For General Wellness & Stress Reduction
- Every 2–4 weeks is most often recommended.
- Regular monthly sessions have been shown to help maintain reduced stress, lower anxiety, and improve mood.
- A 2010 NCCIH (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health) review found that weekly or biweekly massage had greater benefits for stress and relaxation compared to occasional treatments.
Pain Management (e.g., back pain, neck pain, headaches)
Weekly sessions for 4–6 weeks often provide the best initial outcomes.
After symptoms improve, spacing out to every 2–4 weeks can help maintain results.
Studies on chronic low back pain (Cherkin et al., 2011, Annals of Internal Medicine) showed significant improvements with 1x/week massage for 10 weeks.
Athletes / Active Individuals
1–2x per week during heavy training or competition phases can help with recovery, muscle soreness (DOMS), and performance.
In off-season or lighter training phases, every 2–4 weeks may be sufficient for maintenance.
A 2020 systematic review in BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine found post-exercise massage helped reduce soreness and improve short-term recovery markers — frequency depends on training load.
Injury Rehabilitation
Frequency is typically 2x per week initially, tapering as healing progresses.
Always coordinated with physiotherapy or rehab goals.
Practical Takeaway
- Wellness clients: 1x/month minimum, ideally every 2 weeks.
- Chronic pain clients: Weekly for the first 4–6 weeks, then reassess.
- Athletes: 1–2x per week in-season, taper to every 2–3 weeks in off-season.
- Rehab clients: Often 2x per week initially, taper down.