What to Expect.
Going to your first appointment with a massage therapist can feel a bit daunting. Part of the reason it feels this way is not knowing what to expect or what it will entail. There is no reason to feel embarrassed or self-conscious as our only goal is to help you feel better.
Most people end up wondering why they waited so long to give massage therapy a try.
About Massage Therapy
Massage therapy can help decrease the effects of stress and alleviate chronic pain. Massage therapy treatment of acute injuries can also prevent issues from becoming chronic ones.
A massage therapy treatment has a therapeutic effect on the body and optimizes health and well-being by acting on the muscular, nervous and circulatory systems.
Modern massage techniques can be traced back to the 1700’s and the development of Swedish Massage, the first systematic method of therapeutic massage based on physiology. Today massage therapists use their knowledge of anatomy and physiology to combine Swedish and modern massage therapy techniques with remedial exercise and other therapies to treat their clients.
What to expect for your first Massage Therapy treatment.
Intake
Going to your first appointment with a massage therapist can make some people feel anxious. Sometimes this is because it is an unknown and is something that is new to them. And sometimes people feel self-conscious about their bodies or a hesitancy to receive touch from a person they don’t know.
Massage therapists see and work with bodies of all shapes, sizes, and conditions. We do the work we do because we want to help people feel better in their bodies and in life. There is no reason to feel embarrassed or self-conscious as we are used to seeing bodies in every way they present and our only goal is to help you feel good in yours. Many massage therapists work in rooms with dimmer lighting (you can ask about this beforehand if it’s a concern). The hands-on work we do is therapeutic and should always feel good and safe. If it doesn’t, please know that you can ask the therapist to stop at any time.
When you arrive there will be a health history form for you to fill out which usually takes about 5-10 minutes prior to your appointment time. The health history form will ask for your contact information and will include general and specific questions about your past and current health status such as your current medications, past surgeries, and any allergies you may have. You will also be asked about any familial health issues. It is helpful to bring a list of any medications that you are regularly taking and any medical or imaging reports which may be relevant to the treatment you are seeking.
During the initial intake, your massage therapist will have a conversation with you to discuss your areas of concern and your treatment goals. It can be helpful to provide information relating to any regular activities you participate in (repetitive physical aspects at work, sports, etc.). Within the context of your lifestyle and full medical history, your massage therapist will create an individualised treatment plan and explain the methodology and the process in detail.
Areas of your body that will be included in the treatment will be discussed and agreed upon prior to the initiation of the treatment.
If you have any questions or concerns prior to, or during the session please always speak up. Your massage therapist wants you to be comfortable and informed. You continue to have the right to stop or alter the treatment at any time if you are uncomfortable, and feedback helps the therapist to help you.
Treatment
Your massage therapist will leave the room and let you get undressed to your level of comfort and make yourself comfortable on the table. The table will have at least two sheets on it that you will lie between so that you are covered up when they come back into the room.
Massage therapists usually use a lotion or oil on bare skin for all or most of the treatment session. We are able to work through clothing if necessary. Clients are positioned for comfort on the massage table and are always securely covered with sheets apart from the specific area of the body being worked on at any given time. The therapist may need to position you in various ways to access specific muscles and this repositioning should always be comfortable for you. It is most helpful to let the therapist move you passively, so the more relaxed your muscles are the easier it is for them to do the work. (Sometimes it is hard to relax, and that is okay too.)
You should always feel comfortable and know that you can voice any questions or concerns at any time.
Post-treatment
After the treatment, the massage therapist will discuss what they have found, and will suggest a plan for treatment moving forward. That will most often involve setting up another appointment within a suggested timeline and possibly some remedial exercises or home treatments for you to do until then.
After a treatment focused massage it is not unusual to be a bit sore for a day or two afterwards. This soreness often doesn’t occur until the following day. While some soreness can be expected (depending on the treatment), it should not be acutely painful or debilitating in any way. If you experience these side-effects you should let your massage therapist know (if severe) or mention it to them at the next appointment. It is more common to have some soreness after your first massage than it is for subsequent treatments.
After receiving your first massage therapy treatment you usually can’t wait for your next one!
