Effective Communication with Your Therapist Will Optimize Results

Effective Communication with Your Therapist Will Optimize Results

Communication is a crucial aspect of success with any form of rehabilitation. When it comes to soft tissue therapy, effective communication can significantly enhance your overall experience and results. Whether you’re seeking relief from chronic pain or looking to improve your athleticism, establishing clear and open communication with your sports/medical massage therapist is key. In this article, we will give you pointers on how to communicate with your therapist to ensure the best possible outcomes.

• Provide a Detailed Health History:
• Start by sharing a comprehensive health history with your sports/medical massage therapist. This includes any past injuries, surgeries, or medical conditions you may have. Inform your therapist about your current medications and any ongoing treatments. This information gives your therapist valuable insights into your unique health situation, allowing them to tailor the treatment plan to your specific needs. If you are an active person, tell your massage therapist about your training regiment and recovery practices. 
• Clearly Express Your Goals and Concerns:
• Articulate your treatment goals and concerns to your therapist from the outset. Whether you seek pain relief, improved flexibility, or enhanced overall well-being, being specific about your objectives helps the therapist customize their approach. If you have particular areas of discomfort or pain, communicate these details so that the therapist can prioritize and address them during the session. A good therapist will ask you what makes it better or worse, but you can improve this evaluation by explaining specifics movements and exercises. I’ll give you a few examples; I feel the pain during bench press, I feel pain when I get in and out of my car, I feel the pain after I have been sitting for more than twenty minutes, I feel the pain the first 3 miles of my run and then it subsides. 
• Provide Feedback During the Session:
• During the soft tissue therapy session, communicate openly about the pressure, sensations and any discomfort you may be experiencing. Your therapist needs your input to adjust their techniques accordingly. If the pressure is too intense or too light, let your therapist know. Regular check-ins ensure that the treatment remains within your comfort zone while still effectively targeting the problem areas. A proficient therapist should be doing this with you throughout the sessions, but being specific can help them attune more to the treatment. Here are a few examples of what I mean; I’m feeling sharpness where you’re pressing and it is traveling all the way down to my fingertips, where you are pressing is burning and feels like a hot poker going through my muscle, whatever it is that you’re working on right now is recreating the exact pain I have. 
• Ask Questions and Seek Clarifications:
• Don’t hesitate to ask questions about the techniques being used, the purpose behind them, and how they contribute to your overall goals. Understanding the process can empower you to actively participate in your rehabilitation journey. Your soft tissue therapist is a valuable resource for information, and they should be willing to provide explanations and answer any questions you may have. Don’t hesitate to ask them things like; what muscle is that that you’re working on, why are you working over there when I told you I have pain here, is it ok that my hand is going numb when you press there, why do some areas of the muscle hurt and others do not.
• Communicate Any Changes in Your Condition:
• If there are changes in your health or if you’ve experienced new injuries or developments since your last session, inform your sports/medical massage therapist. This ongoing communication ensures that the treatment plan can be adjusted to accommodate any shifts in your physical condition. It is also beneficial for you to communicate break throughs and reduction in negative symptoms. Some examples of this are; I no longer have pain in my neck and now my shoulder hurts when I do certain movements, I can run a little longer before the pain starts setting in and the intensity is slightly lower, I fell last week and I have new symptoms to the area we have been treating. 
• Follow Post-Treatment Recommendations:
• After your soft tissue therapy session, your therapist may provide recommendations for self-care, such as stretches or exercises. Commit to following these suggestions, and communicate any challenges or concerns you may encounter in incorporating them into your routine. Your therapist can offer guidance to help you optimize the benefits of the treatment between sessions. For example; you’re having a hard time with the amount of self-care or the duration they have asked you to complete, you may feel like some of the exercise are exacerbating your issues and need to ask for alternatives or you may not have the space or equipment necessary and need to figure out another way to incorporate the activities they have suggested. 

Effective communication is the foundation of a successful therapeutic relationship with your soft tissue therapist or any other rehabilitative specialist. By providing a detailed health history, expressing your goals, offering feedback during sessions, asking questions, communicating changes in your condition, and following post-treatment recommendations, you can ensure a collaborative and tailored approach to your Sports Massage and Medical Massage Therapy treatments. If you have any questions for us feel free to contact us.