What should I expect at my first appointment?
Your initial appointment will include a consultation to discuss medical history, contraindications and lifestyle. This helps your therapist to get a rounded view of your day to day stresses and provide a hollistic approach to treatment. The therapist will explain the treatment plan before hands on massage begins.
What should I wear to my appointment?
You can wear anything you feel comfortable in to your appointment. Depending on your treatment plan your therapist will ask you to remove clothing appropriate to the massage area. This will only be done to your comfort level and your therapist can work with you regarding this to ensure your comfort throughout.
Can I bring my child for a massage?
Yes, I am have been fully checked by Disclosure Scotland and hold a PVG certificate for children & vulnerable adults. Those under 16 must have an appropriate adult accompany them to appointments and be present in the treatment room at all times. Anyone over 16 who wishes someone to accompany them to appointments is free to do so. Please make me aware of this when booking.
Depending on the age of the child they may benefit from a shortened appointment of 30 mins with an initial assessment of 45 mins. Please contact me before booking to discuss this.
I have experience of working with young athletes through my coaching and also regular massage of my own active children.
How often do you recommend massage?
Chronic pain or conditions can benefit from massages every 2 weeks. This helps to maintain your range of movement, reduce pain and reduce muscle spasms.
Stress relief & everyday tension can be relieved from massage every 4-6 weeks. Monthly massage would help to maintain flexibility, reset your nervous system and manage everyday stress/tension.
Athletes or those living a highly active lifestyle would benefit from a massage every 2-4 weeks. These regular treatments would aid post workout recovery, reduce injury risk and allow increased training.
For those recovering from injury, illness or surgery your medical expert will be able to advise on when massage is appropriate for you.
I have cancer, can I book a massage?
This depends on type of cancer, whether you have gone through surgery, if treatment is ongoing and the advice of your specialist cancer team.
I do not at this time have a specialist oncology massage qualification therefore there are some instances where I would refer you to a specialist.
Please contact me to discuss before booking an appointment
I am pregnant, can I book a massage?
At this time I am not qualified in pregnancy massage therefore I am unable to offer a massage to any mums to be. I can however offer massages 12 weeks post partum and you are free to bring baby with you.
I injured myself today, can I book a massage?
I would not be able to offer you a massage on the injured area until at least 24 hrs post injury. This is because your body creates an inflammatory response known as the acute condition. During this stage (normally 24 - 48 hours post injury) massage is contraindicated.
However I would recommend the following:
Protect from further injury
Rest to allow the inflammatory response
Ice 10-15 mins at a time
Compression to reduce swelling
Elevate above heart to reduce blood flow & swelling
Massage to aid recovery
I can however massage a different area of your body during this time.