Journal
What happens at your first massage appointment
5 minute read. Written by the team at Back in Health, Kelowna.
In short
A first appointment starts with a health history and a short assessment before any hands-on work. You undress only to your comfort level, in private, and stay covered by a sheet throughout, with only the area being treated uncovered. You should leave knowing what your therapist found and what to do between visits.
Before hands go anywhere
The first ten to fifteen minutes are intake and assessment. Your therapist asks what brought you in, what makes it better or worse, your medical history, your medications, and anything that changes how they should work. Some of it will feel unrelated to your sore shoulder. It is not.
They will usually watch you move, test a few ranges, and press on a few things to find out what is actually irritable. This is why we suggest booking seventy-five minutes for a first massage, so assessment does not eat into treatment time.
Draping and pressure
You undress to your own comfort level. Many people keep underwear on. Your therapist leaves the room while you get onto the table under a sheet, and only the region being worked on is uncovered at any point. Draping is a professional standard, not a courtesy.
You can ask for more or less pressure at any moment, and you can ask them to leave an area alone without explaining why. Good pressure is intense but breathable. If you are gripping the table, say so.
What you leave with
You should leave with a plain-language explanation of what your therapist found, a sense of how many visits they expect, and usually one or two things to do at home. If none of that is offered, ask. Being sore for a day afterwards is common, particularly after deeper work. Sharp or worsening pain is not, and is worth a phone call.
Key points
- Book 75 minutes for a first visit so assessment fits
- You undress only to your comfort level, in private
- You stay covered; only the treated area is uncovered
- Pressure is adjustable at any point, just say so
- Mild soreness for a day is normal, sharp pain is not
General information, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan. If something is getting worse, or you are unsure whether it is right for you, speak to a clinician.