Why We Ask SO MANY QUESTIONS…
...and how it actually makes your massage better.
We get it. You just want to get a massage, and our intake form can feel like a pop quiz you didn’t study for. But here’s the truth: every question on that form has a job. It’s how we translate your body’s story into a safe, effective game plan—pressure that lands just right, techniques that help (not hurt), and a session that respects your health history and goals. And if you’ve had massages elsewhere that never asked half of this, those questions still mattered. Your blood thinners, your recent surgery, and your pregnancy don’t stop existing just because nobody wrote them down.
And yes, we know it looks long—especially when you’re filling it out on your phone, which, fun fact, has a screen about 1/7 the size of a sheet of paper. What looks like a novel on your phone is really just a few short pages on paper.
We’re not being nosy; we’re being thorough—because thorough gets results.
So, here’s your backstage pass: a plain-English, line-by-line guide you can skim or dive into—so you know exactly why each item is there. We stick to essentials only: no family-history detours, no lifestyle interrogations, just what helps us take great care of you today.
Context & Goals
Occupation Jobs create predictable patterns of dysfunction and helps us understand where you muscular issues may stem from; it also helps us focus the work and suggest useful self-care.
What are/is your goal for this treatment session? Pain relief? Increase range of motion? Stress relief? Health maintenance? The goal(s) decide(s) our techniques, pressure, and session flow.
Have you had professional massage before? Sets expectations. If you’re new, we’ll go slower, explain more, and check in more often. If you’re experienced, we can dial in faster.
What massage pressure do you prefer? Your nervous system decides how much work you can receive. Pressure preference helps us start at the right level and adjust quickly.
If you are pregnant, when are you due? Pregnancy changes positioning, bolstering, pressure, and what areas/techniques are appropriate by trimester. We want you safe and comfortable.
Pain & Patterns
Do you have any muscle pain? Tells us whether we’re doing general relaxation or targeted treatment.
If you have muscle pain, is it: (Dull/achy • Sharp/stabbing • Burning • Spasms) Pain quality points to different issues and tissues as well as techniques. Muscle pain quality changes how we work—and how hard.
Do you have any spinal and/or intervertebral disc issues? Disc involvement or spinal conditions = careful positioning, gentler pressure, and avoiding nerve provocation.
Do you experience headaches? (Never/rarely • Occasionally • Monthly • Weekly • Daily) Frequency helps us gauge triggers, severity, and plan frequency of care.
If you’re frequently bothered by headaches, are they: (Mild • Somewhat • Quite bothersome) Severity guides what type of work you need, how much we do in one session, and what self-care we prioritize.
Joints & Tissue Health
Do you have arthritis? (None • Osteoarthritis • Rheumatoid • Psoriatic) Inflammatory types (RA/PsA) behave differently than wear-and-tear OA. We avoid inflamed joints and adapt pressure/heat accordingly.
Do you have any joint swelling? Swollen joints usually mean inflammation. Gentle massage helps move fluid, improve circulation, and ease stiffness and pain; we avoid deep pressure on swollen joints.
Are you hypersensitive to touch? Sensitivity can stem from irritated nerves (sometimes compressed by tight muscles), recent injury, or chronic pain. Signals us to keep pressure light, pace slow, and avoid triggers, so we build pressure only as comfortable.
Do you bruise easily? We’ll modify pressure and avoid tools/techniques that could mark the skin.
Metabolic & Nerve Considerations
Are you diabetic? We watch for neuropathy, skin integrity, and circulation concerns. We avoid aggressive pressure in areas with reduced sensation and are mindful with feet and lower legs.
Do you have any loss of sensation? (Tingling • Numbness • Peripheral neuropathy – diabetic/non-diabetic) Deep pressure on numb tissue can injure without feedback. This tells us where to go gentle and where to test sensation before proceeding.
Vascular & Neurologic Safety
Do you have varicose veins? We avoid heavy pressure directly over varicosities and work gently around them.
Do you have epilepsy and/or seizures? Safety. If you have a seizure history, we’ll stay alert and ready to respond to keep you safe.
Do you have high blood pressure? Safety screening. Massage can be helpful for well-controlled high blood pressure, but if BP is uncontrolled, circulatory work can add strain to blood vessels and isn’t safe. If your BP isn’t controlled, we’ll defer massage until it’s stabilized/cleared by your clinician.
Do you have any cardiac and/or circulatory issues? (including current issues with blood clots / history of DVT) Certain heart/vascular conditions can make massage unsafe. Knowing your history of issues like uncontrolled hypertension, arrhythmias, heart failure, varicose veins, or a history of blood clots lets us modify the session or defer if high-risk (e.g., active DVT or unstable cardiac symptoms) for your safety.
Oncology & Immune
Do you have cancer? (No • Previous • In treatment • Not in treatment) Cancer history and treatment status change massage safety. We tailor pressure as well as avoid/modify work over tumors, surgical/radiation sites, and ports; watch for lymphedema risk and bone fragility; and time sessions appropriately around chemo/radiation. If symptoms are unstable or counts are low, we may defer until your clinician clears it.
Do you currently have an autoimmune disorder or disease? If so, please list. Autoimmune conditions can flare; we avoid aggressive work during flares and tailor pressure and/or heat.
Do you have other medical conditions (e.g., cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis)? If so, please list. Other health conditions can change what’s safe or comfortable—positioning, pressure, techniques, and pacing. Listing them helps us tailor the session and avoid any contraindications.
Allergies, Infections & Skin
Do you have any allergies? If so, please list. We wash linens in fragrance-free detergent and use low-scent, minimal-ingredient lotions, gels, oils, and pain creams. Most clients do fine with these, but knowing your allergies/sensitivities lets us choose products that avoid your triggers.
Do you currently have any contagious illnesses or diseases? If so, please list. If you’re sick, we’ll reschedule—protects you, other clients, and staff.
Do you currently have any contagious skin conditions (e.g., ringworm, poison ivy, impetigo, herpes, scabies, chicken pox, shingles)? We ask to protect your compromised skin barrier, other clients, and our team. If a skin condition is actively contagious, we do not perform massage and will reschedule once it’s treated and no longer contagious (or cleared by your clinician).
Implants, Devices & Modifications
Do you have any implanted medical devices (pacemaker, insulin pump, nerve stimulator, birth control, artificial joint, plates/screws)? Implants and hardware change what’s safe to touch and how. We avoid deep pressure or vigorous work over device sites, adjust heat and positioning, and take care not to stress tubing/leads or sensitive areas (e.g., pacemakers, insulin pumps, joint replacements). Sharing this helps us keep you comfortable—and your device protected.
Do you have any implanted non-medical body modifications (dermals, breast/gluteal implants, etc.)? Cosmetic implants and dermals can change how nearby muscles and fascia sit and move. Knowing their location lets us avoid direct pressure over them and ensures that we don’t snag or irritate dermals during the session.
Injuries, Surgeries & Medications
Have you broken any bones in the past two years? If so, please list. Healed vs. still-healing determines pressure and range of motion around the site. Healed bones may still experience significant muscle-guarding over the place of injury.
Have you had any major injuries or surgeries in the past two years? If so, please list. Recent surgery/injury = modified pressure, scar-tissue work when appropriate, lymphatic support, and sometimes a physician’s clearance. Additionally, you may still experience significant muscle-guarding over the place of the injury and/or surgery.
Do you currently take any prescription drugs? If so, please list. Medications can change how your body responds to massage—some raise bruising or skin sensitivity, others blunt pain, affect blood pressure, or increase heat/light sensitivity. Sharing what you take lets us set safe pressure, positioning, and pacing. Do not stop any medication for a massage. Below are massage-related considerations for common drug classes:
Blood thinners / Antiplatelets (warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban, heparin, clopidogrel, aspirin Rx) Higher bruising/bleeding risk.
NSAIDs (ibuprofen Rx, naproxen Rx, celecoxib) Can slightly increase bruising and mute pain signals.
Steroids (systemic or injections) & Topical steroids (prednisone; cortisone shots; clobetasol, etc.) May thin tissues and slow healing, plus injection sites need to be avoided.
Retinoids / Isotretinoin (Accutane) & strong topicals Cause fragile, sensitive skin.
Opioids & other strong pain meds (oxycodone, hydrocodone, tramadol) Not recommended before massage; these meds blunt pain feedback and raise injury risk.
Muscle relaxants (cyclobenzaprine, tizanidine, baclofen, methocarbamol) Not recommended before massage; they dull pain and lower muscle tone, so you may not sense unsafe pressure or overstretch. Feedback is less reliable, and drowsiness/dizziness can worsen with bodywork.
Antidepressants / Anti-anxiety
SSRIs/SNRIs (sertraline, fluoxetine, duloxetine, venlafaxine): possible easy bruising (platelet effects) and sensitivity shifts.
Benzodiazepines (lorazepam, clonazepam, diazepam): reduce pain perception; potential side effects like drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, and impaired motor skills.
TCAs (amitriptyline, nortriptyline): increased risk of bruising and altered stretch receptor response; potential side effects like drowsiness, dizziness, and altered temperature perception.
Blood pressure meds (ACE/ARB, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics)
ACE inhibitors / ARBs: Already lower BP; massage’s circulatory effects can compound this → lightheadedness. May raise potassium → muscle cramps/weakness.
Beta-blockers: Blunt pain and heart-rate responses; fatigue/dizziness common → less reliable intensity feedback.
Calcium channel blockers: Vasodilation and possible edema; can cause muscle weakness/cramps and positional dizziness.
Diuretics: Fluid/electrolyte loss (potassium shifts) → cramps/weakness; higher risk of lightheadedness when changing positions.
Diabetes meds (insulin, GLP-1s like semaglutide, sulfonylureas) Low blood sugar risk. Pump and CGM sites must be avoided.
Neuropathic pain meds (gabapentin, pregabalin) Can reduce sensation and cause dizziness/sedation.
Cancer therapies (chemo, targeted, hormone therapy like tamoxifen) May affect immune status, bruising, bone density, and lymphedema risk. Ports and radiation sites must be avoided. Active treatment requires coordination with your healthcare team. Soft tissue changes from radiation are usually permanent.
Heat-sensitive meds (doxycycline, minocycline, amiodarone, some diuretics) Can interfere with your body's ability to regulate temperature, sweat, and circulate blood properly - increases the risk of heat-related illnesses.
Bottom line: Again, we are not asking to be nosy - knowing your prescriptions helps us plan a safe, appropriate session tailored to you.
Targeting the Session
Do you have any specific areas of pain? (Please include left/right.) Focus areas determine where we spend time, test movement, and re-test after.
Any areas to focus? (include left/right) Same idea—this is you steering the plan.
Any areas to avoid? (include left/right) Hard lines we won’t cross—surgical sites, ticklish zones, or places you just prefer not to be touched. Consent is ongoing.
Anything else you want your massage therapist to know? Catch-all for context we didn’t ask but should know—recent travel, migraines triggered by scent, braces, skin sensitivities, etc.
Agreements & Policies (in plain English)
Massage Services Agreement
Massage helps with relaxation, pain, and mobility; it’s not a substitute for medical care.
Tell us right away if anything hurts; we adjust pressure/technique immediately.
Some medical conditions mean certain techniques aren’t safe—we rely on your honest answers and updates.
Inappropriate behavior = not tolerated - session ends immediately, payment still due. Boundaries keep everyone safe.
Cancellation Policy (24 hours; late-cancel/no-show is 75% of the session) We reserve your time, room, and provider just for you. Because our therapists’ and estheticians’ incomes are service-based, late cancellations and no-shows create a financial loss. The cancellation fee helps ensure they’re compensated for their time and readiness. If we fill your spot, we’ll waive the fee.
Privacy Policy We protect your information and follow privacy laws (HIPAA where applicable). We don’t sell or share your data.
Pandemic & Endemic Illness Policy If you’re sick, please reschedule. Masks are currently optional; we’ll update our website if that changes to protect community health.
Electronic Records & Signatures You can complete and sign everything electronically—securely and conveniently.
Final word
We ask each question because it changes your massage plan—what we do, what we don’t do, and how we do it. If anything feels unclear or too personal, just ask. We’ll tell you exactly how that answer would (or wouldn’t) change your session, and we’ll make a safe, effective plan together.
