Massage and Posture Alignment Therapy FAQs
FAQs about Massage Therapy
Where will my massage or bodywork session take place?
Must I be completely undressed?
Will the practitioner be present when I disrobe?
Will I be covered during the session?
What will the massage or bodywork feel like?
Are there different kinds of massage and bodywork?
What should I do during the massage or bodywork session?
How will I feel after the massage or bodywork session?
What are the benefits of massage and bodywork?
Are there any medical conditions that would make massage or bodywork inadvisable?
FAQs about the Posture Alignment Therapy
What is Posture Alignment Therapy and Corrective Exercise?
What do I wear for my visit?
What should I expect on the first visit?
What happens at follow-up sessions?
How long before I feel results?
What’s different about Posture Alignment Therapy from chiropractic or physical therapy?
Do I have to do these exercises for the rest of my life?
Will my insurance cover the Posture Alignment Therapy?
Will I have to stop my current exercise routine?
FAQs about Massage Therapy
Where will my massage or bodywork session take place?
Your massage treatment will take place here in our clinic. You will find the setting to be very comfortable with calming music and a warm and compassionate staff to help you.
Must I be completely undressed?
Most massage and bodywork techniques are traditionally performed with the client unclothed; however, it is entirely up to you what you want to wear. You should undress to your level of comfort. You will be properly draped during the entire session.
Will the practitioner be present when I disrobe?
The practitioner will leave the room while you undress, relax onto the table, and cover yourself with a clean sheet or towel.
Will I be covered during the session? You will be properly draped at all times to keep you warm and comfortable. Only the area being worked on will be exposed.
What will the massage or bodywork feel like?
A relaxing Swedish massage is often a baseline for clients. In a general Swedish massage, your session may start with broad, flowing strokes that will help calm your nervous system and relax exterior muscle tension. As your body becomes relaxed, pressure will gradually be increased to relax specific areas and relieve areas of muscular tension. Often, a light oil or lotion is used to allow your muscles to be massaged without causing excessive friction to the skin. The oil also helps hydrate your skin. You should communicate immediately if you feel any discomfort so that another approach may be taken. Massage and bodywork are most effective when your body is not resisting.
Are there different kinds of massage and bodywork?
There are numerous types of massage and bodywork; various techniques utilize different strokes, including basic rubbing strokes, rocking movement, posture and movement re-education, application of pressure to specific points, and more. We can discuss which methods may be most appropriate for you.
What should I do during the massage or bodywork session?
Prior to the massage, feel free to ask the practitioner any questions about the technique or the upcoming session. During the massage, make yourself comfortable. The practitioner will either gently move you or tell you what is needed throughout the session (such as lifting your arm). Many people just close their eyes and completely relax, communicating if/when they need more or less pressure, another blanket, or anything else relevant to the session. If you have any questions regarding the session or about the particular technique you are receiving, feel free to ask.
How will I feel after the massage or bodywork session?
Most people feel very relaxed. Some experience freedom from long-term aches and pains developed from tension or repetitive activity. After an initial period of feeling slowed down, people often experience increased energy, heightened awareness, and greater productivity which can last for days. Since toxins are released from your soft tissues during a massage, it is recommended you drink plenty of water following your massage.
What are the benefits of massage and bodywork?
Massage and bodywork can help release chronic muscular tension and pain, improve circulation, increase joint flexibility, reduce mental and physical fatigue and stress, promote faster healing of injured muscular tissue, improve posture, and reduce blood pressure. Massage and bodywork is also known to promote better sleep, improve concentration, reduce anxiety and create an overall sense of well-being.
Are there any medical conditions that would make massage or bodywork inadvisable?
Yes. That's why it's imperative that, before you begin your session, the practitioner asks general health questions. It is very important that you inform the practitioner of any health problems or medications you are taking. If you are under a doctor's care, it is strongly advised that you receive a written recommendation for massage or bodywork prior to any session. Depending on the condition, approval from your doctor may be required.
FAQs about the Posture Alignment Therapy
What is Posture Alignment Therapy and Corrective Exercise?
It’s a process which involves a series of stretches and gentle exercises (or e-cises) designed specifically for each client. This process strengthens specific muscles and brings the body back to its proper alignment and functioning the way it was designed—pain free.
Posture Alignment Therapy and Corrective Exercise is the key to a long term posture solution. It is a systematic way of addressing your body's misalignments with gentle stretches and exercises (some of which you may have seen, some of which you definitely haven't).
Personalized to your body and your needs, the self-care regimen you develop with your practitioner goes beyond the quick-fix mentality of the ineffective stretches and exercises circulating the fitness, chiropractic, medical, and physical therapy worlds.
It is effective in addressing structural issues in your body, and, unlike the pills you might otherwise use to keep your pain at bay, addiction to these posture-improving regimens is actually good for you.
What do I wear for my visit?
Shorts, a clinging T-shirt/ tank top and no shoes will be the best to correctly evaluate your posture. I need to be able to see your knees. Most exercises will be done barefoot. Sneakers might be needed for very limited number of exercises.
What should I expect on the first visit?
The initial visit is a two-hour session working one on one with an experienced Postural Alignment Specialist certified by Egoscue University. This visit includes gathering an extensive health history and performing a detailed postural and functional assessment. Photos are taken to reveal the skeletal position of the body. Your gait is analyzed and various movements are performed to evaluate your specific limitations. An individualized program is designed by your therapist for you to perform at home every day. You will receive pictures of the exercises and positions with detailed directions. The key to Posture Alignment Therapy is the sequence and consistency of the exercises.
What happens at follow-up sessions?
Typically, you will come back to see us every two weeks for one-hour sessions. The average client returns for four or five additional sessions over three months. Each follow up session includes a reassessment of posture, gait and movement. Your therapist determines the changes in the body from the previous home program. Based on these findings, a new exercise menu will be designed to enable your progress.
How long before I feel results?
Most often, clients feel a real difference at the initial session. The exercises that are prescribed will realign the body and relieve pain. However, that is just the beginning of the process. The key is to re-train postural muscles to keep your body in the newly aligned position, without thinking about it. Doing the exercises every day over a period of time is creating the muscle memory that will carry you into a permanent pain free lifestyle.
What’s different about Posture Alignment Therapy from chiropractic or physical therapy?
The key difference is that Posture Alignment Therapy addresses the entire body rather than just the symptoms. We utilize resting positions combined with gentle repetitions to activate or stimulate individual muscles in a very specific position and in a specific sequence. This allows a gradual re-education of the body so that alignment and movement are restored without excessive effort or force being applied. This is not “hands on” treatment that we do to you. You create the lasting change in your body!
Do I have to do these exercises for the rest of my life?
Posture Alignment Therapy has a 94% success rate! Most people find that if they commit to about twenty minutes a day for three months, they will experience a significant change in alignment and function. After the initial timeframe, most clients choose to continue with a daily routine because of the benefits that they notice and many say that they look forward to their program because it makes them feel so much better!
Will my insurance cover the Posture Alignment Therapy?
Posture Alignment Therapy is considered a non-medical approach and RLE Massage & Posture Therapy cannot bill insurance companies directly. However, many insurance plans now cover non-traditional therapies such as massage, acupuncture and Posture Alignment Therapy. We will provide you with paid invoice receipts including appropriate coding and encourage you to submit these to your insurance plan in the event that the service might be reimbursed. Also, consider using your flexible spending account!
Will I have to stop my current exercise routine?
The majority of the time, we encourage you to continue with a current program as long as it is not causing more pain while being performed. At times, we will have you stop weight training in the initial two week phase so that you can maximize the changes in alignment. If you work on strengthening muscles when the joints are not in alignment, you are strengthening your dysfunction. Our job is to help you get straight and then guide you to strengthen. Most cardiovascular exercise is encouraged during your progression of work with Posture Alignment Therapy.
