RUB Massage Austin

02/19/2026

What is muscle "stretch weakening"

“Stretch weakening” occurs when a muscle is repeatedly held in an elongated position for long periods of time, causing the muscle fibers to lose their optimal tension and strength. Instead of becoming more flexible, the muscle actually becomes less stable and less capable of supporting the joints it’s meant to protect. This imbalance can lead to subtle—but impactful—issues people often don’t realize are related, such as chronic tightness, joint discomfort, reduced power during workouts, or a feeling of instability in everyday movements. Because the nervous system senses the muscle is overstretched and weakened, it may cause surrounding muscles to overcompensate or spasm, creating patterns of tension that feel confusing and seemingly unrelated.
Many people don’t trace these symptoms back to stretch weakening, but restoring proper muscle tension through balanced strengthening, targeted massage, and corrective movement can dramatically reduce pain and improve overall function.

Book your massage today at www.rubmassageaustin.com

02/14/2026

Massage for the Quad Muscles

Massage therapy is highly effective for relieving spasmed quadriceps muscles that tighten up from activities like working out, running, or playing pickleball. When the quads become overworked, they develop micro-tears, adhesions, and protective spasms that restrict blood flow and limit mobility. Targeted massage helps break up those adhesions, flush out metabolic waste, and restore healthy circulation so the muscle fibers can relax and repair.
Techniques such as deep tissue work, myofascial release, and focused trigger point therapy help lengthen the quadriceps, reduce inflammation, and improve knee and hip mobility. This not only speeds recovery but also helps prevent future strains and enhances overall performance. Whether you're a recreational athlete or training hard, regular massage keeps the quads supple, strong, and ready for the next challenge.

As a former UT Athletic team massage therapist working with the men and women's track teams, I have seen the benefits first-hand.
Book online at www.rubmassageaustin.com

02/03/2026

Can massage therapy help with bad sleep?

Massage therapy can be incredibly beneficial for those struggling with sleep problems by helping the body shift out of stress mode and into a state of deep relaxation. Many sleep disturbances stem from elevated cortisol levels, muscle tension, chronic pain, or an overactive nervous system. Massage directly addresses all of these by soothing tight muscles, releasing feel-good neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, and activating the parasympathetic nervous system—the part responsible for rest and recovery. This shift encourages the body to naturally produce more melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep.
For those dealing with stress, anxiety, or physical discomfort that keeps them awake at night, massage therapy can calm the mind, reduce pain, and create the physiological conditions needed for high-quality, restorative sleep. With regular sessions, many clients report falling asleep faster, staying asleep longer, and waking up feeling more refreshed and balanced.

Book your massage today at www.rubmassageaustin.com

02/01/2026

Massage Therapy for Migraine Sufferer's

Massage therapy can be a powerful and natural tool for those who suffer from migraines, offering both immediate relief and long-term reduction in frequency and intensity. Migraines are often linked to muscular tension, restricted blood flow, trigger points, and nervous system overstimulation—especially in the neck, shoulders, jaw, and upper back. Through targeted deep tissue techniques, myofascial release, and precise trigger point therapy, massage helps relax hyperactive muscles, ease pressure on the cervical nerves, and improve circulation to the head and neck. This reduction in muscle tension and nerve irritation can significantly decrease the severity of migraine episodes and prevent them from escalating.

At Rub Massage Austin, I specialize in working with migraine sufferers, taking a therapeutic and strategic approach rather than a simple relaxation-focused style.

Book your massage online now at www.rubmassageaustin.com

01/29/2026

Why choose a private massage practitioner over the large massage chain studios?

Working with a solo massage practitioner, like Glen Taylor of Rub Massage Austin, who has been in business for 15 years offers a level of consistency, expertise, and personalized care that is rarely found in large massage chains with high therapist turnover. An established practitioner builds long-term relationships with clients, understands their injury history, movement patterns, and evolving needs, and can track progress over time rather than starting from scratch at each visit. With years of hands-on experience, advanced training, and a deep knowledge of anatomy, a seasoned therapist is able to provide more precise, effective, and results-driven bodywork.
This continuity of care creates better outcomes, greater trust, and a truly customized therapeutic experience that goes far beyond the routine, one-size-fits-all approach often found in high-volume spa settings.

Book online today at www.rubmassageaustin.com

Get accessible, personalized and private therapeutic massage & bodywork from one of today’s top professionals in the industry. Say goodbye to muscular pain and discomfort and reclaim your body.

01/26/2026

01/24/2026

Benefits of Targeted Trigger point therapy for the Spinal Erectors

The spinal erectors are long, postural muscles that run along the spine and work continuously to keep us upright, stable, and supported. Because of their constant workload, they are prone to developing trigger points and spasms from prolonged sitting, poor posture, repetitive movement, stress, or athletic overuse. When these muscles become tight and trigger pointed, they can create localized back pain, stiffness, restricted movement, and even referred pain into the hips, ribs, shoulders, or neck, while also increasing compressive stress on the spine.

Targeted trigger point therapy helps release these hyperirritable knots, restore healthy muscle length, and improve circulation within the tissue. As the spinal erectors relax, pressure on the vertebrae and surrounding nerves decreases, mobility improves, and posture becomes easier to maintain. Releasing these deep support muscles also calms the nervous system and breaks the pain-spasm cycle, allowing the spine to feel more supported, balanced, and resilient for both daily activity and athletic performance.

Book your massage today at www.rubmassageaustin.com

01/22/2026

Can massage help with ankle injuries or sprains?

When an ankle is rolled or sprained, the surrounding soft tissues often become swollen, tight, and guarded, limiting mobility and slowing the healing process.
The three primary ligament groups commonly affected are the lateral ligaments, the medial deltoid ligament complex, and the syndesmotic ligaments that stabilize the tibia and fibula.
Massage therapy can support recovery by reducing inflammation, improving circulation, and preventing excessive scar tissue from forming around these structures. Gentle lymphatic work helps manage swelling, while deeper therapeutic techniques release protective muscle tension in the calves, peroneals, and intrinsic foot muscles that often compensate after a sprain.
As healing progresses, myofascial release and range-of-motion work help restore flexibility, improve joint mobility, and re-establish proper movement patterns, allowing the ankle to regain stability, strength, and resilience while reducing the risk of re-injury.

Book your recovery massage online today! www.rubmassageaustin.com

01/20/2026

How massage and Trigger point therapy can help pain in the forearms and hands.

Repetitive activities such as texting, typing, and mouse use place constant demand on the flexor and extensor muscles of the forearm, often leading to tightness, trigger points, and inflammation that can radiate pain into the wrist, elbow, and hand.

Massage therapy combined with targeted trigger point work helps release these overworked muscles by breaking up adhesions, restoring healthy tissue length, and improving circulation to the affected areas. As trigger points in the forearm flexors and extensors are deactivated, pressure on tendons and surrounding nerves decreases, allowing pain, stiffness, and weakness to subside. Regular bodywork can help prevent conditions such as tendonitis, carpal tunnel–type symptoms, and golfer’s or tennis elbow, keeping the arms, hands, and wrists mobile, strong, and pain-free despite heavy daily device use.

Book your massage online at www.rubmassageaustin.com

01/17/2026

When to choose Massage or Physical Therapy for injury recovery

Knowing when to choose massage therapy versus physical therapy during injury recovery depends on the type and stage of the injury, as well as your specific goals. Massage therapy is often ideal when pain and restriction are coming primarily from soft tissue issues such as muscle tightness, trigger points, fascial adhesions, and postural or overuse patterns. It can help reduce inflammation, improve circulation, restore mobility, and calm the nervous system, making it especially beneficial during the early stages of healing and for ongoing maintenance.

Physical therapy is typically the best choice when an injury involves significant loss of strength, joint instability, neurological involvement, or when structured rehabilitation exercises and functional retraining are required. In many cases, the two work best together—massage prepares the tissues so therapeutic exercises are more effective, while physical therapy builds strength and stability so the improvements from massage last longer.

At RMA, I work with numerous Physical Therapist's clients here in Austin. Book your recovery massage session online today! www.rubmassageaustin.com

01/15/2026

What is the Thoracolumbar Aponeurosis and how can massage help?

The thoracolumbar aponeurosis is a large, flat sheet of connective tissue that plays a crucial role in stabilizing the spine, transmitting force between the upper and lower body, and supporting healthy posture and movement. Because it connects key muscle groups of the back, hips, and core, restrictions or adhesions in this tissue can contribute to chronic low back pain, limited mobility, and inefficient movement patterns.
Maintaining its elasticity and malleability through therapeutic bodywork helps ensure that the spine can move freely and that muscular forces are properly distributed during daily activity and athletic performance. At Rub Massage Austin, techniques such as deep tissue work, myofascial release, and stretching are used to keep this fascial layer supple, reduce tension, improve circulation, and support a resilient, pain-free back.

Book your massage online at www.rubmassageaustin.com

01/13/2026

Therapeutic Massage or Swedish Massage?

Therapeutic massage and Swedish relaxation massage serve different purposes and are designed for different goals. Swedish massage, commonly offered at spa and chain massage locations, focuses primarily on relaxation and stress reduction using long, flowing strokes and lighter to moderate pressure. While it can be calming and improve general circulation, it is not typically intended to address specific injuries, chronic pain, or structural imbalances in the body.

Therapeutic massage, like the work offered at Rub Massage Austin, is results-driven and tailored to the individual. It incorporates techniques such as deep tissue work, trigger point therapy, myofascial release, stretching, and range of motion integration to treat the underlying causes of pain and dysfunction. Rather than following a routine, each session is customized to improve mobility, correct muscular imbalances, relieve chronic tension, and support recovery from injury—making it an ideal choice for active individuals and those seeking long-term relief, not just temporary relaxation.

Book your therapeutic massage online at www.rubmassageaustin.com