Your massage questions answered

If you've never had a massage before and are considering booking your first treatment then you've probably got some questions about what's involved.

I've answered the most common questions here, but if you've got a question about massage therapy that isn't answered here, feel free to email me for a chat.

Click here for information about the Covid19 processes in place at the clinic.

Regular massage treatments can offer some wonderful benefits for your physical and mental health.  

Massage is good for: 

• Reducing stress levels 
• Smoothing out muscle knots and tension 
• Easing painful muscles and joints 
• Making movement easier 
• Exercise recovery 
• Improving your sleep 
• Keeping you injury free.

All good stuff right?  

You may be able to claim back the cost of your sports massage if your employer operates an employee wellness scheme. An example of this type of scheme is Health Shield.

You pay for the treatment upfront, then claim back the cash through the scheme. This means that every year you could benefit from regular sports massage for free!  

Let me know if you're going to claim back the cash and I'll give you a receipt at the end of the session.

You can find me at the The Glasgow Treatment Rooms, 34 West George Street, Glasgow. When you arrive, take the stairs or the lift to the 2nd floor, turn right and follow the signs.

At the entrance to the clinic waiting area there is a sanitiser station. Please sanitise your hands on arrival and departure.   

Face coverings are now optional. So if you want to wear one for your treatment, that's all good. I've got a spare stash of masks so if you want one just ask.

No need to chap the door or hit the buzzer, Just grab a seat in the waiting area and I'll come and collect you at your appointment time.

If you’re running late for your appointment please email me and let me know.   

I will do my best to give you your full appointment time, taking into consideration other appointments and the time needed between clients for cleaning.  If I can’t accommodate this your treatment will finish as scheduled.

If I'm running late for your appointment you will get your full appointment time. 

At the start of your massage appointment we'll spend a few minutes going through your consultation form and have a chat about why you've come to see me. Depending on the reason for your visit I may carry out some tests to assess your pain level and range of movement. We'll chat a bit more about what I think the issue is and then we'll agree your treatment plan.

Please note I do not diagnose medical conditions or injuries. 

I'll leave the room and give you a couple of minutes to get changed and get comfortable on the massage couch.  

Each 1 hour treatment will involve approximately 45-50 minutes of massage time. The remaining time is taken up by consultation, dressing/undressing, and after care advice.

The massage treatment itself  will be a mixture of soft tissue techniques, joint mobilisations and passive stretches.  I'll always talk you through what I'm doing and check that you're comfortable.

At the end of the treatment we'll have a chat again about how you're feeling and moving. And I'll offer some aftercare advice which may be useful to you. 

Clients generally undress down to their underwear for a treatment. You will be draped throughout the treatment, with only the area being worked on uncovered.

If you don't feel comfortable undressing to your underwear you can wear loose fitting shorts, Or you can keep clothes on where an area isn't being worked on. For example if you're receiving treatment on your back, neck and shoulders you can keep your clothes on the bottom half if you wish.    

You don’t need to be sporty to book a sports massage.  Sports massage is for everyone.

Sports massage is a commonly used name for remedial massage therapy. Remedial massage is about resolving a particular injury or condition. It is a more focused and sometimes intense treatment. For example, if you have problems lifting your arm above your head I might spend the full hour working on one shoulder.

Remedial massage uses techniques such as myofascial release, trigger point therapy, joint mobilisations and passive stretches. These techniques work well in a sporting environment, hence the name sports massage. 

As well as being good for injuries and exercise recovery, sports massage is good for: 

• Muscle knots and tension 
• Tight and crunchy shoulders from working at a desk all day 
• Repetitive strain injuries 
• Tired, overworked muscles  

There’s a common perception of “no pain, no gain” when it comes to sports massage; that it has to hurt to be effective. I don't buy into this.

Sports massage can feel intense and you may experience what I like to call “therapeutic discomfort”.  But it should never be painful.   

I don't do super deep pressure massage that hurts.  So if that's your jam, I'm not the therapist for you.

The majority of the time it's totally safe to receive massage treatment.  There are however, some instances where massage may not be appropriate for you. 

For example, if you have: 

• symptoms of coronavirus, flu or colds. 
• infectious diseases.
• acute rheumatoid arthritis (flare ups).
• a condition that affects the cardiovascular system.  Some examples are high blood pressure, heart disease, angina, blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, and varicose veins. 
• have had a recent stroke or heart attack
• a recent head injury
• had recent major surgery

If you're not sure if massage is right for you, drop me an email for a chat.