RC Massage & Bodywork FAQ

Questions and Answers commonly asked...

Q: What will my first massage be like?

You always want to be about 10-15 minutes early to your first massage. Why? Because you will be asked to fill out some paperwork with some personal information, the type of work you do, a brief health history, and finally a consent form. Your very first massage is often a little shorter than the ones after that, because your therapist will go over your health history, work, and play information with you to address trouble spots quickly. Once this is done, your therapist will leave the room and allow you to undress and get comfortable on the table. The therapist will come back in and perform a quick assessment of your body and then begin the massage session. Once the time is finished, they will leave the room and allow you to get dressed and come out of the room. They will usually offer you different stretches and other "self-care" ideas that will help you adjust to the effects of the massage until your next appointment!

Q: Do I have to get naked?

Not at all. Many of the modalities that we use can be done over clothing. At RC Massage & Bodywork it's about YOUR comfort level. Take off as little or as much as you feel comfortable. Remember, it's totally up to you how much clothing you would like to wear during your session, but keep in mind, our massage therapists are trained in draping, which involves moving and folding the sheets to only expose the area being worked on. The genitals and the female breasts will always be draped and only one buttock is ever revealed at a time.

Q: Why do you ask so many health history questions?

Because we don't just do the "feel good" massage we need to know about your past, present, and even goals for the future. Each client we have has a special goal in mind; reduce pain, train for the big event, or chronic problems they want to go away. The best way to assess what your needs and goals are is to have a complete picture of your health history. This allows us to inform you of any risks involved in your treatments as well as address specific concerns you may have. We always say, "If you want to relax for an hour go to the other guys... If you want to get BETTER, then come to us!

Q: Does my massage have to be full body?

Nope. In fact, in most cases we deal with specific muscles for a specific outcome. Of course we offer the full body massage, and, in fact, most of our clients begin getting full body sessions usually within three or four sessions. Once your nagging or chronic issues have been dealt with its best to move on to full body sessions to really experience the benefits of massage!

Q: How often should I get a massage?

That depends on you! If you have chronic injuries that have been bugging you for more than 6 months, we recommend once or twice per week, usually for six weeks getting those issues under control. Once that takes place, you can always get them for maintenance once or twice a month, or as needed for pain and rehabilitation. Regular massage is a preventative measure against injury and has been shown to reduce the risk of injury! Overall, we always recommend what YOU think you need. Only YOU use your body every day. Once you've had two or three, you'll begin to notice the needs of your body more and more, and be able to say, "Yeah, it's time for a massage...." Always keep in mind that one of the benefits of massage is stress relief, and stress is the number one cause of illness!

Q: What will my massage feel like?

Massage on normal tissue is almost always a pleasant sensation. Massage in the area of an injury or chronic pain, may, at first, cause some discomfort which usually lessens noticeably in the first few minutes. Your massage therapist knows many ways to minimize your pain, and will work carefully to determine what feels right to you. Always tell your massage therapist if you feel any discomfort so they can make the appropriate adjustments

Q: I got my massage yesterday, why do I hurt now?

When you first shovel snow, begin running for that marathon, rake the yard, paint the house you have pain, right? This pain or 'soreness' comes from muscles being used, perhaps for the first time in a long time, and a buildup of toxins in the belly of the muscles. Massage opens up the muscles, releasing the toxins into the circulatory system. In order to reduce this soreness your therapist may show you a number of stretches or other exercises to do to keep those muscles open. Drinking water increases the fluid in your circulatory system, and provides those muscles with the fluid they need to flush out the excess toxins. With regular massage, drinking water, and stretching, you'll be sure to reduce the effects of "the day after!"

Q: What ages benefit most from massage?

Massage benefits everyone from infants to the elderly. Massage provides an organized, logical approach to sensory stimulation, which is important for infants because part of their growth is learning to sort and organize sensory stimulation. Massage in children is helpful because as children grow the long bones grow more rapidly than the muscles and connective tissues, causing increased pain in the areas of the joints. Massage helps lengthen and stretch the muscles and connective tissue providing relief to these areas. Massage of the elderly is beneficial for a number of reasons including: increased flexibility and elasticity of the joints and connective tissue, helping regulate circulation and blood pressure, decreasing the feeling of depression, and increasing neurologic function through touch and listening.

Q: What types of massage do you use during an average session?

Our therapists are trained in a number of modalities, or types, of massage and usually use a mixture of them throughout the massage. From relaxing Swedish, invigorating energy work, to myofascial stretching, and Shiatsu you can bet your therapist will give you a one-of-a-kind massage that will relax and re-train your body, eliminating your pain! Check out the "Modalities" page for more information.

Q: Do you accept / take my medical insurance?

Possibly! There are several insurance providers out there that will cover massage for both injury recovery and maintenance. Check with your insurance provider, or we can look into it for you, just bring your insurance card and information with you when you come in. Keep in mind that you will be responsible for any charges that the insurance company does not pay when using insurance to pay for the services we provide. Because of the extra time involved in recordkeeping for these appointments the rates are higher, and billed in 15 minute increments. Talk to us more about this option!