How often should I massage?

Good news for spa lovers: a massage can offer much more than just an hour of relaxation. Full body treatment help relieve anxiety, relieve pain, treat insomnia and even help digestion. Mayo Clinic. But how often do you need to get a massage to reap these benefits, and when is the best time to schedule it?

The answer is simple: the more often you massage, the better you feel. This is because the physical and mental benefits of massage can be cumulative, according to a study in Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Also, scheduling more than one massage with the same massage therapist can allow him or her to become familiar with your personal stresses, aches and pains in order to better personalize your service.

However, how often to massage can be more of a challenge, depending on your personal goals. According to University of Neuromuscular Massage in North Carolina there are several factors to consider: Is the problem you are trying to solve chronic? How well does your body respond after the first session? Is it a specific recent muscle or joint pain that you are trying to relieve? (If you answered yes to the last question, you may only need one or two sessions to resolve the issue.) 

In particular, those who experience mild to moderate stress and want to improve their overall health and relax may consider getting a weekly or monthly massage, suggests massage therapist Sharon Pushko, Ph.D., at . However, you should avoid massage when you are feeling unwell or intoxicated, warns National University of Health Sciences.