What is the best way to briefly describe therapeutic massage?
Therapeutic massages are a personalized treatments combining different massage techniques to treat a wide range of health conditions. The goal of the treatments is to relieve pain, to increase range of motion, and to enhance health. Unlike traditional wellness massages, this involves using techniques that act on the deeper structures of the body, such as the muscles, the tendons, the connective tissue and the associated nerves, blood, and lymph vessels.
How do you know which massage to choose?
All treatments at IsiFlow are tailored to the individual needs, health problems and desires of the patient. Therefore, a short anamnesis (a conversation complemented by some tests) is always carried out prior to the treatment. Your expectations are of course discussed as well. Usually, the treatment will be a combination of various massage-methodes.
How can you best prepare yourself for a massage?
Just try to make sure you don’t come in rushed and/or stressed. By doing this, are more likely to be relaxed when the treatment begins. Furthermore, it would be beneficial if your “to do’s” are out of your mind. Write down what you must not forget so you don’t have to worry about anything during the massage.
How often would you recommend a massage?
That can vary a lot. For example, with neck and back pain or tired legs, I recommend coming once a week for a period of several weeks. In some situations, a longer timeframe is recommended. For relaxation, it is best to come at least once a month. With stress complaints usually once or twice a week. Every person is different and has different needs, but of course time and money also play a role. I have patients who come once a week, but also people who schedule their treatment once a quarter.
What are the biggest benefits of taking a massage regularly?
Touch relaxes making you feel more comfortable in your body. Regularly undergoing massage also increases the body’s immune system. Massage has also a beneficial effect on the autonomic nervous system, hormonal balance and, on top of that, increases the quantity of endorphins in the body. These hormones reduce stress and stimulate the feeling of happiness.
Any form of massage stimulates the body’s self-healing ability and helps maintain a healthy balance between body and mind. Massage helps relieve back and neck pain, injuries, muscle pain, joint pain and improves overall fitness as it stimulates the blood flow to the muscles making your muscles more flexible. You will benefit from the increased mobility long after the massage, especially if you do the recommended exercises at home to maintain this mobility.
Are there possible side effects during or after a massage?
Besides relaxation and relief of symptoms, an improvement of skin health, tissue tension and an improved night’s sleep, less desirable reactions may also occur during or after a massage. For example, you may feel cold or warm, tingling, sleepy or emotions may suddenly arise. It is always good to report these and any other reactions.
After a treatment, negative symptoms may first be experienced as getting stronger before improvement occurs. This is not unusual after, for example, the treatment of muscle complaints. Some patients have less or more appetite after treatment whilst others have more or some have less energy. While one is very decisive, another lazily lounges on the and enjoys the rest of the day in total relaxation.
The massage releases waste products. Therefore, it is possible that you have more stool or different (in color or substance) and/or you need to pee more often. The urine may also be darker. This is not something you need to worry about. In a few days, everything is usually back to normal.
In summary, there are several possible reactions during and after a massage. I therefore always advise to drink well (preferably water) after the massage to let the waste products leave the body quickly. And please be extra kind to yourself: it is sensible and delightful to allow yourself and your body a moment of rest after the massage.
Do your patients react positively to the treatment?
Yes, and fortunately often! There are people who react openly and happily surprised after a treatment, even though they were a bit closed beforehand or even reluctantly entered the practice. Furthermore, reactions like: “Wow, I feel so flexible!’ or ‘This was the best massage I’ve ever had’, I’m so relaxed’, and ‘My calves are a lot less painful’, are wonderful compliments that indicate that with therapeutic massage pain is relieved, freedom of movement is increased, and the general well-being of an individual can be enhanced.