Swedish Massage Body Assessments

Swedish massage body assessments are important to perform, because they help the massage therapist determine the location of problem areas as well as other issues a person may be having prior to the massage. This can help to ensure an effective Swedish massage treatment.

Body Appearance

The massage therapist should focus on the client's body alignment. This will provide information about where the focus of the massage should be made. A good rule of thumb to check for misalignment is to look at the feet. If one leg appears longer than the other, the hips are usually out of alignment. If this is the case, the focus of the massage should be on the tighter area. This is normally the area that is working harder to compensate for the misalignment.

Pain                                                                                          

Get a good verbal assessment from the client to determine where they are experiencing pain or tightness in their muscles. This can help to find out the root of the problem. Sometimes the place the client is feeling the pain is actually being referred from a different location. These locations are called trigger points, and can be relieved by working out the knot or trigger point causing the pain. Tender spots or trigger points can be located throughout the body, and to find these, it is good to have the client give the verbal assessment of where they feel the pain.

Preference

Some clients prefer a much harder preference for massage therapy than others. Some people have a low threshold for massage, and can only tolerate minimal pressure. It is a good idea to ask the client if they have a preference before the massage session begins. A communication method can be used such as raising the hand if the pressure is too hard. This can be good for the clients who do not feel comfortable with talking during their session.