Why Massage is Safe and Necessary

2020 has been an eventful year, and you may be starting to feel the physical effects of the stress. If your self-care practice includes massage therapy, you may also be wondering what most of us are: Is massage safe?

The short answer is yes! One of the really great aspects of massage therapy is that even prior to COVID-19, our industry has been dedicated to cleanliness and hygienic practices. With organizations, such as the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB), massage therapists and bodyworkers have science-backed, easy to follow guidelines to keep ourselves and our clients safe. Many of these guidelines are essentially what was considered standard protocol before, too. 

Whether you are booking a table massage for yourself at your favorite studio or planning to surprise your staff with chair massages at the office, there are many ways to keep everyone safe. As a client, there isn’t much you will have to change from your previous routine.

Some best practices for minimizing the risk of spread of COVID-19 include:

• Always wear a mask. Your therapist should be masked the entire time as well. 
• Wash your hands thoroughly before and after your massage. Therapists have always practiced this (even before the pandemic).
• Avoid touching your face. Massage therapists will not be able to offer face massage at this time for the same reason.
• Keep conversations to a minimum. Conversations in close proximity can result in more particulates in the air. 
• Opt for outdoor sessions whenever possible. It has been proven that the risk factor is dramatically decreased when outdoors. 
• Opt for shorter sessions when possible. Two-hour massages aren’t completely out of the question, but shorter sessions mean less time in a shared space. Chair massages are a great alternative for this reason!
• Be flexible with new safety protocols. You may be asked to remain in your car until your therapist is ready for you or to reschedule if your therapist isn’t feeling well. Your studio or practitioner of choice will ask you to reschedule if you feel ill as well. These measures are in place to protect everyone.

We know how important human touch can be, especially now that we have been so isolated from our friends and family, and how beneficial massage is for stress. Since we are still adjusting to our “new normal” for the foreseeable future, it’s important to find a way to safely take care of ourselves and each other. Most businesses and therapists have increased sanitizing routines and are more careful than ever.

Make sure to communicate with your therapist or studio, and ask questions. Don’t hesitate to ask about their safety protocols and what they’re doing to keep you safe. At LoDo Massage LLC, we are committed to the best practices of the massage industry and implementing as many safety protocols as necessary. If clients and therapists work together, the industry can continue to safely offer stress relief and pain management for our communities!