Clients use massage for such a wide variety of reasons and benefits. One of our most frequently asked questions is ‘How often shall I plan on getting a massage?’. Clients want to know if there is such thing as too much massage in a short space of time and what frequency of massage will help them to achieve their goals. The answer to this question will vary depending on the purpose of your massage. whether you are looking for a massage to help relieve stress, to relieve muscle tension, because you’ve undergone intense sport action, or simply to promote a strong and healthy immune system, how frequently you should book in could differ.
Is there such thing as too much massage?
The rule of thumb is that the more intense the massage, the longer you should wait in between sessions. This is to give your muscles the chance to recover and to avoid causing damage to the body. You should always get massaged by fully licensed massage therapists to ensure that they aren’t over or under doing it.
If you’re getting a massage for the purpose of stress and anxiety relief then you can enjoy a light-handed body massage of many varieties. Providing the massage doesn’t apply too much pressure to the body, you could have one daily if you so desired. However the common advise is to book in for a weekly massage.
If you’re getting a sports massage, its often because you’ve endured some quite strenuous physical activity. If you are working towards one specific sporting event, such as a triathlon, you might find that one sports massage straight after the event, followed by one more massage in the weeks following the event should suffice. However, if you’re undergoing continuous strenuous physical activity, then we recommend more consistent massages once every two weeks.
If you’re getting a massage due to muscle tension or injury, you can get a more consistent massage to promote healing at the start. We are talking either once or twice a week, after this initial start you can start spreading out your massages to once every two weeks. If your condition is chronic and your body responds positively to the massage, then you could continue with getting a massage once a week. Remember that it’s very important that you find yourself a massage therapist who is adequately trained in massage for your specific injury so that they can safely aid your healing in the most efficient way.
If you’re using massage as a way to promote your immune system then you should be looking at getting a massage frequently. For increasing white blood cells, flushing the body of unwanted toxins, and giving your body’s immunity a boost, you can be getting a massage as part of a weekly self care routine.