Massage Related FAQ
These are
some of the most commonly asked questions about massage.
Answers
When should I get a massage?
Any day is a great time to get a massage. To prevent
injury or pain caused by stress, get a massage before
these conditions occur. It is a lot easier to keep
yourself pain-free with preventative massage, than it is
to treat the pain after an injury has occurred. Keep in
mind that you are much more likely to injure yourself
when you are under stress, and that stress is a major
factor in an incredible number of disorders of the human
body. Regular massage is a great way to cope with the
mental and physical stresses of life, and to help keep
your body running the way it should.
If you have sore muscles
or a nagging injury or pain condition, or if you are
under a lot of stress, please contact us to see how we
can help.
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Who
should not get a massage?
There are several contraindications for receiving a
massage - some are general, meaning you should avoid
a massage completely, and some are regional, meaning the
massage therapist will avoid the area. We have seen
everything, so don't worry that we will judge you based
upon your condition. If you have any of the following
conditions, you should not get a massage (and if you
develop any prior to your appointment, let us know and
we will be happy to reschedule you):
General
* Fever
* Any type of infectious disease
* Immediately following chemotherapy or radiation -
however, it is great idea to have a massage before these
treatments (ask your doctor first)
* Systemic infections
* Severe cold
* Liver and kidney diseases
* Blood clot/clotting
disorder
* Pregnancy-induced diabetes, toxemia, preeclampsia/eclampsia
* High blood pressure (unless under control with
medication)
* Heart disease
* Fracture, sprains, strains -
see your physician first. Once the fracture/injury
is no longer in the acute stage, massage can help
reduce the loss of mobility, reduce scar tissue
formation and reduce edema/swelling that frequently
occurs with a fracture, strain or sprain.
* Bleeding, burns or other acute injury -
see your physician first - he may recommend massage
therapy later to help manage scar tissue formation or
swelling
Regional - please
make your therapist aware of these conditions so that
she will take proper precautions
* Sores/open
wounds/warts/similar conditions - therapist will avoid
area
* Varicose veins - therapist can only massage above the
varicosity in order to avoid releasing a potential blood
clot
These guidelines are
provided to protect you and your massage therapist. You
don't want the massage to make an underlying medical
condition worse, and you don't want to pass anything
contagious to the massage therapist. If you're unsure
about whether a minor condition should prohibit you from
getting a massage, call your therapist before your
appointment. For some illnesses, other bodywork
modalities may work well.
At your initial visit, you will be asked to
fill out a client intake form. Not only does it provide
the massage therapist with your name, address, and phone
number, it will also have a place to list any
underlying medical conditions. The therapist should be
aware of any of these. Even if you have an allergy to
something in the oil the therapist uses, you should list
this. You will be asked at any subsequent visits about
any new medical or physical conditions. If you're not
asked, volunteer that information if there is anything
the therapist should know.
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What conditions are helped by massage?
- Aggression
- Anorexia
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- ADHD
- Autism
- Breast cancer
- Bulimia
- Burns
- Carpal Tunnel
- Chronic Fatigue
- Depression
- Dermatitis
- Diabetes
- Down's Syndrome
- and so on... Visit
the
Touch Research Institute
for more information.
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What are the
medically accepted health benefits of massage?
The
Touch Research Institute
of the University of Miami School of Medicine has
been performing research on the effects of massage
for several years, and they have had some wonderful
results, such as:
- Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome
Immediately following massage therapy,
depressed mood, anxiety and stress hormone (cortisol)
levels were reduced. Following 10 days of
massage therapy, fatigue related symptoms,
particularly anxiety and somatic symptoms, were
reduced, as were depression, difficulty sleeping
and pain. Stress hormone (cortisol) also
decreased and dopamine increased.
- Diabetes
Following one month of parents massaging
their children with diabetes, the children's
glucose levels decreased to the normal range and
their dietary compliance increased. Also the
parents' and children's anxiety and depression
levels decreased.
- Fibromyalgia
Syndrome
Massage therapy (as compared to
transcutaneous electrical stimulation) improved
sleep patterns and decreased pain, fatigue,
anxiety, depression and cortisol levels in
adults with fibromyalgia.
- Hypertension
Massage therapy decreased diastolic blood
pressure, anxiety and cortisol (stress hormone)
levels in adults with hypertension.
- Job
Performance/Stress
Massaged adults showed 1) decreased frontal
EEG alpha and beta power and increased delta
power consistent with enhanced alertness; 2)
math problems were completed in significantly
less time with significantly fewer errors after
the massage; and 3) anxiety, cortisol (stress
hormone) and job stress levels were lower at the
end of the 5 week period.
- Migraine
Headaches
Massage therapy decreased the occurrence of
headaches, sleep disturbances and distress
symptoms and increased serotonin levels in
adults with migraine headaches.
- Multiple
Sclerosis
Massage therapy decreased anxiety and
depressed mood, and improved hand strength,
self-esteem, body image and social functioning
in adults with multiple sclerosis.
This list could
go on and on - please visit the
Touch Research Institute's
website to view the other disorders
that have been studied.
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What is not included in a therapeutic
massage?
Sex in any size, shape or form is not included.
Do not ask, and do not make an appointment if
that is what you are looking for. If it becomes
clear that this is what you are looking for, the
massage will be terminated and you will pay the
cost of the entire massage even though it was
cut short; the police may be called as well. We
are licensed massage therapists, which means
that we are medical professionals who treat
non-sexual disorders of the human body.
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I want deep tissue massage -
are you strong enough?
A study found that one of
the primary complaints that people make
after receiving a massage was that the therapist
did not use enough pressure. At Kettering
Therapeutic Massage, we use our body weight and
positioning to increase the pressure used, and
we have always been able to provide enough
pressure for our clients. However, if
you are an extremely bulky/muscular person,
please
give us a call first to ensure that we are the
best therapists for you.
As an aside, most people who ask for deep tissue
massage believe that it means to receive firm
pressure during a massage. Deep tissue massage
can be painful and is typically used during
treatment/therapeutic massage; what most people are
looking for is firm pressure. According to one
website, the definition of deep tissue massage is the following:
Used to release
chronic muscle tension through slower strokes
and more direct pressure or friction applied
across the grain of the muscles. This
invigorating (read - with some pain) experience is a process of
detection of stiff or painful areas by
determining the quality and texture of the
deeper layers of musculature, and slowly working
into the deep layers of muscle tissue.
That said, do not
hesitate to let your therapist know if you would
like more or less pressure. Any therapist,
whether at our office or elsewhere, will
sincerely appreciate the feedback and will not
be offended at all. Rather, they will be
grateful that you have let them know what you
prefer, because that increases the possibility
that you will return for another massage. This
goes for letting them know what feels good, too
- they will make sure to repeat it in future
massages.
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What if I
have cellulite/scars/am overweight/am embarrassed
about my body?
I often hear people say they
would love to have a massage, but they don't
want anyone to see their fat or the cellulite on
their thighs. Remember this - massage therapists have seen bodies in every imaginable
shape and size, from young to old, and we aren't there to judge your body.
We are
professionals who have found massage to be a wonderful
gift to give to men and women alike, regardless of age
and weight, and are proud of what we can offer to
people in need of help or just wanting to enjoy the
delight found in massage.
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What happens during a massage?
When you first arrive at Kettering
Therapeutic Massage, you'll be asked to fill out a client intake
form. This will give the therapist the personal
information about you that will guide them to give you
the style of massage most appropriate for you. Don't
hesitate to ask questions about anything which you're
unsure, or any concerns you might have. women alike, regardless of age
and weight, and are proud of what we can offer to
people in need of help or just wanting to enjoy the
delight found in massage.
If you have pain or tenderness in your right
shoulder, and you'd like some extra attention given to
it, tell the therapist. If you prefer a lighter or
deeper massage, make that preference known. The massage
therapist will discover your tight and sore areas during
the massage, and will prioritize the time spent on these
areas, and may do less work on areas that don't need as
much attention. Letting the therapist know ahead of time
about these problem areas, lets them prepare to spend
some extra time there.
Once you've finished with
the intake, the massage therapist will give you
some privacy to get undressed (to your level of
comfort - many people choose to undress fully
while others leave their underwear on) and get
on the massage table between the sheets. Let the
therapist know if you need any assistance either
getting undressed or getting onto the table.
There will be a heating pad on the table for
your comfort, but if it is too warm, or if you
have a loss of nerve sensation that would make
it difficult for you to notice if it was too
hot, make sure to notify your therapist. If you
find you are chilly, please do not hesitate to
ask for additional blankets or an increase in
temperature of the heating pad.
Your therapist will
have
advised you to start the massage lying on your stomach
or on your back. If you're to start on your stomach,
there will be a cushioned doughnut-shaped device at one
end of the table. This is a face rest, and you should
place your face in there. This allows you to be face
down, and keep your shoulder and neck muscles relaxed.
If you lay your head on the table and turn it to one
side, the muscles in your neck and shoulders won't be in
their relaxed state and won't be able to receive the
best benefits of the massage.
There may also be a pillow or bolster on the table. A
bolster is a padded, cylindrical device. These are to be
used for your ankles and knees. If you're lying face
down, the pillow or bolster goes under your ankles, so
you're not hyperextending your feet while lying that way
for an extended period of time. If you're lying on your
back, it goes under the knees to prevent any
hyperextension of your knee joint. If the bolster is not
on the table, the therapist will put it into
place once they enter the room.
Once you're undressed and under the
sheets, the therapist will come back into the
room. For the most part, your work is done, and
all you have to do is relax and enjoy. The
therapist will undrape the section of the body
that they will work on first, and apply some
form of lubricant to the skin. They
will use a variety of strokes, some rubbing, kneading,
vibration, percussion, whatever they think will work
best for your muscles. Stretching, rocking, myofascial or
trigger
point work may all be added. If the therapist gives you
directions for slow exhales, just follow along. If they
stretch or rotate any joint, don't try to help. Just
stay as relaxed and limp as you can and let the
therapist move that part of your body, unless you are
given directions otherwise.
Every therapist has their own style of massage, strokes
they like to use on different parts of the body, and
prefer to work on different areas of the body in a
particular order. One therapist may start you on your
stomach and begin the massage with your back. Another
may start you on your back and begin with your feet. So
for a first visit with any massage therapist, don't be
alarmed if their style and direction is different from
another therapist you've seen.
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What parts of my body will be
massaged?
The parts of your body that
will be massaged may change from one massage to
the next, due to the type of massage you are
receiving and the area of your body that is
being focused on; the sexually charged areas are
the only areas that will never be massaged. The
abdomen may be massaged if you are having issues
such as constipation, or if you request it. The
hips and buttocks are frequently massaged as
they are often a culprit in lower back pain, and
the armpit/upper breast area may be rubbed to
help relieve upper back/neck pain. However, if
you are uncomfortable being touched in any area,
please let the therapist know ahead of time, if
possible. Sometimes a client may not realize
they are sensitive about being touched in a
particular area until the therapists touches
them there - just let your therapist know how
you feel; they will be sensitive to your
feelings and will avoid the area.
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Do I have to be completely
undressed?
You should undress to your comfort level. The massage
therapist will work around the clothes left on the best
they can. You should realize that this may mean that
certain areas of the body may not be massaged at all, or
may only receive minimal work there. Leave on whatever clothes are
necessary to be relaxed during the massage, but if
removing most of your clothes makes you too nervous and
unable to relax, then receiving a massage that way won't
allow you to obtain the optimal benefits from it. An
extended chair massage, which is done fully
clothed, may be your best option until you feel
more comfortable with the whole process.
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Do I have to use a towel or sheet as
a drape?
At Kettering Therapeutic
Massage, we always use either a towel or a sheet
as a drape to prevent any "homeland security"
issues.
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Can I talk during a massage?
The key to a massage is relaxation and allowing yourself
to enjoy the experience. Many therapists will discourage
you from talking during the massage. They want you to
relax, to just let your mind float free, and let the
massage transport you to an almost subconscious bliss.
However, it's not uncommon for many people to be more relaxed
talking. After all, they're lying undressed on a table
with a stranger touching their skin. Talking makes the
therapist become more human and personal to them, and
having this interaction makes it easier for them to
place their trust in the therapist, and therefore make
it easier for them to relax. Many clients talk in the
initial stages of a massage, and as the massage
progresses, they slip farther into a state of total
relaxation and become quiet. If you do enjoy chatting,
we are happy to chat with you, but we will try
to keep the volume to a quiet level to avoid
distracting other clients who may be receiving a
massage at the same time.
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Will a massage
be painful?
That depends on the type of massage and the depth of the
strokes. A light massage that doesn't probe very deep
into muscles shouldn't hurt. At the same time, the light
massage won't be able to work out any stress that's deep
within those muscles. A muscle that is relaxed will be
supple and soft and won't hurt when rubbed. Muscles that
are tight, and in many cases have been chronically tight
for a long time, may have that "good hurt" feeling with
a deeper massage. Think of that "good hurt" as the
feeling you get when you stretch a sore muscle during
exercise or a yawn. Muscles can be very sore from
overuse or tightness, and that good hurt can become
painful. A sharp pain may indicate a muscle that has
been injured and has some sort of inflammation. In this
case, you don't want the deep work to continue in this
area. A deep massage with tight muscles may leave some
residual soreness the next day.
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How often should I receive a
massage?
The answer here depends on the reasons for receiving the
massage. If you are coming in for some injury relief, or
to relieve chronic tightness that is interfering with
your daily life in some way, weekly or twice weekly sessions may be
necessary for a while to build on each session's
improvement in their relief and healing. For those who
use massage as preventive care and managing the daily
stress in their lives, once or twice a month is about the norm.
They may shorten the time between massages during
stressful periods. Many people decide to try a weekly
massage for a month just to see how well it will
work for them, and realize that they feel so
much better physically and emotionally that they
continue to come in that frequently.
For most people, the frequency of the massages they
receive is limited by their pocketbook. It's an
unfortunate fact, but once many people realize the
benefits it provides them, and the pleasure they receive
from it, they find a way to incorporate a regular
session into their budget.
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