You may have noticed that when you come in for your massage, even after you explain why you came in that day, I ask questions,. Sometimes it’s just a couple and other times quite a few. You are ready to get started with your massage but here I am asking you questions. It’s not because I’m nosy or curious (although I do have a lot of curiosity). It’s because I want to take care of what is bothering you.
If nothing is out of the ordinary for you then there won’t be many questions. Massage is a great part of getting and keeping you feeling well.
If you come in with pain then I’ll start asking until I am have a good idea of what the problem may be and how to treat it properly so you get some relief.
Let’s say you mention that your back hurts and thought a massage would help. Your back is a complex structure with many muscles involved that attach to other parts of your body including your hip, neck, and shoulder. I’ll want to know what part of your back hurts (upper, middle, lower?). Did you do something to it that caused it to hurt (exercise, yard work, taking care of your kids?). Does it hurt all the time or do certain movements cause it to hurt? Do you have sharp pains or a dull ache? Do you have a condition that you are living with that this is related to?
You may be feeling pain in your back, but the source may be elsewhere. Since the body is so intricately connected, another area may be the real problem. Let’s say your knee has been sore. That will make you walk, stand, and sit differently to compensate for the pain. That will affect your hip, which may affect your back. I could work on your back and help it to feel better, but if the main problem is not addressed, the pain will return.
There are other questions also, but my point is that I need to know the best way to help. If your lower back hurts and I spend most of the time on your upper back, you won’t get much relief and will not be satisfied with my service.
Finally there may be an issue that would make massage a bad idea. In some situations, massage should not be performed because it may make things worse or lead to more problems. I do not want to do any harm, so I need all of the related information.
I want to make sure you get what you came in for so you walk out feeling great. A few questions can make a big difference in the results you feel. As always, if you have questions any time, please ask.
Barry is a licensed Massage Therapist at Main Street Massage in Hudson, Ohio. Find out more about him, his business, and massage at www.HudsonMassageTherapy.com
I think it’s so important for the massage therapist to ask questions. It makes the massage experience that much more beneficial. Sometimes the client doesn’t know exactly what the issue is, so when the massage therapist asks questions, it helps to make the massage session much more effective.
True Renee. Sometimes by asking a question a new piece of the puzzle reveals itself. There a times that a minor change to the way a person does things can have a big impact on how they feel.
I think it’s a great idea to ask your clients these questions. I’m always on the receiving end of the massages so I love that my massage therapist ask me these questions because it lets me know that she cares about making me feel good.
She works on my problems areas if I have any and if not she just gives me a good-all-over-body massage and I love it. Massages are so beneficial that everyone should try it at least once. Because if they don’t they’re really missing out on some great benefits.
Thanks Michelle. Many massage therapists are very good listeners. If you know somebody is actually listening you can know they care and will work to help you feel better.
this is a great post. every massage should start with a comprehensive question/answer session in my opinion. therapists do not know the issue unless they are told of it. they def know the trigger points and body parts/areas they correlate to, but they first need to understand where the pain or uncomfort occurs before they can assist with the issue. great article.
Thanks Neal. Massage therapists really want the massage to help, so a good understanding of what the real problem is goes a long way towards providing an effective massage.