What to expect

Wooden table with a potted plant, a bottle with a reed diffuser, a hand sanitizer dispenser, and a clipboard with papers on it. A wall with an anatomical chart is visible in the background.

To start with, we’ll go through a form detailing your full medical history, including medical conditions, any previous injuries, surgeries, etc. We’ll also cover any symptoms you have that are not yet diagnosed. This gives us a safe foundation to start the treatment.

Please complete the medical form at least the day before your appointment. 

Medical form

A wall covered with various marathon race bibs, sports event stickers, and a small chalkboard with race times. The bibs are in different colors and sizes, each containing numbers and event details.

Communication is key, and the treatment works best if you continue to let me know how something feels, especially if it’s painful. ‘No pain, no gain’ is banned in my clinic! Working through high levels of pain is detrimental and ill-advised. We are probably doing more harm than good. We will work in a comfortable pain threshold, you should be able to bear it!

Does sports massage hurt?

A wall display with multiple medals, medals ribbons, and a hanging clock. Two posters with diagrams of human muscle anatomy are pinned below, and a potted plant with a white sanitizer bottle are on a surface below.

If you are unwell, it’s not a good idea to have a massage, so please let Claire know as soon as you feel unwell.

If you have been vomiting, wait for 72hrs after your last bout of sickness before re-booking. If you have a cold, it’s a good idea to leave it until you are fully recovered, in the same way you would leave going for a run until you are better.

Please give Claire as much notice as possible if you think you might need to cancel.

What happens if I am ill?

A room with a skeleton model, a large detailed map of the lake district on the wall, and posters of the muscular system and muscles on the wall. There are medals hanging on the wall.

Some conditions are not suitable for massage, such as anything as yet undiagnosed, or a new condition that is not yet controlled.

Those receiving cancer treatments can have a massage, but from a specialist oncology massage therapist, and the same applies to pregnancy, you should see a trained therapist.

Sports massage therapists are not qualified to diagnose, so sometimes it might be necessary for Claire to refer you to a physiotherapist instead.

Is massage safe for me?

A person receiving a physical therapy or massage on their calf, with the therapist applying pressure with hands.

I will use towels to cover you, but most people feel more comfortable in shorts. For women, if I need to work on your back, it’s easier to wear a bra that unclasps at the back. Dignity is important, and modesty is maintained throughout. 

What should I wear?