Going to See a Massage Therapist for the First Time? Here's What to Expect

Registered massage therapists can help treat a number of conditions and ailments, including back and neck injuries, knee injuries, asthma, arthritis and much more. But when you go to a massage therapist for treatment, what will he or she actually do?

First, if you're suffering from an injury or illness, you need to see a registered massage therapist, or RMT. An RMT is trained in anatomy, physiology, pathology, neurology and much more. When you see an RMT, you know you're seeing someone with the experience and education to help treat your particular health issue.

The truth is your massage therapist has one main goal - to get you well. The primary aim is to restore, maintain and maximize your movement, function, all to help improve your overall wellbeing.

What happens when you visit a massage therapist for a treatment? First, after taking a detailed health history and learning about your injury or condition, the massage therapist will work to come up with a treatment plan.

Next, you'll be asked to prepare yourself for your treatment. Your massage therapist may ask you to remove your clothing from the waist up, and may also ask you to remove your pants (but leave your underwear on). He or she will leave the room, and give you time to undress, lie down on the massage table and cover yourself with a sheet. A good RMT will keep all of your sensitive areas covered at all times with a sheet, never exposing you at any time.

If you're uncomfortable with the idea of removing your clothing, be sure to speak to your RMT about it before your treatment. Together, you can come up with a solution to ensure you get the treatment you need, and ease any fears you might have about disrobing.

The reason the RMT generally requires you to remove your clothes is so he or she can have full access to your muscles. An RMT generally applies an oil or lotion to the skin when performing the massage, which is best done when you've removed your clothing.

Then, the massage therapist will come back into the room (and will knock before entering to be sure you're ready) and begin the massage. You may start out lying on your stomach and then flipping onto your back, or vice versa. Your therapist will guide you through the process, and may ask you questions throughout the treatment to discover if anything hurts or which areas might require special treatment.

When your allotted treatment time is up, your therapist will leave the room so you can dress. When you're finished, your therapist will give you any additional information you may need, require payment and book another appointment based on how much treatment you need.