Many clients ask how often they should book in. The answer, however, is very individualized and doesn’t follow a set formula. That being said, the following are guidelines to help you make an informed decision on how often to schedule treatments.

General Wellness

For general wellness and maintenance it is recommended a person should receive massage therapy once every 3-4 weeks in order to receive the maximum benefits.

Stress Relief

Given the state of the world right now it’s safe to say we could all benefit from some stress relief. Self care has never been more important than it is now and massage therapy is a great place to start! Clinical studies have shown massage therapy helps reduce stress, anxiety and even insomnia by targeting the parasympathetic nervous system (the rest and digest system).

Someone looking to achieve stress relief from massage therapy should aim to get a massage once every 1-2 weeks.

Specific Issues/Chronic Injuries

If you suffer from a chronic nagging injury, several treatments close together to override habitual muscle patterns and get to the root of your problem is the best way to beat the cycle.  Many people don’t know that the effects of regular massage therapy are cumulative, and spreading them out too far apart might leave you back at square one each time you visit your massage therapist. For example receiving a massage twice a week for the first 3-4 weeks to address the underlying issue then decreasing frequency to once a month thereafter for maintenance is a good guideline to follow

A good approach to frequency of massage therapy visits is to not reduce the frequency of your massage until you are getting consistent results.

Management of constant headaches, back and neck aches can all benefit from regular massage therapy. Depending on the severity and frequency of symptoms these conditions may fall under the chronic category or general maintenance and well being.

High Performance Athletes

Regular massage therapy for athletes is essential to aid in reducing the frequency and intensity of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and decrease recovery time allowing you to achieve optimal performance during peak training periods. Depending on your training load, treatment 1-2 times per week is recommended. In the off season athletes can benefit from massage therapy once a month for maintenance.

We understand not everyone has the time or budget to get a massage as often as recommended. Your massage therapist will always work with you to create a schedule and timeline that works for you without any pressure or commitment required.

Written by Kimberly Gardiner, RMT

Still unsure what’s right for you? Contact us today to talk to a professional and find out how we can help you.