Frequently Asked Questions
Q. I have never had a massage or any body work before. Do I have to undress?
A. When having a massage of any type only the area being worked on is uncovered with the rest of your body remaining covered by either towels, a sheet or a blanket.
Your level of comfort is what guides your level of modesty at all times. You should never feel uncomfortable at any time and if so tell your Therapist immediately. If they do not take appropriate action then stop the proceedings immediately. Ensure the therapist is trained and registered with Massage New Zealand and hence will follow MNZ ethics and protocol . Get a registered therapist from the www.massagenewzealand.org.nz website.
With Craniosacral Therapy you will remain dressed. When having a massage, Craniosacral Therapy can be combined, so you would be undressed and draped to your comfort level already.
Q. Why is a client history taken on a first Massage/Craniosacral treatment?
A. The Importance of taking a Client History and Assessment: Client history includes finding out about you and the history of your ailment, aggravating factors (what makes it worse), previous diagnosis and treatment, and effectiveness of any previous treatment. It also builds up information about your general health, since there are a number of conditions which can contribute to muscular problems; a previous whiplash injury, for example, could lead to headaches or dizziness.
A client history ensures that the massage therapist’s assessment of the condition they are treating, as well as the treatment they give, is accurately recorded for future reference if necessary. Since the treatment you receive is likely to continue over a period of time, and may involve more than one visit, the therapist can monitor your progress and vary the treatment if necessary to ensure you receive the optimum benefit.
A client history includes an initial assessment of your condition: this enables the therapist to use the appropriate techniques to help relieve any discomfort that you may be experiencing. If you have any serious health issues, these should be disclosed during the assessment; the therapist can then determine if it is appropriate for you to have massage at that time or whether your condition is contraindicated for massage.
Your massage therapist is aware of their limitations, and is required to work within their scope of practice. Taking a client history when you first arrive will allow them to talk through all your needs to establish if it would be in your best interest to be referred to another health professional, or whether having complementary treatment (eg. using acupuncture, chiropractic, osteopathy or physiotherapy) is going to be beneficial to you. Taking the time to sit down to discuss what is causing you discomfort gives you time to become comfortable with the therapist, especially if you are new to massage therapy; it is the first step in building a rapport and trust between you both.
Q. When should I ask my doctor before receiving a massage?
A. The following conditions should be checked out with your doctor before getting a massage:
• Severe back pain, especially if pain is keeping you awake at night.
• A high fever or the symptoms of a cold or flu.
• Blood clots
• Cancer
• Skin conditions such as burns, cold sores, bruises, open wounds or swollen areas. You should not have a massage in those areas.
• Pregnancy, especially during the first trimester (massage is not advised during the 10 to 12 week period).
• Osteoporosis.
• High blood pressure.
• Allergies (especially to nuts, as many therapists use sweet almond oil).
• Varicose veins.
• Lymph node removal.
If you have any concerns about any existing conditions, you should always check with your healthcare provider to see if massage is an appropriate treatment for you.
Q. Can I combine massage with other treatments?
A. Massage works well with physiotherapy, chiropractic and osteopathy. It can also be used in conjunction with acupuncture. You should inform the massage therapist and any other healthcare professional of the treatment you are undergoing to ensure the treatments complement each other. It is possible for you to become over treated. For safety a general rule of thimb is to have at least 2 days between treatments.
Q. Is there anything I need to be aware of after my massage?
A. You may feel some discomfort after a deep tissue massage. Any tenderness should only last up to 2/3 days and should not be painful to move and work. You may have tenderness only when touching the area that has been worked.
If you have any discomfort please tell your Therapist as this is important information. She will then know more about your condition and your pain threshold levels. Everyone is different and so can have different responses to Deep Tissue work.
Q. Is there anything I should do before and after a massage?
A. Drink plenty of water (not coffee, tea or soft drinks) both before and after a treatment. Being hydrated normalises the human body and helps it clean itself on the inside! After a massage your body needs extra water to help flush toxins out. Your kidneys will love you for it! Being hydrated also reduces pain levels.
A. When having a massage of any type only the area being worked on is uncovered with the rest of your body remaining covered by either towels, a sheet or a blanket.
Your level of comfort is what guides your level of modesty at all times. You should never feel uncomfortable at any time and if so tell your Therapist immediately. If they do not take appropriate action then stop the proceedings immediately. Ensure the therapist is trained and registered with Massage New Zealand and hence will follow MNZ ethics and protocol . Get a registered therapist from the www.massagenewzealand.org.nz website.
With Craniosacral Therapy you will remain dressed. When having a massage, Craniosacral Therapy can be combined, so you would be undressed and draped to your comfort level already.
Q. Why is a client history taken on a first Massage/Craniosacral treatment?
A. The Importance of taking a Client History and Assessment: Client history includes finding out about you and the history of your ailment, aggravating factors (what makes it worse), previous diagnosis and treatment, and effectiveness of any previous treatment. It also builds up information about your general health, since there are a number of conditions which can contribute to muscular problems; a previous whiplash injury, for example, could lead to headaches or dizziness.
A client history ensures that the massage therapist’s assessment of the condition they are treating, as well as the treatment they give, is accurately recorded for future reference if necessary. Since the treatment you receive is likely to continue over a period of time, and may involve more than one visit, the therapist can monitor your progress and vary the treatment if necessary to ensure you receive the optimum benefit.
A client history includes an initial assessment of your condition: this enables the therapist to use the appropriate techniques to help relieve any discomfort that you may be experiencing. If you have any serious health issues, these should be disclosed during the assessment; the therapist can then determine if it is appropriate for you to have massage at that time or whether your condition is contraindicated for massage.
Your massage therapist is aware of their limitations, and is required to work within their scope of practice. Taking a client history when you first arrive will allow them to talk through all your needs to establish if it would be in your best interest to be referred to another health professional, or whether having complementary treatment (eg. using acupuncture, chiropractic, osteopathy or physiotherapy) is going to be beneficial to you. Taking the time to sit down to discuss what is causing you discomfort gives you time to become comfortable with the therapist, especially if you are new to massage therapy; it is the first step in building a rapport and trust between you both.
Q. When should I ask my doctor before receiving a massage?
A. The following conditions should be checked out with your doctor before getting a massage:
• Severe back pain, especially if pain is keeping you awake at night.
• A high fever or the symptoms of a cold or flu.
• Blood clots
• Cancer
• Skin conditions such as burns, cold sores, bruises, open wounds or swollen areas. You should not have a massage in those areas.
• Pregnancy, especially during the first trimester (massage is not advised during the 10 to 12 week period).
• Osteoporosis.
• High blood pressure.
• Allergies (especially to nuts, as many therapists use sweet almond oil).
• Varicose veins.
• Lymph node removal.
If you have any concerns about any existing conditions, you should always check with your healthcare provider to see if massage is an appropriate treatment for you.
Q. Can I combine massage with other treatments?
A. Massage works well with physiotherapy, chiropractic and osteopathy. It can also be used in conjunction with acupuncture. You should inform the massage therapist and any other healthcare professional of the treatment you are undergoing to ensure the treatments complement each other. It is possible for you to become over treated. For safety a general rule of thimb is to have at least 2 days between treatments.
Q. Is there anything I need to be aware of after my massage?
A. You may feel some discomfort after a deep tissue massage. Any tenderness should only last up to 2/3 days and should not be painful to move and work. You may have tenderness only when touching the area that has been worked.
If you have any discomfort please tell your Therapist as this is important information. She will then know more about your condition and your pain threshold levels. Everyone is different and so can have different responses to Deep Tissue work.
Q. Is there anything I should do before and after a massage?
A. Drink plenty of water (not coffee, tea or soft drinks) both before and after a treatment. Being hydrated normalises the human body and helps it clean itself on the inside! After a massage your body needs extra water to help flush toxins out. Your kidneys will love you for it! Being hydrated also reduces pain levels.
