Massage Process

Massage Process

STEP 1: Pre-treatment Assessment

When you arrive for your first session, you will be asked to fill out a brief medical history form. This will take about 5 to 10 minutes. After that, I will review your information with you, during which time I will likely ask some additional questions to fill in any gaps that would be helpful to your treatment. At this time, I encourage you to bring up any other concerns or issues you might have related to your condition and treatment. Share as much or as little as you feel comfortable doing, but remember that everything we discuss is confidential and that the more you can tell me, the better I can address your situation.

STEP 2: The Massage

An Ounce of Prevention

People come to me for different reasons. Some come with no pain at all. They’re here because therapeutic massage is an excellent way to relax, to relieve stress, to zone out, to reward themselves with a healthy serving of “me time.”

Others come seeking to prevent pain. They’re healthy and exercise regularly, but they know that injuries can happen to even the best conditioned athletes. Keeping their bodies flexible and “in tune” can prevent injuries from happening and minimize them if they do.

Whether you want to recharge your spiritual battery or avoid an unwelcome break in your fitness routine, rest assured that I’ll use the most appropriate massage techniques to help you reach your short-term and long-term goals.

Jumpstarting Your Recovery

Of course many clients come because they’re in pain. And whether that pain is the result of an injury or a chronic condition, you will require more treatment in the beginning to jumpstart your recovery. How long will this concentrated treatment last? That depends on several variables — the severity and duration of your pain, your overall physical health, your age, your ability to recover, and so on.

As a general rule I recommend the following schedule: 1x/week for 4 weeks; then 1x 2 weeks later; 1x 3 weeks after that and, finally, 1x at a 4-week interval. At this point, I will provide a full assessment of your progress and make appropriate suggestions.

The bottom line is this: Everyone is different, and I will customize your treatment to meet your individual needs.

STEP 3: Response and Follow-Up

Clients react differently to massage therapy. As we manage the course of your treatment together, it’s especially important that I know how your body responds. This is why I will follow up with you within 24 to 48 hours after each of your first few sessions.

If you have mild soreness, don’t worry. This is normal. It’s simply your body’s response to the release of naturally occurring toxins in your muscles. But if I feel you could experience more soreness than normal after treatment, I will continue to follow up after our next few sessions. The level of soreness depends on your body and how deep I am able to go with your massage to maximize results. However, the depth depends on your tolerance for pain.

And here I want to be absolutely clear: therapeutic massage, as I practice it, is not a “no pain, no gain” proposition. A little discomfort is okay. A lot is unacceptable. I will always adjust your treatment to your tolerance for pain — that “hurts so good” level. My business is built on client trust (view testimonials) and I want you to be absolutely certain of my 100% commitment to your comfort and good health.

STEP 4: Your Homework

Following every massage, you should drink lots of fluids to more quickly flush out the toxins released from your muscles. This will help to prevent or relieve soreness. I also recommend stretching and I will demonstrate some of those techniques, including what I do myself to lengthen a targeted area of my body to relieve tension and tightness. In the case of muscle spasm or loss of range of motion, I recommend icing. And again, I have a specific and very effective method that I will share.

STEP 5: Maintenance and Prevention

Once your condition has been resolved, I strongly recommend that you continue to receive therapeutic massage once every 3 or 4 weeks for maintenance. Ongoing treatment will also help to prevent re-injury or the return of a chronic condition.

Clients who derive the most benefits from therapeutic massage are those who make a serious commitment to good health. They are people who exercise regularly and are dedicated to good nutrition. In effect, these clients recognize that long-term health is a two-way street. They know that I can help them get better, but they also know it’s up to them to stay better.

In short, while I take great pride in my skills as a massage therapist, I am not a miracle worker.  For clients to recover and then continue to thrive, they must become partners in their own health. I am committed to support you in taking that next positive step towards better health by recommending self care modalities.