HOW OFTEN SHOULD I GET A MASSAGE?

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I GET A MASSAGE?

How often you should get a massage depends on several personal factors, particularly your physical and emotional needs, your budget, and your stress levels. There's no question that you will experience the most health benefits from massage when you get massage regularly.  Massage calms the nervous system, improves blood circulation and lymphatic circulation, relieves muscle pain, and helps with pain management in conditions such as arthritis, sciatica, muscle spasms.  

If you get a massage once a year, it will be relaxing, but it can't undo a lifetime of muscle tension. Typically, once every week or two is ideal for keeping your muscle tissue pliable and in good shape.   If you are in chronic pain or have a special issue to address, you might need to come weekly (or even twice a week) until you feel better. 

Once you're feeling good, once a month is the recommended minimum for maintaining the health of your tissue. If you start stretching the massages out too far, then your muscles can revert to their old patterns, especially if you come under stress.

 If you wait too long, you'll have to start all over again to restore their suppleness and pliancy. Listen to your body, but don't wait too long in an effort to save money.

general guidelines our experienced massage therapists recommend:

GENERAL WELLNESS

For general wellness aim for a frequency of about once or twice a month. This allows people in generally good health to receive all the health benefits, and allows each massage to build upon the last so that you are not essentially starting over from scratch each time.

TREATMENT OF CHRONIC CONDITIONS

If you want a massage for the treatment of a chronic condition such as migraines, neck aches and backaches, you’ll need to receive one more frequently to see relief. It is recommended to start off with twice weekly massages for the first four to six weeks, and then gradually increase the time between sessions as symptoms improve. While chronic conditions are generally not solved in a single session, most can be well managed by regular, effective massages.

ENHANCED ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE

Massage is a necessary support mechanism for athletes to maintain muscle health and flexibility. People heavily involved in sports should have a massage as often as two to three times per week during periods of intense training and less often—perhaps once or twice a month—during the off-season. Massages helps athletes reach peak physical fitness while giving some protection from injury.

STRESS RELIEF

Studies conducted on the benefits of massage have demonstrated that massage helps combat stress, anxiety and insomnia related to stress. People going through a particularly stressful situation or those leading high stress lives should aim to get a massage every one to two weeks.

The bottom line is that people who wish to treat specific medical conditions will need to have massages more frequently than people who want massages strictly for enjoyment and relaxation. If you want to know which category you fit into best, it’s always a good policy to speak with an experienced massage therapist to create a schedule that’s customized for you.