1. Q: Why do therapists always say to drink a lot of water on the day of your massage?

A: It is generally considered healthy to drink water. 70% of your body is composed of water, and dehydration is common amongst the general population. When you get massage, toxins are released from your tissues and it is good to increase water consumption to flush these released toxins out of your system.

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2. Q: What does massage do?

A: As we age our muscles, ligaments, and tendons become tough and less flexible. Neglect, trauma, and poor nutrition all contribute to this phenomenon and massage, by increasing circulation and lymph drainage, helps our bodies to function more normally. Massage also breaks up scar tissue and adhesions which allows muscles and tendons to move freely in the body. This freedom of movement is required for normal function.

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3. Q: Why do I sometimes feel sore after getting massage?

A: For most of us, massage feels good while it is being performed and after it is over. However, for some of us, if our bodies are very toxic and have been neglected for long periods of time, massage can cause muscle soreness. If your muscles have been deprived of proper circulation for an extended period of time waste products of cellular metabolism build up causing irritation to the muscles and other soft tissues of the body. This in turn can cause muscles to spasm (tighten up) which causes pain and soreness. This is usually a temporary situation and will resolve itself in a day or so. Pain that persists longer can indicate other problems which might require investigation.

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4. Q: What are the benefits of massage?

A: Massage causes increased circulation, increased lymphatic drainage (this supports your body's immune system), increased range of motion, relaxation, lower blood pressure, reduction in swollen tissues, and stress reduction to name just a few of the benefits.

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5. Q: What is the "snapping" sensation or "popping" feeling that I sometimes get when the massage therapist is working on my muscles?

A: The snapping sensation is caused by a build up of fibrous tissue in the muscles (like gristle in meat) which when worked by the therapist can give the sensation of a snapping under the tissues. This is abnormal tissue, caused by reduced circulation and should resolve with treatment. The popping sound are smaller, thread-like fibrous adhesions which when they are released cause that sound/sensation.

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6. Q: Why if the massage therapist works on one area of my body can I experience pain in another part of my body?

A: The phenomenon of pain felt away from the site of massage is called referred pain. This may be caused by nerve entrapment, or a myofascial trigger point (build up of toxins in the tissues causing a painful area which refers pain to a non-related area).

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7. Q: Is massage safe for everyone?

A: Massage is generally safe for everyone, however there are exceptions.

1st Trimester Pregnancy – If you are in your first trimester of pregnancy you should not have a full body massage. After the first trimester is over, it is generally accepted.

If you are on pain medication sometimes you will not be able to differentiate between acceptable pressure and pressure that is too hard or that could be damaging to your tissues.

If you are diabetic with impaired circulation.

If you have a bad infection.

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