How Often Should You Get Massage?
by Ben Crabtree, in the San Antonio Massage Blog
The question of how often to get massage therapy and bodywork in San Antonio comes up quite often.
As a Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Neuromuscular Therapist, and Certified Advanced Myoskeletal Therapist I’ve formed some general conclusions over the past 10 years of practice. These are just examples – your individual condition and goals may lead you and your massage therapist to come to different conclusions about the frequency of massage for you.
Massage for General Health and Relaxation
For general health and relaxation I recommend massage 1-2 times per month for people under light to moderate stress. This would also include people who are sedentary or who exercise only occasionally. Receiving massage therapy once or twice per month can have excellent health benefits and help reduce the effects of stress.
Massage for Stress Management
For people who have high-stress occupations or living conditions, or who travel frequently, I recommend a higher frequency of massage therapy – weekly or bi-weekly. In this case, massage therapy helps the individual in coping with their stress. Tension builds up from stressful situations can be more easily managed with weekly massage. Additionally, just knowing that you will be receiving massage therapy each week or every-other-week can be very comforting.
Massage Therapy for Pain Reduction and Management
Reduction of, and management of, pain requires a different type of frequency. I call it a “diminishing frequency”. People in severe pain not requiring medical intervention can and do receive massage therapy 1-2 times per week in the first week. Although rare, this may continue in the second and third week of treatment depending upon response of the client to the massage therapy. When the pain is reduced so is the frequency of massage therapy. At first it may be reduced to once per week, then every other week or less often.
Massage Therapy for Athletes
For Athletes the frequency of massage therapy depends on the sport, training schedules, and athletic goals.
Read the full post of April 22, 2009, in San Antonio Massage Blog by Ben Crabtree, LMT, CNMT
Other articles on this website about massage therapy that you might enjoy:
Massage May Help Alleviate Depression
Massage Your Way to Better Health and Well-Being
Massage Therapy…Relax Your Way to Relief!
The Benefits of Regular Massage Therapy.
