Frequently Asked Questions about Massage

It is not uncommon for people to have questions about massage therapy, even if it’s something they have received before. We are always happy to answer any question you may have, but here are a few we hear often.

Q: Do I need to be an athlete to receive services?
A:  Absolutely not. We serve a wide variety of clients of all ages and from all walks of life. We simply cater to the athletic minded and hardworking individuals.
 
Q: Can I receive a relaxation massage?
A: Of course. While all our therapists are expertly trained in additional modalities, we were all “brought up” on the Swedish relaxation massage as the foundation of bodywork.  We all enjoy the day to day challenge of figuring out how to help individuals on a deeper level and, “I just want to relax!”, can be just as important!
 
Q: What should I wear or not wear during my massage?
A: In the automated confirmation emails we send out, we suggest you bring shorts and a tank top or sports bra. This is not required, but can be useful if your sessions will include a lot of stretching or movement. Many clients will either fully undress or leave on their underwear or shorts. Our massage therapists are well versed in working with and modestly draping clients in any state of dress or undress, though. Even if you are undressed, many therapists can and will still employ certain stretching techniques and just manipulate the sheet(s) in such a way to keep you well covered. 
Ultimately, our primary concern is your comfort level. Even if you want to stay fully dressed, you may do so, although it may alter the flow of the massage or change which techniques a therapist can and cannot use.

Q: How will I know which Massage Therapist is best for me?
A: We understand that everyone has approaches that do and don’t work for them.  “Every-body” is different, we like to say.  Visit our About Us section of the website.  It provides detailed information about our specialists’ background and specialties.  If you are still not sure, try someone out. We are all flexible in our approach, so if what you are receiving is not what you are looking for, say something!  None of us will be offended; we are here to serve YOU!

Q: How often should I receive massage?
A: This all depends on your activity level and whether you are treating an acute condition or are just looking for preventative maintenance. 

• For the average individual who works a mild to moderately physically demanding or stressful job, we would recommend once per month to every 6 weeks.
  
• For people who are active, hardworking, high stressed, off-season athletes, looking for treatment of mild mental/emotional or physical dysfunction, we would recommend every 2 weeks.
  
• For people who are extremely active, overworked, in-season or over-training athletes, actively treating acute mental/emotional or physical dysfunctions, or recovering from injury, we would recommend once a week.
  

The key to getting the most out of massage is regularity. We recommend scheduling out several sessions in advance or talking to your Massage Therapist about creating a standing appointment time and day. 

Q: How or why does massage work?
A: Massage is a modality of health care that has been used for thousands of years. It’s an instinct for us to rub an area that hurts to create relief, but very few of us really know why it works. Here are just a few of the effects of massage therapy:

• Pain relief - Studies have shown that massage can reduce pain in the soft tissue from stressors, such as overtraining or poor posture. This is done by distracting the nervous system’s pain impulse cycle with touch, improving micro-circulation, and reducing inflammation in the tissue.
  
• Increasing flexibility and range of motion - Massage is also frequently proved to increase range of motion and softness in tissue.  This change can last for several days or longer with frequent use.  This relieves the pull on the connecting points for muscles, tendons, and ligaments, thus reducing pain and improving mobility. 
  
• Treating musculoskeletal dysfunction - Often when the muscles and other tissues get dehydrated and become tough and rigid it can form knots or adhesions in specific areas.  This can also be caused by overactive nerve bundles, overuse, overtraining, or poor posture. If left untreated these knots can go from hard “Hypertonic” tissue, to painful tender points. If left further untreated they can even become what are called Trigger Points, causing pain in a widespread area or referred pain into the limbs. Sometimes Carpal Tunnel or Migraine like symptoms can be the result of these trigger points. Trigger Points can often be treated in as little as 5 minutes once located, but frequently come back if the underlying issues are not corrected.
  
• Correcting posture - We are all guilty in some way of poor posture, whether in general or doing specific activities of our daily life. One thing massage can do is create relief in the muscles that have become shortened from chronic overuse and poor posture. From there, the weakened over stretched muscles associated with the poor posture can be strengthened to help start to correct the posture.  For example, people who sit at a desk all day may find that they start to develop a hunched posture with their shoulders rounded forward. We can provide massage to open the chest, unlock the shoulder blades, and reduce the tension into the neck. From there they can work on strengthening the upper back and shoulders. With time, this will help pull the shoulders back into a position that is much more natural for the body.
  
• Improved body awareness - The concept of knowing where parts of your body are in space in relation to things around you and the rest of your body is called proprioception. Sometimes when we have had a poor posture or a limp for a long time, it becomes “normal” to our brains.  Breaking that pattern with conscious awareness of the changes occurring with massage can help to reboot those poor patterns and create a new awareness of when things start to get out of whack, and what feels better in our bodies - allowing you to get ahead of dysfunction in the tissues and prevent further problems.
  
• Improved mental focus - Several studies done in the workplace with massage have shown improvements in focus and productivity. This can also transfer into the world of sports. Any athlete will tell you that 90% of any sport is mental. If frequent massage can improve focus in the workplace, that may lead to quicker reaction times and better object tracking in sports.
  
• Reducing stress - This is kind of a blanket term in the case of massage. We are reducing stress in the tissue and in the mind. A good massage can make you forget about that deadline or upcoming performance for a while and bring you back to focus with fresh eyes.
  
• Enhancing moods - Massage feels good! It literally triggers the body to produce more mood enhancing hormones. So, it makes you happy!
  
• Improved quality of life - Imagine how much better life would be with regular massage! Less stress, less pain, more focus, and improved moods. Why not get regular massage!?
  

Q: Are there any side effects to massage?
As with any health care option there are some side effects. The most frequently reported side effect is soreness after the massage, sometimes into the next day. This can often be described like the soreness you get after a good workout. It is usually mild, but some people can get it worse than others. It usually depends on the massage modality used, but this is often followed by several days of relief! Other side effects may include: short period of dizziness or fogginess immediately after the massage, an acute awareness of pain or tension in areas of the body not treated during the massage, flushing or mild bruising in the tissue, and in very rare cases, an increase in pain of the dysfunctional area. 
During the massage we use oils and/or creams to create better glide on the skin, in some cases these products can contain allergens like soy, nuts, or fragrances, although we try to only use low or no allergen products. Regardless, please let your therapist know ahead of time if you have any allergies or sensitivities.

If you have other questions that weren’t answered here, don’t hesitate to ask! You call call the office at 269-373-1000, email us at contact@kzooathleticwellness.com or simply ask in person before, during, or after your massage. View our full FAQ list here.