What if massage makes it worse?

Worrying that massage might flare your pain, aggravate an injury, or interfere with your medical plan is legitimate. For some people, it shows up as replaying worst-case scenarios. For others, it feels like standing at the edge of a pool — not sure whether the water is safe to step into.

How We Approach It

We start gently, use adjustable pressure, and check in throughout. When it's appropriate, we're happy to reach out to your medical team directly to make sure our approach supports your treatment rather than working against it. We don't guess — we ask.

What to Discuss With Your Therapist

Tell your LMT your diagnosis, what your providers have already said about massage or physical activity, what your body feels like today, and what outcome you're hoping for. The more specific you are, the safer and more targeted we can be.

Between-Session Considerations

Your response after the first session is information — mild soreness that clears within a day or two is typically normal. Significant flare-ups are a signal worth reporting. We want to know either way.

Learn More

Explore the Ongoing Research Review Blog, book a session focused on this concern, or reach out with questions specific to your situation.