How Often Should I Get a Massage?
You just got home from a long day at work or finished handling your energetic children all day and feel your muscles screaming for relief. Maybe you returned from playing your favorite sport and noticed you couldn’t move as freely as you used to. You have no clue when the last time you stretched or got a massage was. Could it be you’re overdue for one? If so, how often should you get a massage?
The simplest answer to the question is, whenever you feel like you need one, but if you want more details, read on.
How often you should get a massage depends on different factors. This includes your physical and emotional needs, stress levels, and your budget. However, one thing rings true. You will gain the most health benefits from massage when you get them done regularly.
Getting regular massages can help relieve chronic pain, reduce the effects of stress, lower blood pressure, speed recovery from injuries, and optimize an athlete’s game.
Even the healthiest individuals can benefit by calming their central nervous system, increasing blood & lymphatic circulation, loosening tight muscles, releasing toxins from the tissues for elimination, boosting immunity, and helping with pain management in conditions such as arthritis, sciatica, muscle spasms.
If you’re just looking to enhance your health or seeking occasional relief from stress and strain, a massage once or twice a month will probably be enough. However, if you work in a high stress environment, are an athlete that constantly taxes their body, or someone that experiences chronic pain due to a condition, then weekly sessions would benefit you. Going too long between massages will only leave you back where you began, a knotted up mess.
Sure, getting a massage every so often may be relaxing, but it won’t be able to undo months or years of muscle tension overnight. Don’t expect an annual massage to magically fix your issues. Just like with anything else in your life, massage therapy must be consistent.
If you’re an athlete, getting regular massages will enhance your performance and reduce the risk of injury by maintaining your muscle health and flexibility. Did you know many professional teams have massage therapists on staff for those very reasons?
For the average athletic individual, it really depends on your training and whether or not you experience chronic muscle issues. One or two massages a month may be enough during lighter training periods. After all, you can always increase frequency as your training or muscle aches intensify.
Getting regular massages are great for pain management.
Overly contracted muscles often cause chronic pain such as migraines, neck aches and backaches. Generally, getting weekly massages are recommend, but in the end, it depends on how you feel.
Many people discover that they need frequent massages after they’ve neglected their bodies. Eventually, they are able to decrease frequency as their bodies and muscles begin to feel better. Some massage therapists may even suggest stretches you can do at home to help between sessions.
Massage is often recommended after injury or surgery because it can help. It can help reduce pain, inhibit swelling, break up scar tissue, and hasten the healing process by increasing the flow of blood and oxygen.
The most common reason why people refrain from routine massage is usually the cost. However, in most cases, you get what you pay for. Always look for a state or nationally certified therapist because many bargain massages with a poorly trained therapist will be a waste of money as they won’t alleviate your pain or even worse, could result in injury.
Invest in your health. It’s well worth it and the benefits you receive may very well save you from more costly medical expenses in the future.
New to the Hermosa Beach area or simply looking for a new massage therapist to help iron out your kinks? Let me help you! If you are located in the South Bay, live near it, or visiting from out of town, I would be happy to provide you with the massage you need.
