Eating Before Receiving Massage

[mykwilwin]

I seem to recall having heard in one of the first massage classes I took some 13 years ago that a client shouldn't really have anything to eat less than an hour before receiving a massage. It doesn't really come up very often for me, but 'd be interested to know what recommendations some of you make to clients wrt eating a meal before massage or even having a light snack.

Thanks!

 

[Eric Gees]

I only mention it if a client says they are going to a buffet, in which case I encourage them to not stuff too much.
I think the only other time I would bring it up is to a diabetic, in which case I would want them to eat before receiving massage. I'm not sure I understand the correlation though b/t blood sugar and massage though.

 

[dan 1]

Blood sugars can elevate slightly post-massage............

 

[Brodo]

Thank you, Anastasia.

So...they would feel light-headed, you have them sit up and feed them carbs? Unless they faint, then lay them down, elevate legs and call 911, after 2min at least?
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(MODS, if you feel this is a new topic, I won't feel micro-managed this time if you split it)
(Nordic, did I steal your post?)

 

[janie]

i was under the impression that massage usually lowers blood glucose levels and can cause a state of hypoglycemia, in which case the client may feel dizzy and lead to fainting...

however, i dont believe this is a factor when receiving a table massage and also do not have diabetes or hypoglycemia...i think it is only a concern when they are upright as in a chair massage..

here is a good article massage and diabetes...

http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/article.cfm?SSL=n&AID=432&page=3

 

[M and E !]

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(MODS, if you feel this is a new topic, I won't feel micro-managed this time if you split it)
(Nordic, did I steal your post?)

No worries at all my friend. This is all very interesting. I'm still wondering though about what to say to my clients about eating before receiving massage. Personally I'm not comfortable receiving a massage after eating unless it is just a very light snack eaten perhaps 15 minutes or so beforehand. I almost always schedule my massages so that I can eat 1 1/2 to 2 hours before receiving them.

 

[kimpossible]

I've read in a few places that one shouldn't eat a full meal for at least 2-3 hours before a massage. I usually have a light snack about 1.5-2 hours before.

Incidentally, I am mildly hypoglycemic and often notice my blood sugar drop near the end of a 1 hour massage. I get all dizzy and trembly. I carry a snack with me to eat before driving home on those occasions.

 

[Robert W]

Well......in school we had 8 hours of classes on Sundays. Massage class was always immediately after lunch, so half the class always went directly from lunch to the massage table.

We were taught that brittle diabetics should be told to check their levels more frequently after massage, to be sure to regulate as needed. It could go up or down. With the increased circulation, the meds also circulated faster - the blood sugar could lower too fast, then the meds be gone too quickly and the sugar level could raise quickly.

I have wondered if this was ever actually studied, though, or if it is theory, sort of like the concept that since massage increases circulation, people w/cancer should not be massaged or it could spread the cancer. That has been seriously rebuffed, for good reason. All the "could's" in the chapter on massage and diabetics made me question the validity. But - it is easy to remind diabetics to watch their levels more closely for a few hours, so I do. Nobody has ever questioned me on it yet, thank goodness, lol.

I prefer not to eat a heavy meal right before receiving a massage. I also do not want to be hungry. I want to be comfortable and not have to think about my belly, so that is what I advise, when asked.

 

[diosaalx6]

I think I usually eat 1 to 1 1/2 hrs before receiving massage, not stuffing. More importantly; to me, NO WORK after massage.