Why Does Your Pain Keep Coming Back Even When You’re Doing Everything Right?

By Jessica Deardorff, LMT | Inspire Movements Massage Therapy | Briargate, Colorado Springs

You stretch. You exercise. You drink your water. You’ve even made adjustments to your workstation. Yet somehow, that familiar low back pain, tightness through your hips, or tension across your shoulders keeps returning. Something I commonly see in my practice is people who are doing everything they can to take care of themselves. Congratulations! I encourage other resources outside of your standard massage regimen. It make our work together often times much easier. However, sometimes, the exercises, consistent stretches, and staying active isn’t resolving the muscular tension patterns that have developed. Looking beyond where the pain is and asking what the body is repeatedly doing can answer some of those questions to a better massage.

Recurring muscle tension doesn’t always mean you’re doing something wrong. Sometimes, the physical demands of everyday life continue to exceed what your muscles comfortably tolerate. Other times, an underlying condition, insufficient recovery, or a movement pattern may be contributing to the problem.

At Inspire Movements Massage Therapy in Briargate, Colorado Springs, we approach these concerns with a simple goal: help you move more comfortably, understand your symptoms, and make meaningful progress through individualized therapeutic care.

Why Can Muscle Tension Return Despite Stretching and Exercise?

Stretching and exercise are valuable tools, but neither automatically eliminates every source of discomfort.

Consider someone who spends eight hours working at a desk. They might exercise regularly and stretch their hip flexors every evening. However, their workday still involves prolonged sitting, limited movement variation, and repetitive demands on certain muscle groups.

Or consider a healthcare professional working long shifts near UCHealth Memorial North. They may be physically active throughout the day, but repetitive lifting, standing, and assisting patients can place considerable demands on their back, hips, and shoulders.

These individuals have different routines, but both may experience recurring muscular discomfort.

The question becomes less about whether they’re doing enough and more about whether their current recovery strategies match their daily physical demands.

Is Your Body Protecting an Area That Has Been Uncomfortable for Too Long?

Pain can change the way we move.

When an area becomes sensitive, we may unconsciously avoid certain movements, brace surrounding muscles, or shift more work onto another part of the body.

This is sometimes called protective guarding.

For instance, someone experiencing low back discomfort may begin moving more cautiously through their hips or trunk. Over time, they might notice additional tightness around their glutes, shoulders, or mid-back. However, muscle guarding is only one possible contributor. Recurring pain can also involve joint conditions, nerve irritation, sleep, stress, or other medical factors.

This is why treating the location of discomfort isn’t always the same as understanding what contributes to it.

A thorough therapeutic massage session should consider your history, movement habits, symptoms, and how your body responds to treatment.

Why Doesn’t One Massage Always Resolve Recurring Pain?

A single therapeutic massage may help reduce muscle tension, improve comfort, and make certain movements feel easier.

But one appointment cannot necessarily reverse months or years of repetitive physical demands.

Imagine receiving a thorough massage for low back pain on Saturday, then returning Monday to the same workstation, physical workload, and daily responsibilities.

Your body is still navigating those demands.

This doesn’t mean the session failed. It means symptom management and longer-term progress may require more than one intervention.

At Inspire Movements Massage Therapy, we encourage clients to consider their care as an ongoing process rather than waiting until discomfort becomes unbearable.

For some clients, appointments approximately every two weeks provide a useful opportunity to reassess symptoms and maintain a consistent approach. Others may benefit from a different schedule depending on their needs, response to treatment, and other healthcare recommendations.

The goal isn’t to book appointments simply for the sake of booking.

The goal is to make each appointment purposeful.

What Makes a Customized Therapeutic Massage Different?

Not every massage session needs to follow the same routine.

Someone managing recurring low back pain may need a different treatment emphasis than someone experiencing tension headaches, jaw discomfort, or restricted shoulder movement.

At Inspire Movements Massage Therapy, sessions incorporate two core techniques:

How Does Ashiatsu Massage Support Muscular Comfort?

Ashiatsu massage uses controlled pressure applied through the therapist’s feet to address muscular tension across areas such as the back, hips, and legs.

The broad contact can provide sustained pressure without relying exclusively on smaller, more concentrated points of contact.

For clients who prefer deeper therapeutic work, this can be a valuable approach when clinically appropriate.

Why Do We Include Cupping Therapy?

Cupping therapy uses suction to gently lift superficial tissues rather than applying pressure downward. We combine cupping therapy with ashiatsu to approach muscular tension using different mechanical techniques. It helps to get the most done in the same amount of time in sessions. Cupping can help bring the tension  closer to the surface, while ashiatsu provides broad, controlled pressure. Both techniques are included in our therapeutic massage sessions, with pressure and treatment areas adapted to your needs and medical history. Neither technique is appropriate for every condition, and results vary between individuals.

How Do You Know Whether Your Therapeutic Care Is Helping?

Progress doesn’t always mean that every symptom disappears immediately. This is why most of our regulars seek appointments once or twice a month. When we can get consistent progress to stay ahead of the pain, we can maintain the results more effectively.

Instead, consider practical changes in your daily activities. Are you finding it easier to turn your head while driving? Can you sit through a work meeting with less discomfort? Are you moving through your morning routine more comfortably? Sometimes, keeping a log helps to track your pain. You don’t need a full PowerPoint but it is helpful to have some reference points for what movements are causing the pain.

Perhaps your shoulders don’t feel quite as restricted after a long work day.

These observations provide useful information about how your body responds to treatment. At Inspire Movements Massage Therapy, we value conversations before and after your appointment because they help us understand what has changed and what still needs attention. This is why showing up early and having a bit of time afterwards is incorporated into every session. If symptoms aren’t improving, become worse, or suggest an underlying medical condition, it’s important to seek an appropriate medical evaluation rather than repeatedly treating the same symptoms without reassessment.

When Should You Schedule a Therapeutic Massage in Colorado Springs?

You don’t need to wait until discomfort significantly interferes with your daily routine to consider therapeutic massage.

If you’re noticing recurring muscular tightness, stiffness after work, or discomfort during ordinary movements, it may be worth discussing whether massage could complement your current self-care or medical treatment plan.

At Inspire Movements Massage Therapy, we work with adults managing concerns such as low back pain, muscular discomfort associated with sciatica or piriformis syndrome, neck and shoulder tension, and muscle tension that may accompany headaches or TMJ-related discomfort.

We offer customized 90-minute and 2-hour therapeutic massage sessions in Briargate, Colorado Springs, conveniently located near North Academy Boulevard, Kelly Johnson Boulevard, Research Parkway, and UCHealth Memorial North.

If you’re ready for a more consistent, individualized approach to therapeutic massage, schedule your first appointment with Inspire Movements Massage Therapy.

Do you accept walk-in massage appointments?

No. Inspire Movements Massage Therapy is an appointment-only therapeutic massage practice in Briargate, Colorado Springs. All 90-minute and 2-hour sessions must be scheduled in advance so each client receives dedicated, uninterrupted care. We do have to plan for this since we only provide 90-minute and 2-hour sessions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can therapeutic massage help if my low back pain keeps returning?

Therapeutic massage may help manage muscular tension and discomfort associated with some types of low back pain. However, recurring symptoms can have several causes. A personalized assessment helps determine whether massage is appropriate or whether additional medical evaluation is needed.

Is massage helpful for sciatica or piriformis syndrome?

Massage may help address associated muscular tension, but sciatica-like symptoms can result from nerve irritation or other conditions. Massage does not correct every underlying cause of radiating pain. New or progressive weakness, significant numbness, or bowel or bladder changes require prompt medical attention.

How often should I receive therapeutic massage?

Frequency depends on your symptoms, goals, response to treatment, and other care you’re receiving. Some clients prefer sessions every two weeks to maintain a consistent therapeutic routine. There is no universally correct schedule.

Do I need to choose between ashiatsu and cupping therapy?

No. At Inspire Movements Massage Therapy, ashiatsu and cupping therapy are both included in every massage session as part of our customized sessions when appropriate for the client. It helps keep all sessions as productive as possible between appointments to maintain the best care.

Where can I book a therapeutic massage near Briargate in Colorado Springs?

Inspire Movements Massage Therapy is located at 1295 Kelly Johnson Boulevard, Suite 250, Colorado Springs, CO 80920. We provide appointment-only therapeutic massage sessions focused on individualized care and functional goals.

Progress on pain.

Your care should be built around your body, your goals, and the activities you want to continue enjoying.

Book your therapeutic massage in Briargate, Colorado Springs.

Jessica Deardorff, LMT | Colorado License MT.0021143
Inspire Movements Massage Therapy