How Often Should I See a Massage Therapist?

Massage therapy certainly has its benefits. It can help you relax, provide relief from sore muscles and other health conditions, and even improve athletic performance. Besides, it often just feels good. Who couldn’t go for a massage every now and again?

Actually, depending on your goals, “now and again” may not be often enough. If you really want to maximize the benefits of massage therapy, you may need to visit your practitioner on a fairly regular basis. However, the exact amount of time between appointments depends on the individual and their needs, so it’s best to speak with your practitioner to get their opinion.

That being said, if you’re looking for a more informal idea of how often you should see a massage therapist, we’ve got you covered. Let’s get into some of the general guidelines below.

For Acute Pain or Injury

Did you pull a muscle in your leg while playing with the kids? An acute injury like this may require frequent massages over a short period of time. Try and book a massage appointment as soon as possible after your injury so your therapist can start working on an individualized treatment plan for your recovery. You may only need one or two sessions a week for a few weeks to fully heal from your injury.

However, it’s important to note here that this advice is only for slight to moderate injuries. If you suspect you’ve had a break or tear and are in severe pain, make sure you visit the doctor before your massage therapist.

For Chronic Pain or Injury

If you tend to throw your back out regularly or have terrible posture from sitting at the office all day, then you’re likely experiencing pain on a regular basis. Unfortunately, you probably won’t get relief from this kind of chronic pain or injury in just a few sessions.

Those who are looking for help with sitting-related pain may want to see their massage therapist once or twice a month. Even if you feel significantly better after the first session or two, you may want to keep up with the appointments if you’re going to continue to sit all day. This will help prevent the pain from coming back.

If you have a recurring injury, on the other hand, you should consider following a slightly different schedule. You’ll probably want to visit at least once a week until you no longer have any pain between appointments. From there, you can slowly decrease the frequency of your appointments until you’re only going about once a month. However, if you start experiencing pain between sessions again, then you may want to start going more often.

Final Thoughts

Remember that the above are only guidelines. If you really want to know how often you should go for a massage, the best thing to do is speak with a massage therapist about your needs. If you’re ready to start working with a massage therapist and receive an individualized treatment plan, then click here to book an appointment at cedar + sage today.