Communicating With Your Massage Therapist

Here are some best practices to keep in mind when speaking with your massage therapist so you can get the most out of your treatment!

Communication begins when the health history forms are filled out and handed to the therapist. Health history forms are an important part of the massage, it lets your therapist know if there are any conditions that may adjust your massage. Small things that might not seem significant may actually play a very large role in the pain and discomfort you may be feeling. For example, a scar you have had for the past 15 years may not seem significant, but to a massage therapist, it could mean an area of fascial adhesions and restrictions. This can be the root of your problem. Scars left untreated can cause decreased range of motion and tightness in other areas of the body. Major procedures, medicine and any medical condition should be communicated on the health history form in order for the massage therapist to provide you with a safe and comfortable massage.

Why does the massage therapist have to interview me before the session? 

Interviews are a very important factor in massage as it helps the therapist get a better understanding of what you are dealing with, and how to best help you.  A typical interview will go through where on the body you are experiencing the problem, this gives the therapist an idea of where to start working. How long ago did the incident take place – acute and chronic conditions of the same nature are treated very differently. Is there any radiating pain? This is a good indication there is either trigger points or a neural issue at hand.  Duration and frequency – how often do you feel these symptoms, is it a constant pain, maybe a little more infrequent once or twice a week, maybe it’s only in the morning. This type of data can be a marker for specific conditions. Intensity – how much pain are you in, how tight are you on a scale of 1-10, this question is a great indicator to see how the client is coping with the issue from appointment to appointment.  Can you describe what you are feeling – maybe it’s just muscle tightness, or sharp, stabbing, dull pain or even numbness and tingling. Each type of pain sensation has different origins, this gives the therapist a better understanding of what could be the cause of the issue and how to treat it appropriately. Aggravating and relieving factors – is there a specific movement that hurts, this helps the therapist to focus in on the specific muscles that create that movement and treat precisely. Therapists also want to know if you are taking medications, stretching, applying heat or ice to relieve symptoms, which works best for you, maybe the therapist can suggest a more effective stretch. All of these seemingly insignificant questions are the puzzle pieces therapists need to help facilitate the best action and recovery plan for you. 

Is it really important for the therapist to go through consent with me? Yes, a therapist should always be going through an informed consent with you prior to any treatment. Consent should include the areas of the body being treated in the session, what to expect from the treatment – there may be residual pain for the next few days, you may notice bruising if you bruise easily or have had a cupping treatment, there may be trigger points that are worked on in the treatment, which can be quite tender during and after, but you should see improvement over the next few days. The client should always be given the option to stop or modify the treatment, this allows you, the client to be in control of your massage. If something is unclear that the therapist has mentioned, don’t be afraid to speak up and ask questions, it is our job as therapists to make sure the client has a complete understanding of what is going to happen during the treatment. Finally, after discussing all the components the client will be asked if they consent to the treatment as described, if something doesn’t feel right, you as a client do not have to go through with the massage treatment.

Communication is so important when it comes to massage, by being verbal with the massage therapist, you get the best treatment tailored to your needs. If you don’t like a certain technique, or there is too much or not enough pressure, it is up to you to let us know, and we will gladly adapt to your needs.