Whether it’s your first time or you’re a seasoned client, understanding what to expect during your massage therapy, osteopathy, or acupuncture appointment can help ensure a smooth and comfortable experience. At the core of these treatments is your well-being and comfort, and knowing the process can empower you to make informed choices.
Your Health and Consent
In keeping with the Health Care Consent Act (1996), it is your choice to receive treatments such as massage therapy, acupuncture, manual osteopathy, and other modalities like scrapping, cupping, or electro-acupuncture. When you attend your appointment, you will provide written consent for your therapist, to perform the necessary treatments and modalities.
Your Treatment Session: What to Expect
Your first visit will include several important steps to ensure a thorough understanding of your needs:
- Case History and Paperwork: You’ll complete a case history form detailing your health background. It’s essential to be honest about any medical conditions, injuries, or concerns that may affect your treatment.
- Vitals and Assessment: Expect to have your vital signs checked, including things like your blood pressure or heart rate. The therapist will also conduct assessments, which may include special orthopedic tests and a review of any previous treatments or injuries.
- Interview and Treatment Plan: A discussion about your goals for therapy, your pain levels, or any specific areas of discomfort will take place. Based on this, the therapist will tailor the session to your needs.
- Dressing and Privacy: The time allotted for your session will include not only the assessment and treatment but also time for you to change into comfortable attire. Remember, you are never required to remove all your clothing for a session. Only remove what you are comfortable with. For areas like the gluteals, inner thighs, chest wall, or breasts, the therapist will require your written consent before assessing or treating these sensitive areas.
During the Session
The session itself will be a focused, therapeutic experience:
- Session Structure: Your session includes time spent on a variety of activities:
- Assessment: The therapist will conduct an initial assessment to understand your body’s needs and identify areas that require attention.
- Treatment: This is the hands-on portion of your session where your therapist applies various techniques—whether massage, acupuncture, osteopathy, or other modalities.
- Home Care Teaching: After the treatment, your therapist may offer specific recommendations, including stretches, exercises, or self-care practices to support your healing between sessions.
- Time for Changing: Your appointment time will also allow for moments to change into comfortable clothing before and after your session, maintaining privacy and comfort.
- Modesty and Comfort: Linens will be draped over your body to maintain your privacy and comfort. Only the area being treated will be exposed. For example, if you’re having a massage of the back, only that area will be undraped.
- Communication Is Key: It’s crucial that you feel comfortable throughout your session. If any discomfort or pain arises, you are encouraged to immediately let your therapist know. The pressure, techniques, or treatment methods will be adjusted according to your comfort level.
- Possible Side Effects: After your session, you may experience temporary soreness or discomfort in the treated muscles, which can last between 24 to 72 hours. Bruising or dizziness may also occur, especially with treatments like acupuncture.
- Acupuncture: If you’re receiving acupuncture as part of your treatment, you should expect sterile needles to be inserted into targeted areas. The feeling may range from mild discomfort to a sensation of energy movement. While rare, it’s possible for a needle to become stuck, but this can typically be resolved by relaxing the muscle. If you feel nauseous during acupuncture, rest assured that it’s usually a temporary feeling and often subsides after a few moments.
- Pressure and Techniques: If you ever experience significant discomfort or pain from the therapist’s methods or pressure, you have the right to stop or adjust the treatment at any time. The therapist is there to support your needs.
Consent, Communication, and Safety
Your safety and comfort are paramount:
- Ongoing Communication: Throughout your session, keep your therapist informed about your body’s responses. If at any point you feel that your well-being is compromised, speak up. The therapist will work with you to adjust the treatment accordingly.
- Right to End Treatment: You can stop the treatment at any time without giving a reason. It’s important that you feel in control of the session.
- Medical Conditions: If you have any medical conditions that may affect your treatment, it’s vital that you disclose them upfront. There are certain conditions under which massage therapy or osteopathy may not be recommended. It’s essential to keep the therapist updated on any changes to your medical profile during the session.
- No Diagnoses or Spinal Manipulation: Massage therapists and osteopaths do not diagnose medical conditions or perform spinal manipulations. They are not authorized to prescribe medications or treatments but are focused on alleviating muscle, joint, and soft tissue discomfort.
Policies and Procedures
- Appointment Changes and Cancellations: Should you need to reschedule or cancel an appointment, please provide 24 hours’ notice. If not, you may be charged for the full appointment time. Likewise, if you arrive late, your session will be shortened to fit within the time remaining.
- Fee Schedule: The fee schedule for treatments will be clearly communicated to you. If you have health insurance, the therapist will charge your insurance provider in accordance with the disclosed rates.
- Infectious Diseases: Should any infectious diseases be recognized, appropriate precautions will be taken to protect both you and the therapist.
- Right to Contact Your Physician: If necessary, your therapist may contact your physician for clarification or coordination of your treatment plan.
- Behavior and Conduct: It’s important to maintain appropriate behavior throughout your treatment. Should any inappropriate conduct occur, the therapist reserves the right to end the session.
Final Thoughts
Massage therapy, osteopathy, and acupuncture are powerful tools in supporting your body’s health and recovery. They are safe, effective, and can be tailored to your unique needs. By understanding what to expect, you ensure that you can get the most out of your appointment while feeling comfortable and empowered every step of the way.
We look forward to working with you on your path to wellness!