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Massage FAQs
What should I expect from my first massage? There will be some form of assessment on the first visit. This is to ensure working on the cause of the problem, and not just effectively "bandaid" treating the painful area. This also helps me to work safely with your body and explain things as we go! All appointment times do include any assessment or home care, which means a 60 minute appointment could be anywhere from 40-55 minutes of actual hands-on care. If injuries are complicated and a much more thorough assessment is needed, the appointment can be modified in an agreed upon manner. All mobile massage bookings account for 15 minutes to set up equipment while patient(s) complete intake & consent forms, as well as 15 minutes post-massage for cleaning & packing up.
How should I prepare for my mobile massage appointment? Please ensure there is a space in your home that is roughly 8 feet by 5 feet for the massage table to be set up with enough room for the therapist to walk fully around. If the space is on the smaller side, adaptations to table placement can be made depending on what body areas are being worked on in the appointment. I am very pet-friendly, as long as your pet(s) are people-friendly! Just be fore-warned that cats especially like to try to hop up onto the massage table, and wander around under it as it is something new in their house! If this doesn't bother you, then I can (usually) work around them. Dogs seem to like to sleep underneath, I like to think they're protecting you, or they think it's a cave... either way, usually not a problem for me either. Music can be provided by the practitioner, or you can play your own, or none. This is always based on your preferences, spa music is not the only option! Please be (relatively) recently bathed (ie not straight from hot yoga or a gym session), sweat doesn't mix very well with the type of oil based gel that is used in the massage and will feel very odd. Shaving within 24 hours before your massage appointment is actually NOT recommended. Shaving opens your pores and puts your skin at risk for cuts & scrapes, even if they are not visible. This can increase risk of infection, as well as discomfort, for both the patient and the practitioner! Massage oils and gels actually glide better on a little bit of hair than on stubble, making it practically unnoticeable for the practitioner.
Will massage hurt? ​The goal is not to cause pain for the sake of pain, but there will be areas that are sore/tender. Please tell your therapist if anything they are doing causes pain. I personally like to work with a pain scale, 5-6 out of 10 should be as painful as it gets when doing specific trigger point work (10 being the most excruciating pain you've ever had, 1 being no pain at all). You might have difficulty with speaking sentences, but should be able to breathe through it. Some treatment methods can cause unexpected sensations or pain referrals, please let the therapist know if you are experiencing anything like this so that the area can be treated thoroughly and appropriately. Some people experience muscle soreness after a massage (anywhere from 12-48 hours), a similar sensation to having done a really good workout. If you are experiencing "bad pain" or any sensations you are concerned about, please reach out and ask any questions you have! On the rare occurrence, massage can sometimes make symptoms worse, if this is the case, please contact the therapist to discuss follow up options or other techniques to try depending on symptoms.
Should I use heat or ice? As unpopular as it is, ice should be the first thing to try! In cases where the use of ice makes a person feel sick or causes pain, try a cool compress (damp towel). If being cold puts your body into a state of stress, then low heat would be a better option. Here's my little cheat sheet: *After a really heavy workout = as cold as you can, as long as you can safely (or as many times as you can for 10-20 seconds at a time) in the shower. This is very refreshing if you can make yourself do it, and is very good for muscle recovery *New Injury (sprain/strain, cramps - menstrual or muscular, any sudden pain or soreness up to 72 hrs "old") = ice 3-5x at 3-15 minutes each (however long it takes to numb the area) rest for 15-20 minutes in between ice applications. In any case of sudden or new pain, please contact your primary care provider and let them know what's happening as well as getting their opinion on what to do as next steps *Injury 4 days or older = contrast heat & ice cycling at least 3x, finishing with ice *Injury 6 months or older = heat before any exercise or stretching, ice after. 2-3x/week contrast heat & ice, cycling at least 3x, finishing with ice Heat should only be applied for a maximum of 20 minutes at a time, longer can damage sensitive tissues and cause too much circulation to come to the area. Ice should only be applied for a maximum 5-15 minutes, this varies person to person. Once your skin is numb, ice should be removed immediately! Leaving an ice pack on numb skin can result in frostbite and permanent damage. Rest for 10-20 minutes in between ice applications to allow tissues to warm back up on their own. Fun Facts: Heat dilates (opens) blood vessels, bringing blood to the area. This is great for the healing process in general, but tends to be not as helpful for menstrual cramps as the area is already a little crowded and swollen. While heat usually feels really great in the moment, it can sometimes make cramps worse in the long run. Ice constricts (tightens) blood vessels, which helps to remove any excess blood or swelling in an area, as well as slowing down nerve firing, which is a double-whammy when it comes to pain relief. This is why it is so important to ice a new injury, to help it from depositing too many healing cells and causing scarring or more chronic inflammation. The body's first response is to flood an injured area with platelet rich blood and nutrients, forcing it back out with ice will actually encourage this response to happen on repeat, bringing more new blood to the area and helping to speed up healing. Plus giving some pain relief while you're at it!
Can massage make me sick? Sometimes during a massage people can feel a bit woozy, light headed or nauseated. This depends on the person, injury, treatment technique and many other factors. If you're feeling unwell during your appointment please let your therapist know so that adjustments can be made. On occasion an individual can feel sick after a massage, this usually passes within 24-48 hours. This is sometimes due to dehydration, or simply the body trying to process too much at once. Sometimes it happens after a very first visit, sometimes after a very deep or aggressive treatment, or after working on an injury that has been there for a long time. There are many contributing factors to why this could happen, but it really does not happen very often. Please let your therapist know if you're feeling unwell after your massage, especially if it lasts longer than 48 hours, and they can make recommendations on next steps to take.
What is an RMT? RMT stands for Registered Massage Therapist. In BC it means that the individual has undergone a minimum of 2,000 hours of formal training and passed the regulatory examinations put forth by CCHPBC - the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC, formerly the College of Massage Therapists of BC ( CMTBC). RMT's can utilize a few different reserved titles as well as the aforementioned, they are: Massage Therapist, Registered Massage Practitioner and Massage Practitioner. All Massage Therapists must undertake regular continuing education courses to stay informed, expand on their techniques and assessment resources to provide ongoing safe, quality care to the public. Don't be shy to ask about your practitioner's education and background, it's always best to make an informed decision on who will be the best fit for you and your care. Afterall, it doesn't make a lot of sense to take a particular problem to someone who may not have any experience in that area. While a lot of Massage Therapists end up working in niche areas of expertise, CCHPBC does not recommend a therapist promote that they "specialize" in any one thing.
Do you work with terminal or chronic illness? Cases of this nature are only taken in a case-by-case evaluation. I personally require approval from your primary care provider in terminal illness situations.
Do you work with insurance companies, MSP, ICBC or WCB? I can direct bill most private/employer third party insurance companies, including Medavie Blue Cross and the Military Dependents' plan (Canada Life - PSHCP). I am not able to direct bill MSP, WCB or ICBC. Payment must be made to the therapist by the patient, and the receipt submitted to the insurer for reimbursement up to their maximum amounts. Please note, there may be amounts that are not covered by MSP, WCB or ICBC that are the patient's responsibility.