Ask a Therapeutic massage Therapist: Is it Okay to Eat Earlier than a Therapeutic massage?

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Sure, you possibly can eat earlier than a therapeutic massage. In truth, having a snack earlier than a therapeutic massage can assist forestall or reduce post-massage dizziness while you rise up off the desk.

Some purchasers additionally report intense starvation throughout therapeutic massage (in spite of everything, therapeutic massage helps the physique’s autonomic nervous system change from the sympathetic “battle or flight” mode to the parasympathetic “relaxation and digest” mode). In case you are susceptible to important starvation pangs or blood sugar dips, it’s a good suggestion to eat one thing modest however nutritious—like a banana or an power bar—earlier than your therapeutic massage. And chances are you’ll wish to have a snack on-hand for after the therapeutic massage is full.

However there are just a few exceptions to this recommendation:

In case you are getting a deeper belly or visceral therapeutic massage (a therapeutic massage that focuses in your inner organs, i.e. your “viscera”), consuming earlier than the therapeutic massage can lead to some discomfort. Your abdomen sits proper under the muscle referred to as the diaphragm which is the principle muscle concerned in respiration. The cosy proximity of the diaphragm and abdomen is why it may be tough to take a deep breath after consuming an excessive amount of. Equally, if the therapist is attempting to therapeutic massage the diaphragm, the unavoidable nudging of your abdomen will seemingly really feel uncomfortable if it’s lately been full of meals.

This identical concept applies to psoas therapeutic massage, which targets the again wall of the belly cavity and requires the therapist to nudge a number of digestive organs out of the best way. Nonetheless, psoas therapeutic massage is uncommon and normally solely referred to as for to handle extreme points within the lumbar backbone, pelvis, or hip flexors.


Melanie Peddle holds a MS in Mechanical Engineering and has been practising therapeutic massage since 2012. She is an teacher with Western Colorado College in its partnership with the College of Colorado, specializing in biomechanical engineering and harm, in addition to purposes in adaptive sports activities. An completed collegiate athlete, Melanie brings an engineer’s thoughts to all her physiological pursuits, and a ardour for probably the most attention-grabbing engineering problem of all: the human physique.