treatment focus. Frequency should reflect individual needs, response, and budget.

How to Track Your Progress Before Your Next Massage

You don’t need an elaborate spreadsheet or a medical diagnosis to begin noticing patterns. Before your next appointment, choose one or two activities that have been difficult or uncomfortable. For example, you might track how comfortable you feel after a typical commute, how often tension interrupts your workday, or whether a familiar movement feels easier. You can also note your pain level, but don’t make that the only measurement. Bring those observations to your next session. They can help guide a more productive conversation about your goals.

Frequently Asked Questions About Massage Therapy Progress

How many massages does it take to notice improvement?

There isn’t a universal number. Some people notice temporary changes after one appointment, while others may need several sessions to evaluate whether massage is helpful. Your condition, goals, and response all matter. This is why tracking your pain before and afterwards is important. Even the most insignificant of pains is worth tracking.

Does soreness after massage mean the treatment worked?

Not necessarily. Temporary soreness can occur, but soreness is not proof of an effective treatment. Significant, unusual, or persistent pain should be discussed with your therapist and, when appropriate, a healthcare professional.

Should I continue massage if my pain isn’t improving?

Not automatically. If you’re not noticing meaningful benefits, your treatment approach should be reassessed. Massage may be one part of care, but persistent or worsening symptoms can require medical evaluation or other treatment.

Can massage therapy help even if I still have some discomfort?

Possibly. Reduced muscle tension, improved comfort with movement, and less disruption to daily activities may be worthwhile outcomes. However, those changes should be evaluated realistically rather than assumed.

Therapeutic Massage With a Purpose in Briargate, Colorado Springs

I don’t believe massage should be measured only by how you feel during the appointment. I want to know what happens when you return to your everyday life.

Can you move more comfortably?

Are your symptoms interfering less with the things you enjoy?

Are we learning something useful about your body’s response to treatment?

Those are the conversations that help us decide what comes next.

At Inspire Movements Massage Therapy, sessions are customized around your goals and include therapeutic ashiatsu and cupping therapy. We offer 90-minute appointments for $195 and two-hour appointments for $240, with no upgrade charges, no tipping, or surprise add-on charges.

We’re located at 1295 Kelly Johnson Boulevard, Suite 250, in North Colorado Springs, near Briargate and Chapel Hills Mall.

Ready to make your next appointment about more than temporary comfort? Explore our therapeutic massage services and schedule a session that fits your goals.

Jessica Deardorff, LMT | Colorado License MT.0021143

This article is for educational purposes and does not replace individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.