How Often Should I Get a Massage?

Good news, spa lovers: Massage can offer far more than just an hour of relaxation. A full-body treatment may help alleviate anxiety, soften pain, cure insomnia, and even aid digestion, according to the Mayo Clinic. But how often should you get a massage to reap these benefits, and when is the best time to schedule one?

The simple answer: The more frequently you get a massage, the better you may feel. That’s because the physical and mental benefits of massage may be cumulative, according to a study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Plus, scheduling more than one massage with the same massage therapist may allow him or her to become familiar with your personal stresses, aches, and pains to better personalize your service.

How often to get a massage can be a more complicated question to answer, however, depending on your personal goals. According to The University of Neuromuscular Massage in North Carolina, there are several factors to consider: Is the issue you are trying to address chronic? How well does your body respond after the first session? Is it a specific, recent muscle or joint pain that you are trying to alleviate? (If you answered ‘yes’ to the latter, you may only need a session or two to fix the problem.) 

Specifically, those who are undergoing light to moderate stress and are looking to boost general health and relaxation may consider getting a weekly or monthly massage, suggests massage therapist Sharon Puszko, PhD, in Massage Today. That said, you should stay away from getting a massage when you are feeling ill or intoxicated, warns The National University of Health Sciences.