Nothing feels better than a good massage. No matter if your body is full of knots or you want to give your muscles an escape, you’ll always benefit from a rub down.
However, you may be stumped when trying to decide how long you should lay on the massage table. Most massages come in increments of 30,60,90, or even 120 minutes, and it’s sometimes hard to make a decision.
If you can’t decide how much massage time you need, check out the information below.
Determining Massage Time
If you’re going for your first massage, the therapist should do an assessment with you to determine what kind of care you need.
If you can’t decide how long your massage should be, the choice should be much easier after the assessment is done. Here are the three keys things that the therapist examines during the first evaluation.
Inspection of the Skin
One of the first things the therapist checks for is the condition of your skin, and they examine it for moisture, texture, temperature, lesions, and bruises. This information helps them decide how to move forward, and if the condition of your skin is poor, the therapist may cancel the appointment.
For instance, if you have sunburn it’s considered a local contraindication, and a rub down could be harmful to you.
Posture
Another factor that is checked is your posture. The therapist will take a look at your body from each angle and examine whether your shoulders are leveled, hips are equal, knees aligned, and more.
If they determine there are some issues, they may decide to do some techniques to improve your body’s functionality.
Gait Analysis
A gait analysis assesses how you walk and your walking pattern. Even a minor injury can affect your stride and cause pain. Improper walking can hinder other areas of your body, so the therapist can also assist you with adjusting it.
The Difference Between Massage Times
There are many benefits of a massage, and no matter how long of a rub down you get, you’re sure to feel better. However, the way to determine how much massage time you need shouldn’t always be based on how you feel; sometimes a little more thought should go into it.
Especially, if your body has been through a lot or you’re recovering from a physical injury. With that in mind, here are some ways to decide how long your massage time should be.
30 Minute Massage
Thirty-minute massages are great if you have a small, concentrated area like a joint, neck, or ankle that needs treatment. Within 30 minutes, a therapist can do a lot of work on one particular area that requires recovery.
If you want to relax, half an hour won’t be long enough. Even an hour can go by fast when you’re wanting to enjoy a spa day, so it’s best to leave the short massages for certain sections, not a full body rub down.
60 Minute Massage
If you need a large region of your body worked on like your back and legs, 60 minutes is a good option. An hour gives the therapist enough massage time to focus on various muscles and tensions within the body. It’ll also allow them adequate time to work out any knots or tender areas.
It also takes the body a while to release tension and get back into realignment, so an hour is right for the job.
90 Minutes
A full body massage should be done within 90 minutes. When working on the entire body, there doesn’t need to be any time constraints, especially if there are a lot of areas that need to be worked on.
Not to mention, if there are certain sections that require a little more love, the therapist needs to be able to take their time to work out the kinks. Plus, if you’re looking to pamper yourself, then an hour and a half is perfect. When you consider the time that it takes the therapist to leave the room, go get hot stones, and other tasks it deducts from the massage time you get.
However, if you choose 90 minutes, you’re sure to get the most out of your minutes.
2 Hour Massage
A two-hour massage isn’t always one of the most popular choices, but it’s definitely necessary for those who need it. If you play sports or live an active lifestyle, a two-hour massage is just what your body needs.
There’s no way a short rub down can repair a body that goes through a lot of wear and tear. Deep tissue massages and sports massages require a lot of slow kneading and pressing to loosen the muscle, and when dealing with tight muscles, it could take quite a bit of effort.
Also, if you’re wanting a full-body sports massage, that absolutely needs double the massage time. Otherwise, you’d leave the appointment still feeling stiff and knotted.
Feel Better Than Ever
Hopefully, this information above helps you determine how much massage time you really need. Sometimes your body needs to be repaired, and other times you just want to pamper yourself. Either way, you can never go wrong with getting a rub down.
No matter if you desire a sports massage or relaxation, we’ve got you covered. Our database offers access to experts that can give your body the care it deserves. With that said, feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
We look forward to hearing from you soon.
