How Often Should You Get a Massage?
Getting a massage can be a way to treat yourself, de-stress, or address a medical issue. Have you ever wondered how often you should get massages if you want to get them regularly or sparingly? While it’s going to vary for each person’s individual needs, there is a general guideline to determine how often you should get them.
What’s ideal?
Massage frequency and duration will depend on the type of massage you want and the area you want to target. Many research studies recommend a certain massage frequency and duration to address underlying health problems like pain or injury.
Types of massage
Lymphatic Drainage Massage
This type of massage is useful for draining lymph nodes that have been affected by a recent surgery or medical condition. It’ll prompt the flow of fluid in your lymph nodes and release fluid build-up.
You may need this massage daily at the beginning, but over time, you can try two or three times a week.
Deep Tissue Massage
A deep tissue massage uses slow, forceful strokes to reach deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. This type of massage targets muscle damage from injuries.
You may seek deep tissue massages daily, a few times a week, or a few times a month for pain. Your massage therapist can recommend a frequency and duration to address the underlying health condition prompting this type of massage.
Scalp Massage
A scalp massage can be very relaxing, and it may even lower your blood pressure and heart rate.
One study in Korea showed that women working in an office experienced these health benefits from 15- to 25-minute scalp massages twice a week for 10 weeks.
You may find a regular scalp massage helps you feel calm and improves your overall outlook.
Full-Body Massage
A full-body massage is often called a Swedish massage. This type of massage promotes relaxation. You may seek this type of massage only occasionally, every few weeks, or monthly to help you feel more centered and less stressed.
Massage Chair
You may find a massage chair provides relief from aching muscles or helps you relax.
A pilot study found that healthy adults experienced positive benefits from sitting in a massage chair for 20 minutes at a time.
For conditions
Massage may help relieve specific painful symptoms or reduce stress and anxiety. It may also be helpful during pregnancy. You may need more frequent massages for pain relief, or you may find that less frequent but regularly scheduled massages for your emotional well-being are useful.
Back pain
A regular massage may ease your back pain. One study showed that deep tissue massage performed daily for 30 minutes for 10 days reduced pain in patients.
The American College of Physicians now lists massage as a treatment for low back pain that lasts up to 12 weeks.
Neck pain
Massage is a way to relieve neck pain in the short term, and getting frequent massages may be most beneficial.
One study found that getting a 60-minute massage two or three times a week showed more benefit for those with neck pain than getting a 60-minute massage once a week or a few 30-minute massages weekly.
Anxiety and stress
You may find that a massage once or twice a month helps calm anxiety and stress.
According to the American Massage Therapy Association, 66 percent of those who sought massages in 2018 did so to relax and manage stress.
Consider a 60-minute massage tailored for relaxation. According to the Mayo Clinic, this could lower your cortisol levels by 30 percent and raise your serotonin levels by 28 percent. This will relax you and improve your mental well-being.
Pregnancy
A 2010 study found that regular, light massage performed by someone at home or a massage therapist may contribute to a healthy mental state and reduced leg and back pain.
A weekly 20-minute massage by a professional, or two 20-minute massages by someone at home, may be sufficient to reduce anxiety and stress as well as physical symptoms of pregnancy.
The study also found that 15-minute massages during every hour of labor may also shorten the overall time spent in labor and reduce the amount of medication you need.
Can you get too many massages?
A massage is a great tool for relieving stress, improving mood, and increasing the overall quality of life and productivity. You’ll often feel better for a full week before you’ll start to notice the need for a return visit unless you are dealing with pain or injury. Your tension headaches will disappear, your energy will increase, and your mental health will improve. Is there such a thing as too many massages when you have benefits like this?
Actually, you can get massaged too frequently. Once a week is the most you should go unless you are dealing with pain or high-intensity sports. Between you and your therapist, you’ll be able to determine the best frequency because your body’s response is a large part of this determination. You should go at least once per month, but as often as twice per week in severe pain situations. The longer you wait though, and the more often you’ll start the process over of loosening up your muscles because they tense up if you don’t go often enough. Try different techniques, such as deep tissue massage and stress massage depending on your needs.
When your body starts to feel stiff and sore, it’s telling you that it’s time for a massage again, but the type of massage you may need could vary depending on your body’s needs.
If you’ve ever wondered how often you are supposed to get a massage, use this guide to learn how to listen to your body and the benefits of getting one frequently.
Need an appointment? Shining Massage & Facial Clinic is here to help. Call 941-877-6688 or visit shiningmassage.com to schedule your appointment today!