Q: Don't
your hands
get tired?
A: Yes, but after I
built my
own house
I figured they could take it! I know how to take care of
all my muscles, as well as my hands. And I think that is
something you should look for in a massage therapist. Does he
know how to take care of himself? How is his energy level?
How is his posture? If they can't take care of themselves, how
can they take care of you? Q: How do
you know where I hurt?
A:
Most
often it is a tactile signal your tissue gives me; occasionally, it is
a visual clue given away by your posture or appearance.
Sometimes I'll have you do a resistance test to locate a microscopic
muscle tear, which is one cause of pain. That will let me know
which muscle needs more gentle attention. Q: Do
you
bill insurance?
A: Not at this time, but I will provide
documentation of your session if you'd like to submit it to your
insurance provider for reimbursement. Q: Why can't my doctor
fix this pain?
A: That's a good
question, and although western medicine has had some success treating
pain, the results are sometimes worse than the original condition.
(Vioxx and Bextra come to mind.) I've been told by
one doctor (while she was receiving a massage, by the way) that it
would be nice if she could divert many of her patients to a massage
therapist. This would give her more time to deal with conditions
better suited to western medicine. So, hopefully the change is
occurring. Q: How
long will it take to fix this?
A: I can give you an educated guess as to how much
massage it will take, but there are many factors involved in this
non-invasive style of healing, and you are in control of most of
them. This is why you may need to become more involved in order
to speed the process along. Q: How
much clothing should I remove?
A: The decision is yours; I want all my clients to
be comfortable. With that said, my hands can sense more soft
tissue conditions when they
don't have to work through clothing. It can depend on the type of
massage you want, as a relaxation massage relies more on long, flowing
massage strokes to achieve its goal. Clothing would inhibit
this. But for a clinical or orthopedic massage, where the client
will have to change position on the table more often, it is desirable
to keep some form of undergarment on. Q: Why did
you get into
massage
for a career?
A: I knew it worked
for
me and wanted to show others the power of massage. Also, fellow
students and early practice clients gave me such good feedback that I
had to try it in the real world! Q: Why does massage work? A: I believe it
lengthens muscles and other tissues, giving your body 'room to work,'
which reduces inflammation. It moves the endpoints of your range
of motion outside of your daily pattern, making daily life less
fatiguing on your body. If you are unsure
whether massage is right for
you, read this article by
therapist Paul Ingraham. He has eloquently stated
why massage is quickly becoming the most popular form of health
maintenance care.
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