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Frequently Asked Questions About Massage & Bodywork 
 
Information on this page is not intended to be taken as medical advice.  You should continue to seek advice from your physician regarding injuries, illnesses, and physical conditions that require medical treatment.
 
Q: What happens during a therapeutic massage?
A: If you have never received a therapeutic massage before, the unknown can cause some anxiety.  The following information is designed to help you feel comfortable and reassured as you prepare to receive your first massage.
 
The therapist will have you complete a health questionnaire and ask you some questions about your health, any injuries or health conditions you have indicated on your forms, and any pain or discomfort you are currently experiencing.  The therapist may perform some muscle testing or posture observation to determine what muscles are imbalanced.  The therapist will ask you to share what you would like the outcome of your massage to be (such as relaxation, pain relief, or greater range of motion.)  Together, you and the therapist will decide on the format and outcome of the massage.
 
Next, you will be shown to the table and given some instructions on what level of undress, where to put your clothes, and how to lay on the table.  Many people are anxious about being naked during their massage.  Rest assured that you may leave on your underwear if you would like, and that all parts of your body will be covered until they are worked on, and modestly undraped during the time they are being worked on. 
 
The therapist will leave to allow you to undress in privacy and will wash up for your session.  Then when the therapist returns, you will be asked about your comfort level and if you need any of the bolsters added or adjusted.  Finally, the massage begins!
 
While you are receiving massage, you should breathe naturally and comfortably, occasionally taking in deep breaths to relax further.  The therapist will instruct you to say something if the pressure is too light or too heavy- be sure to speak up!  Therapists are not mind readers, and by speaking up you become a partner in creating the outcome of your massage session.  Feel free to talk or ask questions during the massage.
 
At the end of your massage you will again be left in privacy to dress while the therapist washes up, and when the therapist returns you'll chat a bit about how you liked the session, if you feel like it met your goals, and what follow-up, if any, the therapist recommends.  After your massage, be sure to take your day a little easier, go a little slower, and savor your feelings of relaxation and increased wellness.  Also, be sure to drink lots of water as the massage stimulates the cleansing function of your kidneys and you may be flushing out some toxins from your body.  Water will assist your body during this process.
 
Q: Should massage therapy be painful (no pain, no gain)?
A: Massage therapy should not ever cause pain. 
During your massage, I will work with you to monitor the pressure and intensity of the work.  You can let me know if the massage is crossing over from intensity to pain.  I'll immediately reduce my pressure to a more comfortable level. 
 
Intensity could be described as a sensation that is intense but feels good, and does not cause a fear response such as shrinking away from the pressure or wanting to push the massage therapist's hand away.  Pain always causes a fear response (see below) and should be avoided.
 
Q: What happens in the body when massage therapy causes pain?
A: Pain causes the nervous system to respond with a stress response, often the fight, flight, or freeze response, and accompanying stress hormones.  Such responses and hormones distort the body's ability to function in a receptive mode, causing tension in the muscles, shortness or holding of breath, psychological fear and dissociation responses.  When the body is in fight/flight/freeze, the massage therapy loses much of its effectiveness. 
 
Q: Will my pain return after the massage?
A: Your aches and pains are unique to your body, your muscle condition, your physical habits, your injury history, and your overall state of wellness.  If your pain is caused by something temporary, such as lifting a heavy object with poor body mechanics causing a mild strain of a muscle, it is likely that your pain will go away quickly (perhaps within a week or 10 days).
 
If your pain is caused by a chronic overuse condition (such as the way you use your body for your job), by a significant injury, or by other physcial conditions, it may take longer to relieve your pain.  Massage therpy can mechanically and physiologically affect the body to help it align better, have improved range of motion, and improve muscle and tissue mobility; you may also need to make changes to your routine (such as adding stretches, strengthening moves, or improved ergonomics) to reduce the overall cause of your pain.