Question 1

How many types of massage exist?

Accepted Answer

Dozens of massage styles exist, from every culture of the world. The exact style is not as important as the intention of the massage therapist. Know what results you want (relaxation, pain relief, injury treatment, better posture, etc.) and choose a massage therapist who intends to get those results. Matt offers treatments in Neuromuscular Therapy, Clinical Sports Massage, and Thai M

Question 2

How does a massage feel?

Accepted Answer

Massage on healthy tissue usually feels good. Massage around injured, painful, or tense areas can cause discomfort, but is necessary for relief. Tell your massage therapist how much discomfort you are willing to tolerate. Never let a massage therapist work deeper than you are comfortable with, and continually give feedback in case the work becomes too intense.

Sports Massage or Thai Bodywork may leave you feeling sore for a day or two, after which lasting improvement is usually experienced. Always let your massage therapist know how you felt, so he or she can adjust the next massage as needed. This type of massage does not have to hurt to be effective.

During a massage, you may notice that your muscles are sore, even though you had not noticed soreness before the massage. Here's why: Each cell in your body, including muscle cells, is a tiny factory that takes in nutrition, produces energy, and outputs waste products. Muscles “burn” sugar for energy, and produce many different chemical by-products as part of normal function. If your body and circulatory system are working at peak efficiency, these waste products are flushed out of your body. However, often things aren’t working as well as they could because of stress, tension, too little exercise, too much exercise, medical conditions, or other factors. Then waste products build up in your muscles, irritating the nerves and creating congestion that causes pain on touch. Massage, of course, helps clear out that congestion.

Question 3

Must I remove my clothes?

Accepted Answer

You do not have to do anything that you do not want to do during the course of a bodywork session. Usually, NMT and Clinical Sports massage are done with all clothes removed, and you are covered with a sheet. However, you decide how much you undress, and your massage therapist will work with you. Thai Massage is performed fully clothed on a mat and may be a better choice for many reasons, one of which could be discomfort with getting undressed. Yoga-style clothing is appropriate.

Question 4

Why does a massage therapist ask about my medical history and medications?

Accepted Answer

A responsible massage therapist asks about your medical history (most massage therapists have you fill out an intake form). Although massage has many wonderful benefits, it is not appropriate for people with some medical conditions and sometimes must be used cautiously.

For example, massage is not recommended if you have a condition involving infection (including cold or flu) because massage might help the infection spread through your body. Massage is also generally not recommended for people with advanced heart, kidney, or liver problems. Other conditions that affect circulation, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, require caution, depending on your overall physical condition.

Obviously, you should not receive massage if you have a contagious condition, skin-related or otherwise. If you have a skin rash, know what it is before your massage, because some skin conditions are contagious.

Medications, particularly pain-killers, muscle relaxers, and tranquilizers, dull your perception of pain and pressure. Your massage therapist needs to know your perception may not be accurate to avoid inadvertently using too much pressure.

Information about injuries, traumas, surgeries, and physical activities provide information about where or how you hold tension in your body. Also, specific massage techniques can help the body heal soft-tissue injuries, both old and new. If you have back pain or certain digestive problems, abdominal massage can be helpful, but it is not appropriate for some medical conditions. Your massage therapist needs to know your complete and up-to-date medical picture to provide informed and safe massage. Be assured that all medical information is confidential.

Question 5

What is a trigger point?

Accepted Answer

A trigger point is a tiny area of irritation in a stressed muscle. Trigger points refer pain, weakness, or numbness to either surrounding or distant areas of muscle tissue. The key clue pointing to a trigger point is that applying pressure to a specific point causes you to feel pain or another sensation someplace else. Trigger points, if severe enough, can cause continual or chronic pain, sometimes distant from the site of the trigger point. Trigger points result from trauma, exposure to cold or infection, overuse, misalignment, or chronically contracted muscles.

Question 6

What are the effects of chronic muscle tension?

Accepted Answer

Chronic muscle tension inhibits circulation, which means your muscles (and other tissues) aren’t receiving the nutrition they need and waste products aren’t being taken away. The lack of nutrition and toxic buildup of waste irritate nerve endings, resulting in weakness and pain. This buildup also taxes your immune system.

Chronic muscle tension also inhibits movement. Movement is accomplished by paired groups of muscles alternately contracting and lengthening to move the bones to which the muscles attach. Chronically tense muscles disrupt the symmetry of balanced forces acting on the skeleton, holding bones out of position and causing misalignments. For every chronically tight muscle, its opposite (the antagonist) is chronically stretched and weak. These unbalanced forces also cause ligaments to become strained as they try to brace misaligned joints. All this makes injury more likely, saps strength, and wastes energy.

Question 7

How long do the effects of massage last? How often should I receive massage?

Accepted Answer

The duration of the effects of a massage vary greatly from person to person depending on your physical and mental condition, activities, ability to relax, and ability to heal. If you are receiving massage to help heal injury or to get rid of chronic pain, you usually need to receive weekly massage until you reach that goal.

If you are receiving massage for prevention, health maintenance, or just to feel better, you have more leeway in how often you receive massage. The effects of regular massage are cumulative. A massage every week or two can make a big difference in your overall health and tension levels. Even a monthly massage is beneficial. Make regular massage part of your health maintenance program (along with good nutrition and exercise), and you'll feel better.

Matt Holton, LMT

SPORTS MASSAGE & THAI BODY WORK