Cara Sulkowski Effinger, LMBT #6078

Bring peace into your life with massage therapy!
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FAQ
Think of the questions your customers ask most frequently and write them here along with the answers.



A: Whether seeking relief for a medical condition, searching for a method to help deal with the stresses of daily life or wanting to maintain good health, more and more Americans are turning to therapeutic massage.

Massage doesn't just feel good. Research shows it reduces the heart rate, lowers blood pressure, increases blood circulation and lymph flow, relaxes muscles, improves range of motion, and increases endorphins, the body's natural painkillers. Therapeutic massage may enhance medical treatment and helps people feel less anxious and stressed, relaxed yet more alert.

Physical Benefits of Massage

  • Helps relieve stress and aids relaxation 
  • Helps relieve muscle tension and stiffness 
  • Fosters faster healing of strained muscles and sprained ligaments; reduces pain and swelling; reduces formation of excessive scar tissue 
  • Reduces muscle spasms 
  • Provides greater joint flexibility and range of motion 
  • Enhances athletic performance 
  • Promotes deeper and easier breathing 
  • Improves circulation of blood and movement of lymph fluids 
  • Reduces blood pressure  
  • Helps relieve tension-related headaches and  
  • Effects of eye-strain 
  • Enhances the health and nourishment of skin 
  • Improves posture 
  • Strengthens the immune system

Mental Benefits of Massage

  • Fosters peace of mind 
  • Promotes a relaxed state of mental alertness 
  • Helps relieve mental stress 
  • Improves ability to monitor stress signals and respond appropriately 
  • Enhances capacity for calm thinking and creativity 
  • Satisfies needs for caring — nurturing touch 
  • Fosters a feeling of well-being 
  • Reduces levels of anxiety 
  • Increases awareness of mind-body connection

This information is from the American Massage Therapy Association. For more information on massage therapy visit their website.


A:

The first appointment generally begins with the massage therapist asking what prompted you to get a massage, your current physical condition, medical history, lifestyle, stress level, and painful areas. The massage therapist may ask you about your health goals and what you hope the massage will do to help you achieve those goals.

For a full-body massage, you will be asked to remove clothing to your level of comfort. Undressing takes place in private, and a sheet, towel or gown is provided for draping. The therapist will undrape only the part of your body being massaged, ensuring that your modesty is respected at all times. Your massage will take place in a comfortable atmosphere and on a cushioned table. You should expect a peaceful, relaxing experience.

This information is from the American Massage Therapy Association. For more information on massage therapy visit their website.


A: If you have any of these conditions, you should not come in for a massage:
  • fever
  • acute illness
  • uncontrolled high blood pressure
  • blood clots
  • infectious/contagious diseases
  • vertigo
  • phlebitis or lymphangitis
  • uncontrolled diabetes
  • any other conditions require caution by your massage therapist. Please be thorough when filling out your health history!
A:
Session FocusSuggested FrequencyWhy?
Pain managementEvery 1-2 weeks or more often, decreasing the interval as the source of the pain is addressedWhen you're in pain, your muscles tend to over contract, which prolongs the pain you are feeling. Then you develop patterns of movement to mitigate pain which may instead cause pain in another area. Massage helps to break this cycle.
Relaxation/Stress ReductionEvery 2-4 weeks, depending on stress levelThe direct relaxational effects of massage may only a day or two. However, with the right frequency, your body will remember how it feels to be relaxed and you will begin to trigger this state more often.
Improving postureOnce a week with dedicated at home work.Improving posture is as much about releasing chronic tension patterns as it is relearning how to stand and walk. You wouldn't expect to learn a new skill attending class only once a month with no homework... same theory applies here.
Reducing muscle sorenessAs neededMassage helps remove metabolic wastes from the muscle tissue, while lengthening and "irons out" kinks, enabling you to keep your physical activity going strong.
General health maintenanceEvery 4-6 weeksAny longer than 6 week intervals is just an occasional treat for you body.
                                
                                Cara Sulkowski Effinger, LMBT 6078
                                            704-232-1646