DOES PAIN OR RESTRICTED MOVEMENT  KEEP YOU FROM LIVING THE LIFE YOU WANT?

SPORTS INJURIES, HOUSEHOLD  ACCIDENTS, REPETITIVE ACTIONS ON THE JOB, AND TENSION FROM EVERYDAY STRESSES  CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS THAT, TOO OFTEN, TAKE UP PERMANENT RESIDENCE IN OUR BODIES.   MASSAGE THERAPY CAN HELP HEAL CERTAIN CONDITIONS AND HELP PREVENT THEIR  RETURN.  IN SOME CASES MASSAGE CAN REDUCE OR EVEN ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR  MEDICATION OR SURGERY

What Should I know for my Massage?

What is the first  appointment like?

On your first visit, your Massage  Therapist will begin by asking some general health questions since there are some conditions for which massage is not appropriate.  Always tell your massage  therapist if you have a medical problem, even a minor one.  Also, let your  primary health care practitioner know you are receiving massage.  Some  conditions require close communication between your massage therapist and your  doctor or other health practitioner, and your  Massage Therapist will gladly  provide regular progress reports. 

Your therapist will then leave the room  while you undress and get onto the table, under the covering on the table.  He  will then assess your problem area to determine the best approach, perhaps by  checking for restricted or painful movement, gently feeling for tenderness, and  looking at your posture.

Your massage will take place on a table  that is specifically designed for comfort and stability.  The room temperature  will be adjusted to a comfortable level, and relaxing music will be playing in  the background.

For a full body massage, most people undress completely.  If this makes you uncomfortable, you can leave your underwear on.  You will be warmly covered at all times, except the area that is  being worked on.  The therapist will use an oil during the session, which will  be absorbed by your skin, and will be healthy for the skin. 

Your Massage Therapist will decide on a  plan which will focus on your problem area, along with other areas that may be related.  Your therapist may recommend a series of massages.  The appropriate  frequency, duration, and number of massage sessions for you will depend on your  problem, its severity, how long you have had it, and your general  health.

What should I do in a  massage?

Make yourself comfortable.  The therapist will let you know if you need to adjust your position in order for them to work  on a specific area.  If at any time you start to feel uncomfortable, let the  therapist know, so that an adjustment can be made by either yourself or the  therapist. 

Some people prefer to relax and say  nothing, while others prefer to talk during the massage session.  It's  your massage .  Do not hesitate to ask questions about what the  therapist is doing, or about massage in general.

The desire to sigh or take a deep breath  is a good sign.  It is your body letting you know that it is relaxing.  There  are several deep breathing exercises designed to help the body  relax.

How will a massage  feel?

Massage on normal tissue is almost always  a pleasant sensation.  Therapeutic (clinical) massage in the area of an injury  or chronic pain may at first cause some discomfort which usually lessens  noticeable in the first few minutes.  Your massage therapist knows ways to  minimize pain, and will work carefully within what feels right to you.  If the  discomfort persists, let the therapist know, so that the pressure and technique  can be adjusted.

How long will the session  last, and what should I do after?

A full body massage usually lasts one  hour, but can be extended to an hour and a half and two hour  sessions. 

The massage therapist will leave the room  when the session is over.  Due to the profound effects massage can have on the  body, you will want to get up slowly from the table.  Even though you may feel  like going and laying down after the massage, it is a good idea to move around  (i.e.; walking) for about an hour before laying down to sleep.

Because massage will release toxins  stored in the muscle tissue, it is a good idea to double your water intake for  the day, and to take a hot shower, or get into a whirlpool or spa, before going  to bed.  This will help the body eliminate the toxins, and carry on the good  feeling for the next several days.

Your greatest benefit from massage could  be learning ways to release tension or help heal injuries outside of your  massage sessions.  Your Massage Therapist might share relaxing breathing  techniques or gentle exercises to increase flexibility and teach your muscles  more efficient movements.  Other common techniques you might learn are how to  release tension by contracting muscles or pressing "trigger points", or how to  use ice and heat.

How can  therapeutic massage help you?

Stress:
Massage  is one of the best known antidotes for stress. Reducing stress gives you more  energy, improves your outlook on life, and in the process reduces your  likelihood of injury and illness. Massage can also relieve symptoms of  conditions that are aggravated by anxiety such as asthma or insomnia. Because it  relieves stress, massage is an excellent supportive therapy for people in  psychological counseling or treatment for addiction.

Painful or tight muscles:
Massage can relieve many types of muscle  tightness, from a short-term muscle cramp to a habitually clenched jaw or tight  shoulders. Massage acts directly on your muscles with stretching and kneading  motions. It also stimulates the nervous system to instruct muscles to relax even  more.

Delayed muscle  soreness:
Massage  flushes muscles of built-up waste products that can make you sore after vigorous  exercise. 

Pain or  tingling in arms or legs:
Muscles can become so contracted that they press on nerves to the  arms, hands and legs. If this happens, a massage to release muscle spasms in the  shoulder or hip can bring relief.

Injuries:
Massage can help heal injuries such as tendinitis that develop over  time, as well as ligament sprains or muscle strains caused by an accident.  Massage reduces inflammation by increasing circulation, which removes waste  products and brings nutrition to injured cells. Certain massage techniques can  limit scar formation in new injuries and can reduce, or make more pliable, scar  tissue around old injuries.

Secondary pain:
Massage can relieve secondary pain that can outlast its original  cause. Some examples are headaches from eyestrain, or the protective tensing of  healthy muscles around an injury.

Prevention of new injuries:
Massage can help prevent injuries that might be caused  by stressing unbalanced muscle groups, or by favoring or forcing a painful,  restricted area.

Pain  or restriction in joints:
Besides releasing tight muscles that restrict joint movement, massage  works directly on your joints to improve circulation, stimulate production of  natural lubrication, and relieve pain from conditions such as  osteoarthritis.

Posture:
Massage  releases restrictions in muscles, joints, and the muscles' tough connective  tissue coverings, freeing your body to return to a more natural posture. Massage  can also relieve the contracted muscles and pain caused by abnormal spinal  curvatures such as scoliosis. 

The effects of forced inactivity:
There are many reasons you may be forced to  limit physical activity including injury, surgery, paralysis or even normal  aging. When this happens, massage can relieve your aches and pains and improve  circulation to your skin and muscles. Even when an immobilized area cannot be  massaged directly, the relaxation and increased circulation from a general  massage can give relief.

Fluid retention:
Massage increases your circulation which in turn drains tissues of  excess fluid caused by recent injury, surgery, or pregnancy.

Web design by Chris Flusche.
© Copyright 2005 David Ellis & Maximum Bodywork.  All rights reserved.