How Shorter Massage Sessions Can Still Produce Results

By Daniel Berro, LMT

Recently, the Washington Park Chiropractic team spent the day providing some much-needed chair massages for Teacher Appreciation Week at a Denver elementary school. As the teachers settled into the massage chair, we fired up the soft jazz and asked when they last had bodywork done. Most replied that their most recent massage was during last year’s Teacher Appreciation Week. They had been waiting twelve long months for that fifteen-minute massage.

I saw firsthand how much those teachers benefited from even a brief massage appointment. Although many of the clients we see at Washington Park Chiropractic book hour-long or ninety-minute massages, you don’t need to book a session as long as the latest Marvel movie to see real benefits. 

I’ve asked clients for the last month what some of their biggest barriers to booking more regular massages are, and they generally cited three challenges:

1. Schedule is packed

2. Budget is tight

3. Uncertainty around the massage experience

If you also feel like time, money and familiarity with body work are keeping you away from the massage table, here’s how short-format massages can help:

Common Barriers to Massage Treatments

Short on Time

Time availability is one of the biggest barriers I see to clients booking regular massages—and as a busy professional with an active social life, I get it. Shorter massage sessions can be a great way to squeeze self-care into a packed schedule, before injury, pain or other issues start to affect your daily life. 

30 minutes of massage once a month or once a quarter may be all that is needed to keep that low back pain or shoulder issue from flaring up. In fact, it may be more beneficial for injury recovery and prevention to schedule shorter, more frequent body work sessions, similar to how you maintain progress at the gym.

It’s one of the great ironies of modern life that we can get stressed about finding the time and resources to practice self-care. If you take your car for regular oil changes and routine maintenance—instead of waiting for the check engine light to come on—you get why it’s important to carve out those 30 minutes. 

Short on Budget

Self-care practices like massage may feel hard to justify when it’s time to trim your household budget, but don’t snip body work just yet. Shorter massage sessions mean you still get the same benefits for a lower cost, and these can be a great compromise before cutting out a helpful practice entirely. 

Health Savings Accounts (HSA) are another tool you can use to make bodywork fit your budget better. These tax-free savings accounts can be used for medical care and preventative or treatments like massage.

How Do I Find the Right Massage Therapist?

Another common barrier standing between people and regular massage therapy is uncertainty about the process and what to look for in a massage therapist. After all, massage therapy is a broad field with a wide range of techniques practiced by therapists who have undergone different training methodologies. 

Short massage sessions can be an excellent way to get to know a massage therapist and their style before committing to longer, more frequent body work. They can also be a useful way to gauge if an issue you’re dealing with would benefit from shorter, more frequent sessions or longer massages a month or more apart. Chronic headaches, for example, might call for twice-weekly sessions focused on the head, jaw and neck. When it comes to the cervical spine, a brisk cadence of massage work can sometimes be key to longer-lasting, more noticeable results.

If you’re unsure if a particular therapist or modality is right for you and what you hope to address, come prepared with any questions you have for your intake ahead of that 30-minute massage. Then see how the work itself feels, not only during your session but in the days and weeks after. Offering your new therapist feedback while it’s fresh and on your mind can help you quickly get on the same page and produce better results and rapport.

Should I Book a 30-Minute Massage or a 1-Hour Massage?

The answer to that question will vary by individual from case-to-case. Generally speaking, shorter massages are more beneficial than no massages at all. If you’re tight on time, short on spare funds or are new to bodywork, shorter sessions can be a great way to keep self-care on your plate and get more comfortable with the process.

The best place to start is to talk to your massage provider or book that intake with a new therapist. After speaking with you about any injuries, aches, pains or other concerns, your therapist will be able to recommend a frequency and length of sessions that’s right for you. From there, you can address any time and budgetary concerns to find the right balance of self-care and practicality.

In the meantime, keep taking care of yourself, have a glass of water, and I will see you for your next appointment.

Daniel Berro is a licensed massage therapist at Washington Park Chiropractic in Denver, CO. Learn more about Daniel by reading his bio on our website!

Situated in Denver’s Wash Park neighborhood, Washington Park Chiropractic is dedicated to providing comprehensive, patient-centered care. Our team of experienced chiropractors and therapists work collaboratively to develop personalized treatment plans that address each patient's unique needs. The addition of Shockwave Therapy enhances our ability to offer cutting-edge solutions for pain relief and functional improvement.​

We understand the active lifestyle of our Denver community and strive to help our patients return to their favorite activities pain-free. Whether you're a weekend warrior, a professional athlete, or someone dealing with chronic pain, our goal is to support your journey to optimal health.