What to expect from your first massage in Prince George

People get massage therapy for many reasons - car accidents, sports injuries, chronic pain etc. Though the specific treatment will be different for each condition, many things are the same in the first treatment. Here’s what to look forward to.

There will be assessment
Yup. In BC, massage therapists need to ask a bunch of questions before beginning treatment. And your massage therapist in Prince George is no different. They will ask you plenty of questions about your condition, general health, exercise etc. They may also do special tests or other assessments. They need all of this information to make sure the treatment will be safe, and to come up with a treatment plan. And the more info your RMT has, the better the treatment plan will be! Assessment usually takes around 5-10 minutes, though depending on the condition, it may take longer. If it is an ICBC claim, expect it to take up to 20 minutes. After the first treatment, you can expect some follow up assessment, but this will usually take a lot less time.

There will be massage
This should be no surprise. You’ll likely get a massage treatment after your assessment. If it’s your first treatment, expect the massage to be a bit more general. The specific condition should be addressed, but the first treatment generally helps you and your massage therapist know how your body will respond to treatment, which techniques seem to work best for you etc. Subsequent treatments usually get more specific. 

Your massage therapist may talk - a lot
Aside from the actual massage, one of the main benefits of seeing a massage therapist is their knowledge. RMTs go through extensive training in anatomy, physiology and many conditions. They will use this knowledge to help you understand your condition, what has contributed to it, and what you can do to help the treatment progress and prevent it in the future. This will often happen during the treatment - but don’t worry, most RMTs can multi task and provide hands on treatment at the same time!

There will be home exercises
Well, not always. But often they will give you homework. But not the bad kind. Your RMT will often give you stretches and exercises to do at home. They may even suggest you change up your desk etc. 

You might feel a bit sore after
This is normal, and generally subsides after a day or so.
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A few random notes:

1. Yes, people fall asleep.
   Even during medical massage treatments, people will fall asleep. It’s normal and not an issue. Your RMT may not even realize it has happened. They will wake you if they need feedback.
   
   
2. Most people prefer to keep their eyes closed during massage.
   But it’s up to the individual, and eyes open or closed doesn’t really matter.
   
   
3. You can wear whatever you want.
   Most people undress down to underwear, but some people will stay fully clothed. It’s totally up to you - and so long as nothing is innapropirately exposed, it doesn’t really matter. Your massage therapist will work with whatever level of clothing and make sure that you are draped appropriately the whole time.
   
   
4. You’ll probably need to book more than one appointment.
   Most conditions require at least a few treatments. In general, the longer the condition has been present, or the more severe it is, the longer it will take to treat. And if you are booking massage in Prince George, you may want to book a few - as it’s not always easy to get in!