Massage Therapy FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions about Massage Therapy and Bodywork
What should I wear for my massage appointment?
This is a super common question and not an awkward one at all! While there are many types of massage out there, the majority of them involve the client being disrobed (partially or completely unclothed). If this is the case, it is a requirement for private areas to be covered in all US states. What this means is that the therapist will drape the client with a top sheet over the private areas. If no top sheet is involved with your session, you should not be nude on the table. You also should not disrobe until your therapist is out of the room.
If you are unsure about the style of massage, bringing a pair of shorts and a sports bra, if applicable, to change into is a great idea. If your therapist wishes to include stretches, joint mobilizations, or other movements, shorts make it easy to do so without compromising your comfort and privacy.
To put it simply, it is more than ok, and perfectly normal, to disrobe down to your underwear as long as you are being draped with a top sheet on the massage table. The gluteal cleft should be covered with at least a sheet. Women can go without a bra as long as their chest is covered when they are face up (some states even require mens’ chests to be covered). Doing this allows your therapist to work on your back uninterrupted, which can enhance the experience. However, I always emphasize with my clients that your comfort level is the most important factor. Staying fully clothed is okay, but will limit some effectiveness. Building trust and comfort with your therapist is a key part of a good massage and bodywork experience.
Does massage hurt?
Massage therapy can hurt, absolutely. It’s imperative to keep in mind that it is YOUR massage session, so you can and should communicate openly with your massage therapist when things are getting too intense for you. The different types of massage modalities will also affect how much pain or discomfort you may feel. Swedish massage is typically not painful because deep pressure isn’t used. Deep tissue, myofascial release, Trigger Point, etc. are all modalities that will most likely involve some discomfort. Why does massage hurt? Inflammation, tension, issues in your fascia, and hypersensitivity are some of the main causes of discomfort to pressure. It does not necessarily mean that something is “wrong” or the therapist is doing something damaging. Massage can also result in bruises or sore spots. Working on dysfunctional muscles and fascia is just simply not always pleasant. If you want it to be, opt for Swedish, or tell your therapist clearly what you do and don’t want. However, know that a good therapist will have you feeling great after the massage, and days after.
Am I supposed to tip my Massage Therapist?
Unlike restaurants, Massage Therapists are paid an hourly or commission-based wage (in reputable businesses). It is definitely okay to not tip your therapist if you are on a budget. A tip is extremely appreciated, obviously, but you are not being rude by not tipping. If a therapist makes you feel that way, we suggest not returning. Reputable businesses compensate appropriately so that tips are not needed to make a livable wage. Tips are a way of showing extra appreciation directly to the therapist. If you want to tip and make sure it all goes to your therapist, feel free to ask if the therapist gets to keep 100% of their tips. Tipping in cash is always a bonus for the therapist, because no credit card fees are removed.
What do I call the person who does massage?
The proper term for a professional who performs massage is a Massage Therapist. In 48 of the 50 United States, a professional license is required to offer massage therapy services. In this case, the full title is Licensed Massage Therapist. In New York, they still use the terms masseuse/masseur but those terms are considered offensive and disrespectful everywhere else due to the negative connotation.
What type of massage should I get? What type of massage is best?
This question can overwhelm you, because there are so many options and the descriptions can appear very obscure. The truth is, you may not know what is best for you until you try a few different styles. Massage is hard to describe. Let’s start with a few basic formats:
Swedish Massage
This is a very standard, soft-touch, constant pressure massage style. This is also called “relaxation massage” because that is the primary goal. You will not see a lot of “release” or “knot-defeating” in this style. While it can be nice, this is not the way to go if you want deep pressure, muscle tension eased, or any specific ailment treated.
Deep Tissue
This is a common style that is probably what most people think of when they think of a massage. The therapist will press harder as they perform the massage, working to loosen tight muscles. This style is still pretty consistent with the touch, so it has relaxing elements, as they should work all their moves together into rhythmic, cyclical moves. Sometimes they may hold pressure on stubborn areas. You may feel some pain or discomfort on tight muscles, and oftentimes people like the “hurts so good” feeling of being worked on this way. This style does have limitations on its treatment, and if you need targeted work on specific dysfunctions, you need to look for a very skilled therapist or perhaps a more advanced modality of massage session.
Bowen Therapy
Bowen therapy is a unique modality that uses “plucks” or “strums” across muscle groups, often in specific sequences. This technique targets the fascia and the nervous system as a whole to down regulate tension that is hard to trace to a cause. People often feel “tingly” sensations after the therapist performs a move. Many times your muscles may twitch or completely relax after the body has time to process the stimulus. At Primal, this technique is under our “Advanced Bodywork” category and also includes deep tissue techniques as needed.
Reflexive Performance Reset (RPR)
RPR is an amazing modality that started in the athletic realm, and we’ve incorporated it into our Pain Resolution programs at BG Powerhouse. This is a much more intense modality but with big results. The main goal of RPR is to reduce pain and compensations by improving the nervous system’s communication with the correct muscle groups. Activating the correct muscles in the correct order is key to strong, pain-free movement and athletic performance. This is the modality of choice for active populations struggling with pain and poor activation.
Can massage help back pain? What type of massage is best for back pain?
Back pain is one of the most common complaints for massage therapy clients. Unfortunately, it is a complex issue with individual considerations for every person. The most common causes of back pain (if a specific injury event is not present) are weak and tight hip flexors, weak low abs or obliques, weak and tight glutes or hamstrings, overuse of the back muscles, and emotional stressors. At Primal, we use a combination of massage and muscle training to resolve this problem. We will recommend using our advanced sessions (such as Bowen or RPR) but a Therapeutic massage (our deep tissue modality) can be a great start so the therapist can assess you specifically and determine a place to begin. If appropriate, our therapists will recommend exercises to begin resolving the cause of your low back pain - which is often weakness or overuse issues. Massage alone rarely resolves back pain permanently, but it is an excellent starting point to relieve pain so you can mentally and physically prepare to work on the cause.
Can massage help neck pain?
The short answer is, yes! Neck pain is another common ailment people seek massage to treat. Most clients say “I hold all my stress in my neck and shoulders” (if we had a nickel…). Skilled massage and bodywork can absolutely help relieve neck pain and tension. Emotional stress, poor breathing patterns, weak pecs, weak lats and teres major, restrictions in the torso are often the causes of chronic neck tension. Massage and bodywork for the neck, shoulders, and diaphragm can help loosen the muscles that are overworked and strained, cutting into the stress cycle that compounds the discomfort over and over (stress or strain starts the process, then as we get tighter we get more stressed, which makes us tighter, and so on). At Primal, we try to determine the root cause of this cycle (poor breathing, weak muscles, faulty movement, etc) and recommend actions you can take outside of the massage session to start resolving the underlying issues that have your tension returning. This is why we work within a gym setting! Massage therapy is rarely a permanent fix but is an excellent starting point to fix yourself!
Are massage guns good for you? Are massage guns worth it?
Massage guns (pulsating tools that have an attachment used on muscle groups) can be a great tool to use on your own. The vibration of a massage gun coupled with the pressure you apply to your muscles can stimulate the Vagal nerve (the nerve responsible for controlling the parasympathetic nervous system - our flow state system), reduce tension, improve blood flow, improve muscle activation, temporarily reduce muscle and fascia pain, and low sensations of stress. On the flip side, sometimes the vibration can have the opposite effect when used too much or with too much intensity. This is highly individual - if it feels good, great. If it doesn’t, stop. We use massage guns at the gym when a foam roller or lacrosse ball isn’t getting the job done. Massage guns can’t replace massage therapy or other tools, but they are just that; a great tool that can be helpful. The downsides to massage guns include: you still have to do the work yourself and gravity can’t help; you’re needing to apply pressure and therefore can’t fully relax, they can’t be used everywhere (back of the head, neck, near joints or areas of thin tissue), they can’t adapt in real time to your needs in a specific area, it’s hard to feel results until you stop, etc. The biggest upside to a massage gun is that it is a tool you purchase once and don’t need anyone else to help you use. We are big fans of autonomous self-care.
Can massage help a pinched nerve?
Yes! Massage and bodywork can help with pinched nerves. Pinched nerves occur when parts of a nerve fiber (they run all over your body like strings!) are being compressed by muscles or fascia that are abnormally tight. This happens for various reasons: overuse, poor posture, weakness that causes tightness, etc. It can be very painful and debilitating, especially when it prevents you from doing daily activities normally. The pain and discomfort can also cause more emotional stress, and make it even worse. Massage and bodywork can break that cycle and help you resolve the tension issue. As we have mentioned in other FAQ answers, finding the original cause of the compression is imperative. If things get back enough, a surgeon may suggest things like cutting fascia or muscle (an extreme tactic we are not in support of, obviously).
