This is a very common question that most clients ask.

The answer is very simple. Massage works best when received frequently. 

The more massage therapy you receive, the greater the benefits you reap. 

It's as simple as that. 

It works the same as eating healthy, working out, weight loss, etc.

You wouldn't work out in the gym one day than wait a month and work out again.

That would not be productive at all.

To receive the most benefits from massage therapy you need to set aside time for a massage at least once a week.

If you suffer an injury such as a sprain, strain, muscle pull, or tear, immediate first aid can prevent complications and help you heal faster.

One of the most important acronyms to remember if you get a sports injury is R.I.C.E.

R.I.C.E. stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.

Using these 4 immediate first aid measures can relieve pain, limit swelling and protect the injured tissues, all of which help speed healing.

When an injury occurs the damaged area may bruise, swell or bleed (externally or internally) and become inflamed. Healing occurs as the damaged tissue is replaced by collagen, perhaps better known as scar tissue. In most cases the tissue needs complete repair before you should return to sports.

The R.I.C.E. Method of Acute Injury Treatment

• Rest: Resting is important immediately after injury for two reasons. First, rest is vital to protect the injured muscle, tendon, ligament or other tissue from further injury. Second, your body needs to rest so it has the energy it needs to heal itself most effectively.

• Ice: Use ice bags, cold packs or even a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a thin towel to provide cold to the injured area. Cold can provide short-term pain relief. It also limits swelling by reducing blood flow to the injured area. Keep in mind, though, that you should never leave ice on an injury for more than 15-20 minutes at a time. Longer exposure can damage your skin. The best rule is to apply cold compresses for 15 minutes and then leave them off for at least 20 minutes.

• Compression: Compression limits swelling, which slows down healing. Some people notice pain relief from compression as well. An easy way to compress the area of the injury is to wrap an ACE bandage over it. If you feel throbbing, or if the wrap just feels too tight, remove the bandage and re-wrap the area so the bandage is a little looser.

• Elevation: Elevating an injury reduces swelling. It's most effective when the injured area is raised above the level of the heart. For example, if you injure an ankle, try lying on your bed with your foot propped on one or two pillows.

Once the healing process has begun, very light massage may improve the function of forming scar tissue, cut healing time and reduce the possibility of injury recurrence.

Gentle stretching can be begun once all swelling has subsided. Try to work the entire range of motion of the injured joint or muscle, but be extremely careful not to force a stretch, or you risk re-injury to the area. Keep in mind that a stretch should never cause pain. 

Heat may be helpful once the injury moves out of the acute phase and swelling and bleeding has stopped. Moist heat will increase blood supply to the damaged area and promote healing.

How to take care of yourself after a massage:

If you have access to a sauna, steam room, jacuzzi tub, or whirlpool, they are ideal ways to continue cleansing your system after your massage.
If you do not have access to any of these types of facilities, a steamy shower or an Epsom salt soak bath is also a great follow-up to a massage.

For the next 24 hours after a massage you may feel a little sore or achy. This is a normal response - a lot of acids and waste products are released into the bloodstream during massage. That achy feeling is a healing response. It should go away within 24 - 36 hours.

Rest, healthy eating, and intake of fluids will help minimize the response.

Epsom-It Body Rub Lotion - $14

Epsom-It Body Rub is a natural pain relieving cream that is made with special blends of plant extracts, and enriched with epsom salt to offer many positive benefits including relief for back pain, neck pain, arthritis pain, muscle soreness and muscle cramps. Epsom-It is safe and very effective and can be applied as often as needed. Just work the greaseless formula into the desired area whenever you experience pain, whether you are on the go, at the office or at home.