QuestionHi Christopher
What aftercare advice would you give a client and why?
Eat a light diet.
This is what I think, but I need confirmation :
"Massage stimulates the digestive system, therefore eating a large meal will make the client feel nauseous".
Cany you please give me any further guidance.
Regards
Tracy Kelly
AnswerGreetings Tracey. That is a great place to start with after care advice. There is another reason for this, though: when you eat a large meal, your body will divert blood to the digestive system, away from the muscles. This will counter act one of the effects of the massage: increased blood flow to muscles that are a bit blood deprived. In addition to making the person a bit nauseous, it would also sit heavy in the stomach, sort of "grounding" you and counteracting the light feeling after the massage.
Other general tips:
Drink a lot of water - this will help flush all the toxins and metabolic wastes out of the tissues.
Avoid alcohol, as it will cause dehydration.
Rest, even take a nap - it will help the muscles relax more and allow the massage to work for longer.
Avoid stress and a lot of physical activity as these will limit the effects of the massage.
Light stretches can be done to help lengthen relaxed muscles.
Specific advice would be anything pertaining to that client. If they are an athlete, stretches are very important as is resting and not exercising. If the client has specific muscle issues, stretches that focus on them are important. After care advice could also include advice about body posture and how they use their bodies during the day - their body mechanics. People who slouch need to focus on sitting up straight, etc. Tailoring this advice to your client takes a firm knowledge of kinestiology and body mechanics.
I hope this was of some help, Tracey. Please feel free to write back if you have any other questions.
Sincerely,
Christopher Hall
