Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to questions I often get about massage treatments, assessments, and your first visit.
How old does a person need to be to receive a massage?
Massage is effective at any age. From newborn to 99+. Under the age of 16, a parent or custodian must sign the Health History Form for consent to treatment.
Do I need to arrive early for my first massage?
Yes. It is recommended to arrive 10-15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment to fill out a Personal Health History form. Arriving early ensures that your appointment time is not used up for paperwork.
What should I expect on my first visit?
For your first session, I will be talking to you about your health history. Ask a series of questions related to your form and an assessment is performed.
If the client chooses to have a massage lying down on a massage table, they will be covered and draped with sheets and a blanket. Only the body part to be worked on will be uncovered. Clients will consent on what areas of the body to have worked on or not.
During your massage session, massage oil, or no oil at all will be used depending on the type of treatment. If you have any allergies to oil or sensitive skin, please talk to me prior to your treatment and I will make necessary alternatives if needed.
As you are relaxing on the table, don’t feel the need to talk. No talking tends to relax your mind and muscles. I will encourage clients to inform me if anything makes them uncomfortable either physically or psychologically.
After the massage, I ask you how you are feeling and if the massage was comfortable for you. I will advise you on what my observations and assessments were, providing stretches and or strengthening exercises to help you achieve your outcome goals.
As a follow up treatment may be recommended, I will continue to take a few minutes to ask some questions and provide an assessment if needed prior to your treatment to ensure a safe and comfortable treatment.
What is an assessment?
An assessment is gathering information about you and your condition(s). It is by law that I collect this information so I am able to provide a safe and effective treatment. All information given is kept confidential.
How long is an assessment?
An assessment can vary in time depending on the condition that is being assessed. If you have more than one area of concern, I may just address one specific area first usually the most problematic and then address the other areas on a next visit. The Assessment may take up to 10-15 minutes.
During the assessment, I will ask you questions about your current condition(s) and based on that information I may ask you to perform a series of tests. Tests will include looking at your posture, active and passive range of motions and possible strength tests. This information will inform me what movements you can and cannot do, and determine what muscles, ligaments, tendons, fascia, joints are involved. Special tests may be performed to rule out or confirm what I believe the problem is. I will provide my observations and propose a treatment plan that is best suited for your recovery. Feel free to ask any questions pertaining to your treatment. You can accept this plan or make changes to the treatment if needed.
Is the assessment part of my treatment?
Yes, to make certain you are treated safely. It is included in the time you have booked for a massage. I recommend the 60 minute session for new clients, so they can still have a reasonable amount of time for a massage.
How much clothing do I remove?
It is always important to feel comfortable when you are having a massage. I will explain and suggest what clothing should be removed but the decision is up to you.
You do have options. If you are not comfortable removing clothing, I would suggest a seated chair massage. This is where no clothing is removed and you are sitting upright in a professional massage chair. If you do want to lie down, remove clothing that you are comfortable removing. When you are lying down you will be fully covered with a sheet and blanket. Only the area of your body being worked on will be uncovered. You will have complete privacy when changing.
What regions of my body get massaged?
During the Assessment, I will suggest and explain what body areas I would recommend for you to be massaged. Feel free to add other areas if not mentioned. I will need your consent to proceed. You have to right to refuse any body region that makes you feel uncomfortable. At any time during the massage if you feel uncomfortable you have the right to refuse, change or alter the treatment.
How many treatments will I need?
After your massage If needing further treatments, I will suggest when you should return for treatment, the duration of time and possibly how many treatments you may need. I will explain in further details why this treatment plan is recommended for your condition. If you are in pain for example, it is recommended to have a few treatments close together to help relieve your symptoms. As the pain lessens the treatments can be further apart. When you have reached your goals, a preventative maintenance will be suggested. This could be any time frame from once a month to every six to eight weeks.
What about insurance and massage therapy coverage?
My spouse ran out of extended health care benefits through his/her company. Can you write a receipt in my name instead, so I can submit it to the insurance company?
No. I can only write a receipt out to the person who had the massage treatment. My signature means that I have treated this person on this date, time and the fee for the session. Writing someone’s else’s name is fraud.