Massage Therapy

by Chris Lewis, MH, CMT

What are the benefits of therapeutic massage?

Some of the benefits of Massage Therapy (confirmed by research and clinical experience) include:

Opening up blood vessels, improving circulation, and relieving congestion;

Increasing availability of red blood cells, thereby improving oxygenation, and Promoting the removal of toxic wastes;

Relaxing muscle spasms and relieving tension;

Increasing the supply of nutrition to muscles, thereby helping to remove harmful “fatigue by-products” resulting from strenuous exercise or injury;

Improving muscle tone;

Preventing or delaying muscular atrophy which normally results from forced inactivity;

Aiding the return of venous blood to the heart, thus easing the strain of inactivity and decreasing the chances of getting blood clots and varicose veins;

Assisting the lymphatic system to cleanse toxic wastes from the entire body;

Boosting metabolism;

Helping the skin and kidneys to eliminate metabolic wastes and inorganic salts;

Accelerating the healing of bone fractures;

Preventing and getting rid of adhesions (“sticky tissues”) by stretching connective tissues and improving circulation within and around them;

Helping maintain flexibility, and increasing range of motion and joint mobility;

Increasing circulation in joints, thereby bringing increased nutrition and helping to eliminate harmful chemicals and particles;

Reducing edema;

Relieving fluid retention;

Softening and breaking up scar tissue;

Reducing the appearance of cellulite;

Promoting a proper and healthy sense of intimacy in a safe and secure environment;

Promoting a good self image;

Increasing internal awareness by helping the client “feel” his/her body;

Quieting the mind and improving mental clarity;

Improving digestion and elimination;

Teaching the client how to relax more fully;

Helping to correct many causes of chronic pain;

Supporting good emotional and psychological health;

Healing old injuries and emotional trauma;

Helping to prevent injuries from happening in the first place;

Relieving tingling in the arms and legs;

Helping clients to take responsibility for their own health;

Reducing stress, which contributes to most disease conditions;

And improving sleep.

More of the latest research on massage therapy — Touch Research Institute.

Here are some answers to common questions asked about massage:

Q. Will I have to get undressed to receive a massage?

A. There are many different types of massage therapy, but your personal comfort is priority number 1 in all of them. The majority of massages taking place on a massage table (as opposed to a massage chair) do involve the client undressing and getting underneath a sheet which will cover them the entire time, except, of course, for the part of the body that the therapist is actually working on. The therapist will leave the room to give you privacy while you disrobe and get under the sheet on the table.

Although many consider it customary to undress completely, you should feel perfectly free to keep your underwear on if you are more comfortable that way. If you are very modest, you can also discuss other options with your massage therapist like wearing a bathing suit or a pair of shorts and (for the ladies) a sports bra. Never be afraid to tell your therapist if you are uncomfortable with something; your therapist is a professional and is trained to accommodate any special needs, tastes, or requests that you might have.

Also, if you are only having a specific area worked on (your back for example), there is no need to remove the rest of your clothing unless you are more comfortable that way. There are also a few types of massage (e.g., cranio-sacral, sports massage, and most types of energy work, etc.) that take place on a massage table with the client fully clothed.

Seated massage (in a massage chair) is also usually done with the client fully clothed. For these, feel free to remove your shoes, coat, etc. if you wish. If you have any questions about what you should or shouldn’t do, or about any aspect of a massage, by all means ask your therapist, that’s what he/she is there for.

Q. What will be done to respect my privacy?

A. As mentioned above, whatever level of dress you choose, you will be covered (“draped”) with a sheet or towel the entire time except for the part being worked on. Also, no massage therapist will uncover or work on your “private areas” (breasts, genitals, or anus) except for special breast massages that are done by specially trained therapists, usually to treat a specific condition, which require separate consent forms, and are usually done under the supervision of another practitioner like a doctor, but they are NOT a part of any normal every day massage. Also, if there is any area that you aren’t comfortable having touched and would prefer that the therapist stay away from (e.g., some people feel this way about their buttocks, abdomen, or chest), be sure to tell your therapist before the session begins, along with any other requests or preferences you might have. It’s YOUR massage, so feel free to communicate anything you want to your therapist.

Q. Is my massage session confidential?

A. Yes. Your therapist will not tell anyone about anything that goes on when you come to see him/her or even identify you to others as a massage client. This is not only good professional ethics, it’s also the law. The only way your therapist is permitted to divulge any information about you or your case to anyone else (barring a search warrant/court order) is if you give him/her written permission to do so.

Also, the records that your therapist keeps on your case are considered YOUR medical records just like the ones your doctor keeps and you have the right to see them any time you wish. If you like, you can also ask your therapist to go over them with you and explain anything you don’t understand. You also have the same rights where your doctor is concerned – if you want to see the records he keeps on you, he is required to show them to you.

Q. What should I do during and after a massage?

A. During your session, you should do whatever feels most natural and comfortable to you. Many people just close their eyes and relax, some prefer to talk – if your therapist needs you to do anything (e.g., move an arm or leg or turn over on the table) he/she will let you know what to do. Most of the time though, it’s best to just relax and let the therapist work; there is no need to “help” him by holding your arm / leg up, etc. In fact, doing so won’t allow you to completely relax, so it’s better to just relax and let your therapist “move” your limbs around as needed.

Massage is profoundly relaxing and soothing, so after your session, take your time getting up, take a few deep breaths, and take a moment to get your bearings. There’s no rush. Also, as you are driving home, be aware that you are much more relaxed than usual and if you need to take a moment to regain your alertness, by all means do so.

Also, your therapist certainly won’t mind a brief chat before you leave or while you are settling your bill, but do remember that they probably have another client coming in after you, so this isn’t the time to recount every detail of your last vacation or tell them all about your annoying co-worker. The best thing to do is to save that for your next appointment when you can have a more comfortable and relaxed conversation during your massage. Your therapist is there to help, but they need to be there for their next client too.

Q. How long does a massage last?

A. Usually an hour, but many therapists also offer 90 minute and 30 minute massages, just be aware that less time means less work. Be sure to let your therapist know when you schedule the appointment if you want anything different from the usual 60 minutes.

Q. Will my insurance cover massage?

A. Many insurance companies are now covering massage treatments, usually under specific circumstances like treating a particular injury or illness. If you have any questions about whether your insurance company will cover massage treatments for you, ask them. Also, some massage therapists will take insurance and some won’t. Ask your therapist about this possibility. If you need to find a therapist in your area who accepts insurance, try calling a local school of massage therapy (look in the phone book) or a massage association like ABMP (Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals). They should be able to give you a referral.

Q. Is there anything I can do on my own, between sessions to make my massage treatment more effective?

A. Yes. There are many things you can do to help your natural healing process along.

Apple cider vinegar fomentations are recommended by many massage therapists to speed the healing of bruises and sore/strained muscles. (See my Free E-book for instructions on making fomentations.)

Dr. Christopher’s B,F,&C formula (also called “Complete Tissue and Bone” formula) either in ointment or fomentation is extremely helpful in regenerating all kinds of soft and hard tissues. I like to use it on all kinds of injuries and with many chronic conditions as well. You can get this formula from “The Herb Shop.“

Do some self massage - I know you’re not a trained massage therapist, but so what if you can’t do anything fancy, just grab a-hold of the sore body part and give it a few good squeezes, kneed it like a lump of bread dough. Just don’t work directly on top of an open sore, bone fracture, or anywhere you suspect a blood clot – in other words use your common sense and sensitivity and you’ll do fine. This may not be anything like an actual massage therapist (if it were, a lot of therapists would probably be out of work), but it can certainly help you last until you can get to one.

Hot and Cold Packs - A bag of ice (or frozen peas, or whatever you have on hand) placed on an area works wonders to take down swelling, inflammation, and pain, and is extremely beneficial for anything that’s just been injured (but not if the injury was from frost bite and it really helps to decrease “next-day” muscle soreness when applied to a muscle for a few minutes right after a work out.

A hot water bottle (better than an electric heating pad) can be used anytime you want to soothe and relax something, particularly a sore or strained muscle, joint pain, etc. If there is inflammation in an area, though, use ice first to relieve the inflammation before applying heat.

It is also beneficial to alternate hot and cold applications every few minutes on the same area. This is very powerful in stimulating circulation. A general rule is 12 minutes of hot and 4 minutes of cold, but adjust these times according to what feels best to you. If either application becomes uncomfortable, that is you body’s way of asking you to switch to the other one. Doing 30 minutes or more of this each evening is one of the fastest ways I know of to heal an injury; and if you rub on some “Complete Tissue and Bone” formula before doing the Hot&Cold treatment, you’ll double or maybe triple it’s power.

Chiropractic - What massage does for muscles, chiropractic adjustments do for bones. It is vitally important to good health to keep all your joints (particularly those in your spine) in good alignment. It is generally a good idea to get both massage and chiropractic adjustments after an accident or injury or if you have some types of chronic joint related pain, as muscle tension can pull bones out of alignment and vertebrae out of alignment can effect circulation in and around muscles, causing them to tense up, a vicious cycle that can be broken much more quickly by addressing it from both angles.

I’ve also noticed that the more I exercise, (especially exercises that work up a sweat and get me breathing hard) the less often I need to visit my chiropractor! Just use your common sense and start with the amount of exercise you’re used to and work up gradually, so as not to overdo it.

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