Why Health History Matters for Massage Therapy

If you’ve ever booked a massage, you were likely asked to fill out a health history form or answer some basic health history questions before your first appointment. It’s a standard practice for many massage therapists, and with good reason. Although many people schedule massages seeking relaxation and stress relief, massage therapy affects your body in many ways. In some parts of the world, massage therapy is an integral part of medical treatment and has been for centuries.

At Resonance Mind Body Wellness, our health history form includes questions about various aspects of current and past health issues, including injuries or surgeries, current medications, history of blood clots, and areas of chronic pain. All of this information helps your licensed massage therapist customize the massage experience to your needs.

For injuries and chronic pain, a focused massage increases circulation and blood flow to the area to promote healing and pain relief. The history you share with your therapist helps you get the most benefit out of your massage. For example, overuse injuries are commonly treated with massage. If you have a knee injury from running, your therapist can concentrate on the knee and surrounding areas to promote healing.

Your health history also informs your therapist of any potential contraindications or types of massage that you should not receive. Since massage affects your circulatory system, there can be potential for interaction with certain medications. Patients on blood thinners may be more prone to bruising, which means we take a much lighter touch with massage. A history of blood clots is very important information for your massage therapist, as certain types of massage could potentially dislodge a clot and allow it to circulate to your heart, brain, or lungs.

Your health history is an important factor in determining the safest, most effective massage for you. If you have any questions about what type of massage is best for you, the health history can give your therapist the information they need to determine the answer. Before booking your next massage, be sure to take the time to fully complete your health history. And if anything changes about your health history in between regular massages, be sure to let your therapist know about the changes.