What is a Massage Treatment Plan?

Big goals need the right strategy along with the proper tactics. When you are utilizing massage therapy to achieve a goal rather than a one-off feel-good session then you need to have the right strategy to maximize your healing outcome. 

In my opinion, most massage therapists have the right tactics (a.k.a. Hand skills) to help you but they lack the right strategy. I find the right strategy to me is developing a customized treatment plan for each person who sees me for a massage treatment.

This method makes massage service quality like that of physical therapists and other healthcare professionals. This approach over the last decade has allowed me to refine my practice and improve outcomes year over year. 

It has worked well for my massage therapy practice. It's now part of my system for Elite Healers. All employees use the same process for massage. Every single one of our clients can benefit from the process.

Why does a Massage Treatment Plan Help Recovery?

Now let’s discuss why a treatment plan helps with recovery. Well, it is the same reason consistent visits to the physical therapist help you recover, or consistent visits to the gym will get you in better shape. 

When you get injured your body’s baseline fitness falls. It drops sometimes to the level where you have scar tissue, a limited range of motion in your joints and muscles that are compensating. All these muscles need a hard reset with the help of the forms of massage therapy. 

This is where a treatment plan comes into play. If you’re injured one massage therapy treatment for pain relief is not going to get you back to full health. One visit at best might get you to feel a little better but not 100%. In cases like this, you'll need a series of treatments to experience the full benefits of massage.  

This is because muscle and other soft tissue might experience relief in one 60 or 90-minute session this won’t fix all the issues going on in your body. You’ll have to build momentum from one massage session over the next massage session.

This is why I strongly recommend coming in with a frequency of once to twice a week for a certain number of weeks. This aggressive scheduling allows us to make progress on the tension, scar tissue, and other issues you have from the injury without letting too much tension and dysfunction build-up in-between sessions. 

The key here is in those consistent sessions being really close with one another, so your tension and compensation patterns don’t have time to build back up.  

Examples of When You Need a Treatment Plan

Now let’s discuss 3 examples of health conditions when a person would need a Massage Treatment Plan.

First, let’s talk about a marathon runner who just experienced a leg injury. After the injury, their muscle strength and flexibility are significantly reduced, and they might develop scar tissue.

If they go for just one massage session, they might feel temporary relief, but their running form might still be compromised due to lingering tightness and imbalance. However, if they adhere to a treatment plan with regular massage sessions, each session builds on the last, gradually restoring muscle function and flexibility, allowing them to return to their peak running form.

Second, let's imagine an Office Worker with Chronic Back Pain. Consider an office worker who has developed chronic back pain & neck pain from long hours of sitting.

A single massage session might provide some relief, but due to their daily posture and lifestyle, the pain and tension are likely to return quickly.

A structured treatment plan of regular therapeutic massage sessions can progressively address a wide range of deep-seated muscular issues and postural imbalances. Over time, this approach reduces pain and fixes posture problems, giving a longer-lasting solution.

And now third and probably the most important one is the example of someone who is recovering from a car accident and/or recovering from surgery. Take the case of someone recovering from a car accident, and experiencing neck and shoulder pain.

Initially, their muscles are in shock, leading to stiffness and reduced mobility. One session can help with discomfort, but for complete recovery, multiple massages are needed, targeting various muscle and scar tissue layers. This method helps restore movement and reduce pain better than sporadic treatment.

What are the Different Types of Treatment Plans?

Now with regards to the different types of treatment plans, there is more than one set recommended time frame. This is part of the customization process I have created for my clients. So let’s talk about the different time frames.

First, there is the shortest treatment plan which is a 3 to 5-week time frame. I call this the “Minor Adjustments” treatment series. This is where we address discomforts and minor muscular imbalances, this plan is ideal for quick recoveries from strains and sedentary lifestyle tensions. A commitment to this concise therapy sequence can prevent the escalation of pain, ensuring your return to daily activities & getting back to being at the top of your game.

The second type of treatment series is between 6 to 8 weeks in what I have called the “Essential Rehabilitation” treatment series. This particular treatment plan was crafted with moderate injuries and recurring stress-related aches in mind.

This regimen is meant to help restore your strength and flexibility. This longer time commitment allows us to work through issues that need increased focus to create a lasting difference in your musculature. By diligently following through, you safeguard your physical well-being for the long term.

Finally, the longest treatment series that I have come up with is the 10+ weeks treatment series. This is what I have termed the “Comprehensive Recovery” treatment series. This extended program is a thorough approach to complex musculoskeletal challenges. Which includes issues such as post-operative rehabilitation, persistent pain syndromes, and chronic pain. 

In cases where it’s ten weeks plus the treatment can be towards making a recovery but in other cases, the focus here is to help provide on-going regular treatments to help reduce your pain. Adherence is key to unlocking a successful recovery & ensuring you return to doing activities you love.

 

How Do I Know if a Massage Treatment Plan is Right for Me

Now you might ask, “How do you know if a massage treatment plan is right for me?” Well, I am really glad you asked that question because understanding if a massage treatment plan is right for you starts with understanding your personal health goals and current challenges.

Is there some injury or tension-based pain haunting you which you have tried everything on your own? Well, then this would be an instance where you might need the professional help of a massage therapist and their treatment plan for you.

And the main concept here is to ask yourself: Are you looking to bounce back from an injury like our marathon runner example? Or are you seeking relief from chronic discomfort, akin to the office worker plagued by back pain?

Your unique situation – whether it's managing an acute condition or tackling long-standing issues – will determine the suitability of a treatment plan. Remember, if the goal is not just temporary relief but a long-term muscular improvement then a treatment plan might be right for you. 

Lastly, deciding on a massage treatment plan requires thoughtful consideration. A key step is consulting with a professional massage therapist who can tailor a plan to your unique needs and if you are in New York City you can do that by scheduling at www.elitehealerssportsmassage.com 

The personalized approach of a “massage treatment plan” is crucial for ensuring the plan is effective, not just a generic routine. If you come to see us at Elite Healers Sports Massage, you'll discuss your health history and specific goals before starting so that way we can customize your treatments and develop a plan for you.

Embrace this journey as a collaborative effort – one that demands your commitment to consistently follow through for real, lasting improvements in your well-being, while your massage therapist provides the much-needed treatment.