How Often Should I Get a Massage?
As many of us know, massages are a great addition to your health and wellness routine. And the health benefits of regular massages have been extensively documented. Massages relieve muscle tension, curb insomnia, and increase flexibility and range of motion. They also reduce both stress and physical pain, lower blood pressure, and boost immunity.
And we’re only scratching the surface.
At Jeromeo, our therapists are often asked by clients how often they should schedule massages for optimal wellbeing. The answer to this question is different for everyone. Factors like your general health, lifestyle, fitness goals, and occupation all contribute to your ideal massage schedule. Below we’ve outlined some massage timeline guidelines for different types of massage clients. Note that these are just recommendations, and you should always consult your provider for a treatment plan that is right for you.
Athletes
Athletes should get regular massages: once a week for serious athletes, and every other week for amateur athletes who still train hard. Regular high intensity workouts, while great for the cardiovascular system, are hard on your muscles and joints. Massage helps reduce the formation of scar tissue and hastens the healing process, both of which are important for athletes as they tone their muscles through repetitive strength training. Massage also improves circulation, which hastens muscle repair and facilitates the flow of oxygen throughout the body.
During Pregnancy
Pregnant people should ideally get massages once every two weeks, and the American Pregnancy Association extensively outlines both the safety and the benefits of regular prenatal massages.
When you’re pregnant, you’ll likely gain weight, which can put stress on your hips, knees, and lower back. A massage can help relieve this pressure. Massages can also reduce other pregnancy aches and pains like sciatica. All this means that you will likely sleep better and move more easily. The increased blood flow that comes with a massage is also a great thing for your growing baby.
Pregnancy is also a time of intense emotions. There is usually excitement, but also uncertainty and even fear. The mental health benefits of massage can make pregnancy feel a little less daunting, and can relieve not just physical symptoms but anxiety as well.
Once you’ve given birth, regular postpartum massages are also a good thing. Not only do they regulate mood, but they also address any back, shoulder, or hip issues that can arise from carrying and/or feeding your newborn. They’re also a great way to get out of the house!
9-5ers, Parents, and Other Stressed Out People
People who work 9-5 jobs (or full-time jobs with other hours), parents of small children, and people who have greater-than-average levels of stress in their lives should book massages once a month.
Even with more of us working from home than ever before, 9-5 jobs are still intense. Hustling to meet demands and deadlines, completing a million little tasks between meetings, these things are stressful and we store this stress in our bodies. We probably don’t need to tell you that stress wreaks havoc on your health. It prevents restful sleep, it can negatively impact your gut health, it can destabilize your mental health, and it’s even been linked to autoimmune diseases.
Massage is a proven stress reliever. It is inherently relaxing and calms the nervous system, reducing symptoms of tension, anxiety, even depression. Massage can also target trigger points, reducing accumulated stress that your body is carrying. According to the Mayo Clinic, regular massages could lower your cortisol levels by 30% and increase your serotonin levels by 28%. Those are some pretty significant numbers!
Speaking of stress, parenting small children is a physical and emotional doozie. Not only do the occasional tantrums, intense attachment, and second guessing of oneself impact mental health, but the act of holding, carrying, and lugging kids and all their stuff can wreak havoc on the neck, back, shoulders, and hips. And as any parent who has had their kid follow them to the bathroom knows, it’s almost impossible to schedule any quiet alone time while parenting small children.
Monthly massages are a boon to parents. They ease the anxiety that comes with parenting, they provide an hour of alone time, and they can ease the physical pain and tension that most parents of small children carry in their bodies. As an added bonus, there are numerous studies that show that parents who take good care of themselves end up taking better care of their families as well.
People with Injuries and/or Chronic Pain
People with injuries and/or chronic pain should schedule an initial session with their massage therapist, who will then assess how often they should schedule future massages.
Massage is great for some injuries, and not so great for others, (like sprains, fractures, and wounds, for example). Clients with soft tissue damage in their backs, necks, or legs are likely to need weekly massages, but clients with other injuries may need more time to recuperate between massages.
Since regular massages reduce pain and calm the nervous system, they are usually a great option for those who suffer from chronic pain. As with injured clients, clients suffering from chronic pain need to be assessed before a massage schedule is set. Your massage therapist will make a recommendation based on their findings from the initial treatment session.
Whether you’re a frequent or occasional massage enthusiast, book your appointment with Jeromeo today. We provide massages in a variety of modalities, and whether you’re an athlete, dealing with an injury, suffering chronic pain, or just want a relaxing and uplifting experience, we cater our results-oriented massages to the specific needs of our clients. We’re also happy to make recommendations on massage regularity, based on your particular lifestyle and fitness goals. We have a number of packages available, and our talented and caring massage therapists love working with our clients to find the massage practices and packages that suit every need and budget.
Has it been too long since your last massage? If so, we’ll see you soon!