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First Treatment

What should I expect from my first treatment?

Please arrive 10 minutes early for you first appointment in order to complete all necessary paperwork.
Be sure to specify whether you are more comfortable with a male or female therapist. It is not unreasonable to ask this question since our goal is to optimally benefit you.

Depending on what specific condition you are being treated for, our therapist will perform the initial assessment which will include going over your medical history or any other health concerns that you may have questions about.

We have medical gowns and shorts available for your convenience. In addition, many women and men may wear their bathing suits, especially for the first appointment.

The therapist will then perform a postural examination to look for any significant imbalances within your musculoskeletal system.

You may be asked to lie or sit on the table so the therapist can perform a palpatory exam to locate trigger points, taut muscles and tender points that may be involved in your condition.  They may also take some specific range of motion measurements and test your strength in order to determine the best course of treatment for your condition.

Please always communicate with your therapist on whether the pressure is too light or too deep. Pressure should be moderate but not cause any pain.

Once the treatment is completed, the therapist will go over your plan of care and goal setting.
You will be advised to sit up slowly and drink plenty of water to help rehydrate and help flush out toxins that have been released from your muscles tissue.

Then you will reschedule for your follow-up treatments.

What should I expect after the first treatment?

Neuromuscular Massage Therapy and Bodywork can be very relaxing, affecting all your body’s systems so give yourself a moment to reorient before slowly getting off the massage table. You may be slightly dizzy or disoriented but this will wear off once you get up and are moving around once again.
After a session, most people feel very relaxed. Many experience relief from aches and pains that have built up over months or years of tension or repetitive activity. After an initial period of feeling slowed down, people often experience an increase in energy that can last for several days.
Although therapeutic massage provides immediate results, you may not feel them right away. Typically you will notice subtle changes including pain relief, increased mobility, or stress reduction.

If your pain is a result of an injury or accident, then you may experience “good” pain that evening or the following day. This is because we have addressed the soft tissues of the body that have been very tight and restricting along with making subtle structural body changes which will encourage musculoskeletal balance.
Please be sure to relay any positive or negative reactions that you may have with your therapist at your next session.

Does the treatment hurt?

Depending on your diagnosis or condition, the treatment may or may not hurt. Typically, if you have been in an accident or injury then the treatment will most likely make you sore the following day or two. This soreness is very common and will feel better by the second or third day. Be sure to always communicate your discomfort level with the therapist.