Massage Therapy: The Information Exchange Between Client And Practitioner
Massage therapy offers numerous healthful benefits, especially if it's provided by a trained massage therapist. Whether you are seeking stress or pain relief, for massage therapy to be effective, both you and the practitioner need to keep each other informed. Effective communication between the two of you increases the benefits and reduces the potential risks and side effects.
Before Your Massage
Massage therapists generally recommend certain tips to help you get the most out of your massage.
-
Drink water before your appointment. Stress, poor posture, injury, and overuse cause muscle tightness and tension. Tight muscle tissue doesn't have good blood flow. Massage increases the blood flow to the muscle tissue in the area the massage therapist is working.
Continue to drink water after your massage. If your body isn't adequately hydrated, you may feel achy afterward. Similar to exercise, working the muscles during massage causes them to lose water.
-
Take a hot shower or soak in a hot bath to relax your body beforehand. The steam and hot water loosen tight muscle fibers and relieves muscle tension.
-
Avoid drinking alcohol before your appointment. Although massage decreases the release of stress hormones in the body and increases endorphins, alcohol can interfere with the release of endorphins. Lower endorphin levels may diminish the feeling of well being you experience after a massage.
Alcohol also has a sedating effect that can trigger fatigue and cause you to fall asleep during your massage. If you're sleeping, you aren't reaping the full benefit of what is intended to be a relaxing experience.
-
Inform the massage therapist of acute or chronic health conditions you have or have had, in addition to medications you are taking. Massage therapy could cause adverse effects. For example, massage can exert too much pressure on brittle bones associated with osteoporosis and usually isn't allowed for someone taking blood thinners. Check with your doctor before starting massage therapy.
During Your Massage
Massage is more beneficial when you do your part to help the practitioner.
-
Let the massage therapist know about any areas to avoid, including open wounds, broken bones, or areas that are bruised or otherwise injured. Inform the practitioner if there have been changes in your medical condition since your last session.
-
Mention what areas you want the massage therapist to focus on. Speak up when you want lighter or deeper pressure. It will help the practitioner to know what you expect from the massages you get.
-
Focus on your breathing. Take deep and relaxed breaths during the massage. Imagine your breath moving into the tight, sore areas of your body.
-
Don't talk on the phone, text or email while receiving a massage. This is your time to relax.
What Your Massage Therapist May Notice
A massage therapist is a trained professional who becomes tuned in to other aspects of your health.
-
Your massage therapist can see things on places of your body where you can't. See your doctor if the practitioner notices bright red and irregularly-shaped growths or spots on your back, the back of your neck, or behind your knees. These and changes in the size, shape, or color of a mole could be signs of skin cancer.
-
Your massage therapist will know if you've been under increased emotional stress, as your body responds to massage differently. A body under physical stress shows signs as well. For example, if you do a lot of texting, your shoulders will be tight and hurt when they're touched.
-
If you aren't drinking enough water throughout the day, trigger points in your back may be more tender. Dehydration causes muscle pain and cramps, as the body keeps more of the water it has in the circulatory system.
-
Massage therapists can usually spot a heavy smoker. Breathing is deeper and more labored during the massage. Even if that's not your reason for scheduling the sessions, massage eases the stress and anxiety that usually comes along with trying to quit smoking. Regular massages may help you overcome the psychological addiction to the smoking habit, especially if you smoke to calm yourself when you're stressed.
Share