Happy New Year! 2024 is here and I’m excited for what’s to come this year!
What are your plans or goals? Anything I can help with?
My clients can attest to how important booking regular massage appointments is to keeping them pain-free or improving their overall well-being. When you feel your best, you’re going to be a better partner, a happier person, and achieve the plans and goals you have for yourself with ease. With weekly and bi-weekly massage therapy appointments, we’ll be able to monitor and adjust our sessions according to your progress, and keep pain and injury at bay. Massage therapy is particularly effective for patients who suffer from chronic pain, which affects more than twenty percent of the US population. It is recognized as a highly effective pain management tool, and is being prescribed to patients who are dependent on opioids for pain relief. I’m here to work through this with you, as a skilled and knowledgeable manual therapist, you are in good hands. I keep up with the latest research, techniques, tools, and have almost a decade’s worth of experience working in this field, to be able to get you the results you need and offer suggestions to make desired improvements!
To maximize the benefits of massage therapy, here are proactive steps to take before, during, and after our sessions:
Before the Massage:
- Clearly communicate your goals, preferences, and any specific areas of concern.
- Inform me about any injuries, medical conditions, or recent surgeries.
- Drink plenty of water before your massage to stay hydrated.
- Arrive a few minutes early to complete any necessary paperwork and to relax before the session begins.
During the Massage:
- Focus on deep, slow breaths to help your body relax. This can enhance the effectiveness of the massage.
- Provide feedback during the session to let me know what still needs work, or if everything is going well. If the pressure is too much or too little, don't hesitate to communicate.
- Practice mindfulness and try to stay in the present moment. Pay attention to how your body feels and is responding to the treatment.
After the Massage:
- Drink plenty of water after the massage.
- Allow time for rest and relaxation after the massage. Avoid strenuous activities if possible.
- Stretch daily to help maintain the benefits of the massage.
- If I suggest post-massage recommendations, such as specific stretches or exercises, follow them to support the healing process.
- Consider regular massage sessions as part of your wellness routine. Consistency can lead to cumulative benefits over time. Regular treatments may be more effective than sporadic ones.
- Pay attention to how your body responds to each session. This awareness can help you and your therapist make adjustments as needed. Are you very sore? Are you experiencing improvements in pain and range of motion?
Hydration and Fitness
Read this article found on PubMed on proper hydration and the role that it plays in maintaining a healthy, functioning body: Water, Hydration and Health from NCBI.
Clients who maintain an active lifestyle, along with balanced nutrition and adequate hydration, get the best results from their massage appointments. The pain relief and zen feeling lasts longer when you’re in a parasympathetic state which cannot be achieved when you’re dehydrated. You will also run the risk of getting incredibly sore after a massage from not drinking water to replenish the fluid that is pushed out of the muscles and into the blood stream before being eliminated. Improving blood and lymph circulation via massage helps the body’s tissues to receive adequate nutrition and boosts the body’s natural ability to heal itself.
My favorite fitness podcast is MindPump. It is incredibly useful for learning about fitness, training, and healthy lifestyle habits. Check it out! MindPump Podcast
Here’s an awesome set of mobility stretches: MPMobility (1:16 ninety ninety, 2:34 shoulder dislocates, 3:35 lizard with rotation, 4:35 combat stretch, 5:46 floor wrist extension and flexion)