Did you know that the average tattoo session takes between 4-6 hours? Now depending on where you’re getting inked, you can be sitting in an uncomfortable or unnatural position for quite some time. In many cases, you can experience tingling or numbness (the feeling of a part of your body “falling asleep”) during the session as well as longer-term muscle or joint pain after tattoo sessions are complete. Neuromuscular therapy can help restore balance to your body and encourage healing by stimulating the lymphatic system.

What Causes Muscle or Joint Pain After Tattoo Sessions?

Just like sitting at your desk too long can cause your muscles and joints to get stiff, holding your arm up in an awkward position while you’re getting some sweet body art also has the same effect. As time goes on, a chain of events begins. In order to maintain the position you’re in, surrounding muscles and joints step in to compensate. These muscles start to strain, causing tenderness, tightness, and restricted motion. If not addressed, the effects continue to ripple through the body leading to imbalances and more compensation.

In addition to the tension caused by staying in the same position too long, many people respond to the pain of tattooing by tightening muscles all over their body, a common stress response. Instead of relaxing into the pain, you become more rigid, which ultimately leads to tension throughout the body.

Is NMT Safe To Get After A Tattoo?

Well, yes and no. Generally, we don’t recommend coming to see us right after you’ve had your tattoo. It needs time to heal, and sometimes bodywork can increase the sensation of itching. But, because we work around the tattoo area and not directly on it, it is safe to see us for a tune-up a week or two after your session. We’ll leave it wrapped and assess the muscles and joints up and downstream, making sure to release any knots and tension. As a result, your body can focus on healing the tattoo instead of continuing compensatory muscle patterns. Plus, neuromuscular massage stimulates the lymphatic system which aids in the skin healing process, removing damaged skin cells from the body and reducing swelling.

After you get your tattoo, you might be surprised at how much tension you’re holding in your body and how much relief you can get from a short tune-up with us! To learn more about NMT after your tattoo session, feel free to contact us. We are happy to discuss any concerns you might have and answer questions about how NMT can help.