Massage is an essential part of overall wellness. It helps relieve pain and stress, improves circulation, and boosts the immune system. This blog post will address common questions about therapeutic massage, including what it is, who can receive it, and how often to receive it.
Here are the most common questions and concerns about healing massage:
Why do I need a massage?
- First, ask your massage therapist why you need this massage and its benefits.
- There are many reasons why you may need a massage. Stress, pain and poor circulation are all things that you can improve with regular massages.
- Massage therapists use their hands to treat the area you came in for but also identified other problems by assessing your entire body.
- For example, if you have neck pain but don’t show any signs of injury or disease, your therapist may discover that your shoulders are tense and tight from holding them up all day.
Will therapeutic massage “hurt”?
- Ask your therapist will this massage hurt you or not.
- If your therapist is using the proper technique, then you shouldn’t feel any pain at all. Most people describe a therapeutic massage as warm oil rubbing their entire body.
- However, if you’re new to therapeutic massage, it can be uncomfortable at times. But, this is usually not due to the pressure being applied by your therapist but rather because of muscle tension.
- The result is that once your session is over and you’re standing up again, you’ll probably feel relaxed and loose for days—not sore or stiff at all!
Will my insurance cover the cost of massage therapy?
- It would help if you asked your therapist whether or not they accept insurance. If they do, they will likely be able to submit a claim on your behalf and get reimbursed by your insurance company.
- However, if your therapist does not accept insurance, ask them how much it will cost you out-of-pocket.
- If your doctor prescribes massage therapy as part of his or her treatment plan for you (and if it’s not covered by insurance), ask how much coverage is available. Some health plans will pay up to $200 per year with no out-of-pocket costs, which are paid directly by patients’ private funds (such as cash or credit card).
- Other plans may only cover one session per month with some restrictions on frequency and length of sessions allowed each month, as well as any pre-approval requirements needed before seeing a practitioner, so make sure you know what kind of coverage is available before committing yourself financially!
How is massage therapy different from other types of bodywork?
- Before hiring a therapist, ask him how this massage therapy differs from other types of bodywork.
- Massage therapy is often confused with other forms of bodywork, such as physical therapy, chiropractic care and craniosacral therapy. Although these modalities are similar in that they are hands-on treatments for the musculoskeletal system, massage involves a more passive approach than those other types of bodywork.
- However, massage therapy is not the same as deep tissue massage, which focuses on releasing muscle tension by applying deeper pressure and can be painful.
- It’s also different from sports massage (often used after exercise or training), relaxation or Swedish massage, or hot stone treatment.
- Each type of bodywork uses different techniques to achieve different results.
Should I shower before a massage?
- You should also ask your therapist whether you should shower before the therapeutic massage.
- Some people prefer to shower first, while others like to go straight into the massage room.
- If you shower before your treatment, be sure not to use soap on the areas that will be massaged (and don’t scrub too hard).
- If you have a specific medical condition, such as diabetes or heart disease, or taking medication that causes dry skin or dandruff, it may be best to shower before your massage.
- Let your therapist know about allergies or sensitivities to oils or lotions so he can select the most appropriate products for your treatment.
Conclusion
A therapeutic massage can help you break barriers, overcome obstacles, and experience life differently. The questions listed above are good starting points in discussing treatment. It will make you feel comfortable and relaxed during the massage. You can ask these questions while booking your appointment or during the treatment.
