While many save trips to the spa for special occasions, your overall health can benefit significantly from incorporating massage therapy into your health and wellness routine. From soothing chronic aches and pains, to speeding athletic recovery, the benefits of regular massage are plentiful. How often you should get a massage for optimal results depends on your lifestyle, as well as what you would like to accomplish through massage therapy.

Regular massage can help:

If you find that your stress levels are relatively low to mid-level, treating yourself to a massage once or twice a month should be sufficient for you to reap the benefits. Not only does massage calm the nervous system, but it helps increase blood and lymphatic circulation, improving your overall health. Those with physically taxing jobs or who work in high-stress environments should consider weekly massage sessions to help reduce stress.

For pain management, we recommend weekly sessions. However, frequency depends on your pain levels and how you feel. If you find that your pain returns quickly after massage, you likely need to return more often for sessions. Over time, you may find that you need treatments less frequently as your muscles begin to stretch and become more compliant. It’s worth noting that the benefits of massage are cumulative, so it’s important to make sure you aren’t spacing your treatments too far apart.

Massage can help athletes prepare their bodies for peak performance, as well as help with recovery after important events. Your ideal massage frequency can vary, depending on how rigorous your activity level is, as well as your baseline condition. Serious athletes may need multiple sessions per week to keep their bodies in top condition. The casual athlete can get away with less frequent sessions. If you have chronic muscle issues or are increasing the intensity of your training, you should up your frequency. Otherwise, one or two session per month should keep your body performing its best.

Massage therapy can help get you back on your feet post injury or surgery. It can help speed up the recovery process by increasing blood flow, reducing pain, breaking up scar tissue and reducing swelling caused by lymph build up. Of course, you should always check with your doctor first before adding massage into your routine. Once cleared, we recommend starting with two session per week, decreasing frequency as your recovery progresses.

Consulting with one of our trained massage therapists will give them a better understanding of what your body needs and will help them fine-tune a plan that is best suited for you. With time and consistency, massage therapy can help you to feel your best – in mind, body and spirit.