At the end of your treatment, have you ever wondered what to do next? "When should I book again?" is a very common question I am asked when my clients come out of the treatment room. With many conditions, it is uncommon for them to completely disappear with a single treatment. Part of my job is to help formulate a treatment plan that will help reduce your symptoms in a way that works for you. I am going to break down my general guide to your treatment frequency.
Stage 1: Therapy
After an injury, the soft tissues will be damaged. There could be inflammation/swelling, muscle tension/weakness and/or hyper irritable spots (trigger points). Not to mention the stress from the pain and discomfort from the injury and restrictions on your daily living. Treatments have a shorter frequency depending on what's going on. The can be anywhere from a few treatments per week to one every 2 weeks. Because of the short frequency between treatments, I may recommend a shorter duration (30-45 minutes) to do a more specific treatment to keep get the tissues under control while keeping you on track with your budget.
Stage 2: Maintenance
Once the soft tissues have calmed down, it is important to make sure that your symptoms don't return. By helping to manage your stress and keeping the tension at bay, a maintenance massage will help prevent discomfort from injuries from returning, allowing your body to function properly. They are usually less frequent - I usually suggest between 4-6 weeks between visits and are usually longer appointments (1 hour being the most common).
Stage 3: Wellness
If you are under care from other health professionals, and taking care of yourself, your body will be in great shape. Massage therapy is usually for stress management and general tissue health. Keeping the soft tissues loose and your stress levels low, your body will be in optimal condition. The frequency can be anywhere between 4-8 weeks, or on an as-needed basis.
Referral:
With certain conditions, massage therapy might not be the best form of care for you. By reviewing your condition through the interview and assessment, we discuss possible causes and solutions to your symptoms. Sometimes massage can either be harmful or not effective. In that situation, either postponing your treatment or referring you to another health care provider will help you heal faster.
Communication:
I'm a firm believer that communication is an ESSENTIAL part of your treatment. That includes your treatment frequency. After your massage, we go over what we found and come up with a plan that will work best for you. Sometimes what I suggest may not work for you (scheduling conflicts, budget, etc). By having an open discussion about when to book you back in, we can reserve a spot that works for you.
There you have it! Now you know how I come up with my suggestions for you care!
I hope you have a great day, and I will see you soon :)
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