How Many Times a Week Should You Get Massage Therapy?

A common question we hear at Ascent Chiropractic, is “How often should I get a massage?” The answer, while seemingly straightforward, is actually nuanced and varies from person to person. In this article, we will delve into the factors that influence the frequency of massage therapy sessions, ensuring that you can make an informed decision about what works best for your body and lifestyle.

Massage therapy is not just a luxurious treat; it’s a versatile tool for promoting physical and mental well-being. Whether you’re seeking relief from chronic pain, looking to reduce stress, or aiming to improve athletic performance, understanding the right frequency of massage therapy is crucial for maximizing its benefits.

By the end of this article, you’ll have a clearer picture of how often you should schedule your massage therapy sessions to achieve optimal health and wellness. Let’s embark on this journey to discover the ideal massage therapy routine for you.

If you’re interested in Massage Therapy Burien then reach out to our expert team at Ascent Chiropractic.

Benefits of Massage Therapy

Here are some common benefits of massage therapy:

• Relaxes the mind and body: One of the primary goals of massage therapy is to promote relaxation. During a massage, your body releases happy or feel-good hormones such as endorphins and serotonin. These hormones promote relaxation, helping reduce stress and anxiety.
• Pain Relief: Many people recovering from injuries and those with health conditions that cause chronic pain use massage therapy for pain management. Massage therapy helps reduce pain by improving blood circulation (so more nutrients and oxygen can reach the affected area), reducing muscle tension and stiffness, decreasing inflammation, reducing stress, and stimulating the release of endorphins.
• Injury rehabilitation: Whether you twisted or overworked your muscles while lifting a heavy object or sustained a sports injury, massage therapy can help speed up recovery by restoring the body’s innate ability to heal itself. It can also increase your range of motion and balance, helping reduce your risk for future injuries.
• Stress reduction: Stress is a silent killer. It can increase one’s risk of diabetes, depression, heart disease, and other conditions. Studies show that massage therapy can stimulate the body to produce more feel-good hormones while reducing stress hormone levels to promote relaxation.
• Strengthens the immune system: Some studies suggest that massage may boost the immune system by stimulating the lymphatic system.
• Improves sleep quality: While you sleep, your brain and body work in unison to repair damaged muscles and organs. Sleep deprivation can disturb this process, increasing a person’s risk of chronic health problems such as diabetes, stroke, and depression. Massage therapy reduces stress and promotes relaxation and can help improve your sleep quality.
• May help reduce blood pressure: Regular massage sessions have been shown to reduce blood pressure levels by improving circulation, and can help manage an individual’s risk of heart attack and stroke.
• Chronic disease management: Massage therapy in Burien can help reduce the symptoms of fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, improving quality of life.
• Improves posture and enhances body awareness: Massage therapy can help correct postural imbalances by relaxing and lengthening the muscles. It also enhances body awareness, which can lead to improved posture and movement.
• Improves mental health: Massage therapy can help improve your physical as well as mental health. It can help reduce your stress hormone levels, leaving you feeling calm, relaxed, and happy. If you are trying to cope with seasonal affective disorder, massage therapy can reduce your symptoms by improving your mood and boosting energy levels. Regular massage therapy can help manage the symptoms of depression and other mental disorders.

Want to give massage therapy a try? Consult a licensed massage therapist. A trained therapist can develop a custom plan that focuses on improving your overall health and wellbeing.

How Often Should You Get a Massage?

Many people struggling with chronic pain get a massage once or twice a week. How frequently you should see your massage therapist depends on your individual needs, the severity and frequency of pain and your circumstances.

Here are some other factors to consider when determining how often you need a massage.

• General wellness: People who are physically and mentally fit and want to improve their health and wellbeing, should consider getting a massage once every two weeks. A relaxing massage once every couple of weeks can help manage stress, improve mood, and maintain muscle health
• Chronic pain or specific issues:If you’re dealing with chronic pain, injuries, or specific health issues, you might need more frequent sessions (weekly or bi-weekly sessions depending on the nature and severity of the issue and the recommendations of your therapist)
• Intense training or physical activity: Athletes and individuals who perform strenuous exercises regularly should get a massage once or twice a week. Regular massage therapy promotes muscle recovery, and reduces injury risk by improving flexibility and balance
• During physical therapy or rehabilitation: If you’re undergoing physical therapy or sustained an injury and are currently in rehabilitation, you may need a massage every week
• Individual response: Every person’s body responds differently to massage. Some people may need more frequent sessions, while others may achieve their wellness goals after the first few sessions

Tips to get the Most out of Massage Therapy

Here are some ways to maximize massage therapy benefits.

• Communicate clearly: Before your first session, discuss your goals and any specific areas of concern with your therapist. Be open about your pain threshold. If you feel pain at any time during a session, let your therapist know immediately
• Stay hydrated: Drink water before and after a massage to hydrate your muscles and allow your body to flush out toxins released during the session
• Don’t eat a large meal before a session: Avoid having a heavy meal before a massage or you may feel bloated. A light snack (such as fruits, soup or non carbonated drinks with natural sugars) is fine
• Get a massage regularly: To maximize massage benefits, get a massage regularly. Follow your therapist’s instructions and get adequate rest after each session

Ascent Chiropractic is a renowned chiropractic clinic in Burien that offers massage therapy. We take a whole body approach to care, which involves considering the entire body as a single unit. Our chiropractic techniques strengthen and stabilize the body, allowing our clients to continue engaging in their favorite activities. To learn more, call  206-241-3836.