How Often Should You Get A Massage? Types And Frequency

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HealthlineSubscribeLGBTQIA+ HealthHow Often Should You Get a Massage?

Medically reviewed by Angela M. Bell, MD, FACP — Written by Tom Rush and Natalie Silver — Updated on September 27, 2024

Types of massage
For conditions
Cautions
When to see a doctor
Takeaway

There are no standard guidelines for the number of massages you can get, but a massage therapist or your doctor may be able to recommend a frequency and duration that work best for your needs.

Getting a massage can be a way to treat yourself, de-stress, or address a medical issue. You can seek out a massage therapist for a variety of different massages. You can also self-massage or ask someone to perform massage techniques at home.

Massages for injury are typically more frequent, while massages for pampering or relaxation purposes can occur less often.

What’s ideal?

Massage frequency and duration will depend on the type of massage you want and the area you want to target. Many research studies recommend a certain massage frequency and duration to address underlying health problems like pain or injury.

Talk to a massage therapist to find out how often you should visit to address your needs.

If regular massages aren’t in your budget, consider stretching out the time between each session. You may also be able to learn massage techniques to perform at home more regularly from a doctor, massage therapist, or other medical professional.

Types of massage

There are several types of massage with different applications.

Lymphatic drainage massage

This type of massage is useful for treating lymphedema–a condition where lymph fluid builds around the body due to inadequate drainage.

A professional should always perform lymphatic drainage massage. They can also train you to perform certain massage techniques by yourself. The required frequency of this massage will depend on a person’s health and the desired outcome.

Deep tissue massage

A deep tissue massage uses slow, forceful strokes to reach deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. This type of massage targets muscle damage from injuries.

Your massage therapist can recommend a frequency and duration to address the underlying health condition prompting this type of massage.

In most cases, deep tissue massages are safe, but there is a small risk of injury in people who are more prone to injury, such as older adults.

Scalp massage

A scalp massage can be very relaxing and, in some instances–such as in cases of androgenic alopecia–may help promote hair regrowth.a

A 2019 study found that self-reported hair regrowth outcomes were positively associated with the duration and frequency of scalp massages. However, this study relied on survey responses conducted with hindsight, and a higher-quality study is necessary to fully assess the optimal frequency and duration of scalp massages for hair regrowth.

For relaxation and wellbeing improvements, there is no clinical guidance for the frequency or duration of scalp massages, and it is up to the individual to determine their needs.

Full-body massage

A full-body massage–also known as a Swedish massage–may aid people in stress relief and treating muscle and joint pains.

The optimum frequency of a full-body massage will depend on your individual needs. Some people may find that infrequent massages help with muscular pains, while others may wish to have weekly, or indeed more frequent, therapies to help manage stress.

In most cases, there is a low risk of injury from full body massages. However, there is a small risk of injury in more forceful techniques, such as deep tissue massages, and in people who are more prone to injury, such as the elderly.

Massage chair

You may find a massage chair provides relief from aching muscles or helps you relax.

A 2017 pilot study found that healthy adults experienced positive benefits from sitting in a massage chair for 20 minutes at a time.

For conditions

Massage may help relieve specific painful symptoms or reduce stress and anxiety. It may also be helpful during pregnancy.

However, it is important to note that many studies supporting the use of massage therapy for various ailments are of low quality or are, indeed, predicated primarily on anecdotal evidence. As such, it is important to speak with a doctor about the potential benefits of massage for yourself and plan a treatment course appropriately.

Back pain

A regular massage may ease your back pain. One older study from 2014 showed that deep tissue massage performed daily for 30 minutes for 10 days reduced pain in patients. However, a 2015 review of 25 trials reported “very little confidence that massage is an effective treatment for LBP (lower back pain).”

The United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) still recommends massage as a potential therapy option for back pain, and people may still benefit from it.

Learn more about lower back pain massage.

Neck pain

According to a 2020 study, massage may relieve neck pain in the short term, and thus, frequent massages may be more beneficial for ongoing management.

An older 2014 study found that getting a 60-minute massage two or three times a week showed more benefit for those with neck pain than getting a 60-minute massage once a week or a few 30-minute massages weekly.

Anxiety and stress

People often recommend massage therapy for the treatment of anxiety and stress. In fact, according to the American Massage Therapy Association, 51% of those who sought massages in 2023 did so to relax and manage stress.

A 2018 review found that massage therapy may help reduce anxiety, stress, and depression symptoms in the short term. However, as with much research into massage as a complementary therapy, further more rigorous studies are necessary to assess its efficacy fully.

Cautions

Massages may not always be the safest activity if you have certain health conditions. You should use caution if you have:

broken or fractured bones
a bleeding disorder
open wounds or burns
osteoporosis
pregnancy
other serious medical conditions

There are a few risks that may arise if you get a massage. If you have a blood clot or have a history of blood clots, you should consult your doctor before having a massage. During a session, blood clots could break loose and travel through your blood vessels to your heart or lungs. This could lead to a heart attack or blocked artery.

You shouldn’t continue a massage or seek further massages if you experience pain.

Pregnancy

If you’re pregnant, your doctor or a massage therapist may discourage massage during your first trimester or if you have high blood pressure, a high-risk pregnancy, or have recently had surgery.

Find someone who specializes in prenatal massage to ensure that you receive a massage that’s healthy and safe for pregnancy.

When to see a doctor

Most massages are considered safe. Talonk with your doctor before getting one if you have a serious medical condition. You may want to ask for massage therapist recommendations from your doctor so you can find someone who meets your needs.

Massage shouldn’t replace other medical interventions that are necessary to treat an underlying health condition. Don’t ignore pain, developing symptoms, or serious symptoms like chest pain, difficulty breathing, or loss of consciousness.

The bottom line

People seek regular, semi-regular, or infrequent massages for a variety of reasons and report a variety of outcomes. The most effective form of massage will depend on a person’s health, preferences, and desired outcomes. What may work for one person will not work for all.

It is important to determine the type of massage you’d like and discuss your needs with a massage therapist or a doctor to best construct a suitable treatment plan.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/back-pain/
Back pain. (2022).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6380978/
English Jr RS, et al. (2019). Self-assessments of standardized scalp massages for androgenic alopecia: Survey results.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8734598/
Furlan AD, et al. (2105). Massage for low‐back pain.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12646-017-0404-z
Lee SA, et al. (2017). Psychological experiences associated with robotic chair massage: A pilot study.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3953439/
Majchrzycki M, et al. (2014). Deep tissue massage and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for low back pain: A prospective randomized trial.
https://www.amtamassage.org/publications/massage-industry-fact-sheet/
Massage therapy industry fact sheet. (2024).
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/massage-therapy-what-you-need-to-know
Massage therapy: What you need to know. (2019).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3948757/
Sherman KJ, et al. (2014). Five-week outcomes from a dosing trial of therapeutic massage for chronic neck pain.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468781219302036
Skillgate E, et al. (2020). Effectiveness of deep tissue massage therapy, and supervised strengthening and stretching exercises for subacute or persistent disabling neck pain. The Stockholm Neck (STONE) randomized controlled trial.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537239/
Sleigh BC, et al. (2023). Lymphedema.

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Medically reviewed by Angela M. Bell, MD, FACP — Written by Tom Rush and Natalie Silver — Updated on September 27, 2024

How Often Should You Get A Massage? Types And Frequency

What’s ideal?

Types of massage

Lymphatic drainage massage

Deep tissue massage

Scalp massage

Full-body massage

Massage chair

For conditions

Back pain

Neck pain

Anxiety and stress

Cautions

Pregnancy

When to see a doctor

The bottom line

How we reviewed this article:

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