A question that our massage therapists at Ballaura Wellness Spa in Olympia get a lot is “How often should I be getting a massage?”. It is very important to finding out what your body needs based on your lifestyle, occupation, health, etc. Here, we take a look at groups of people and the frequency in which they should be getting massaged per month.

The Athlete: Once per week- Once every other week

Athletes should be getting regular massages due to the high intensity in which they are training their bodies on the regular. Therefore, it is recommended to be getting massaged at least every other week (if not every week!). Massage helps reduce the formation of scar tissue and improves the healing process, both which are very important to athletes as they rebuild their muscles throughout their training. Massage also improves circulation, another important factor that can make a huge difference in an athlete’s training regime with their muscle repair.

The Weekend Warrior: Once every two weeks- Once every three weeks

The Weekend Warrior is the 9-5er that goes for it all on their days off (the weekend). Most days, they’re at work and accumulating work related stress on the body, but top it off with intensive working out that they only do one or two days per week. This process can put a lot of stress on the body. It is recommended to be getting massaged at least once every three weeks (or every two) to help aid in healthy tissue repair and reduce pain felt from the intensive workouts that the body is going through. Massage will also help with the accumulation of work-related stress.

Stressed Out: Once every three weeks- Once per month

Those that are stressed out can benefit immensely from massage. Massage itself is inherently relaxing and calms the nervous system, reducing symptoms of anxiety and tension. Massage can also target trigger points and points of tension, reducing accumulated stress that the body has picked up. A monthly maintenance massage is greatly beneficial for those that are stressed out. That time also allows the individual to make time for themselves, relaxing and unwinding from the stressors of life on the regular.

Moms: Once every three weeks- Once per month

Let’s face it- being a mom is a job itself and can be very tough on the body both physically and mentally. Stress and tension often accumulate in the shoulders and backs from carrying younger children, and it is often difficult to get that time alone to relax and de-stress. A monthly massage is a great time to paper yourself and take that time to relax for moms. It’s also a great time to work through tension build up in the muscles from the physically demanding labors of being a mom.

Injuries: It all depends on the severity, location, and time of injury

At Ballaura Wellness Spa, our massage therapists see a lot of injury-related massages. Massage is great for the healing process of soft tissue injuries in that it aids with circulation, reduction of scar tissue formation, and improvement in range of motion. After seeing your therapists for the initial massage session, the frequency in which you should be getting massaged will be evaluated based on the findings of the therapist and the instructions on the insurance referral. It is not uncommon for injury-related massage clients to come in once a week to help with the healing process.

Chronic Pain: It depends on the individual

Since massage helps with reduction in pain and calms the nervous system, it is a great option for those who suffer from chronic pain. Chronic pain clients are somewhat like injury-related massage clients in that the frequency for receiving massage in all depends on the individual’s situation. Some chronic pain clients come on once a week to help manage their symptoms while others might come in every two or three weeks. Your massage therapist will make a recommendation based on their findings from the initial treatment session.