Why I Ask About Old Injuries Before Your Massage – Even If They Don’t Hurt Anymore

When I ask about previous injuries before a massage, sometimes I hear:

“But that happened years ago.”

That’s completely understandable!

If your old ankle injury, shoulder problem, surgery, car accident, or back injury hasn’t bothered you in years, it may not seem relevant to the massage you’re receiving today. However, I still want to know about it. It could be a contributing factor, it could not be. The history helps to build the picture. This is not because I am going to assume an old injury is causing whatever you’re experiencing now. I want to understand more about the body I’m working with before we begin.

An Old Injury Doesn’t Automatically Explain a New Problem

This distinction is vital. If your lower back feels uncomfortable today and you injured your knee ten years ago, I am not going to tell you that your knee injury caused your back pain. That would be an assumption and as a massage therapist, diagnosing the cause of pain is outside my scope of practice. Your injury history is information. It gives me context, but it doesn’t give me permission to diagnose you.

Why I Still Want to Know About It

Previous injuries can affect what feels comfortable during a massage. Maybe an old shoulder injury makes one position uncomfortable. Maybe you have an area that is particularly sensitive. Maybe you had surgery and there is an area you don’t want worked on. Maybe you’ve learned that certain types of pressure don’t feel good. Maybe you have already received guidance from a physician, physical therapist, or another healthcare professional that I should know about. Those details can change how I approach your session.

Tell Me About Previous Surgeries Too

Even when you’ve fully recovered, I want to know about relevant surgeries. You don’t need to give me your entire medical history from childhood. Tell me what you think could matter to your massage, especially if it affects positioning, pressure, movement, sensitivity, or an area we’re planning to work on. If you’re unsure whether something matters, mention it. We can decide whether it is relevant from there.

“It Doesn’t Hurt Anymore” Is Still Useful Information

This is actually something I want to hear. Knowing that an old injury is no longer causing symptoms helps give me a clearer picture. I don’t want you walking into a massage appointment thinking you need to connect every ache you’ve ever experienced. Sometimes an old injury is simply an old injury. My job isn’t to create a complicated explanation connecting everything that has ever happened to your body. My job is to listen, ask appropriate questions, and use the information that is relevant to the massage we’re doing today.

Your Current Activities Matter Too

Your history is only one part of the conversation.

I also want to know what you’re doing now.

Are you sitting at a desk most of the day?

Are you working long shifts on your feet?

Are you running, hiking, lifting, or training?

Has something recently changed in your routine?

What movements currently feel uncomfortable?

What are you hoping to accomplish with your massage?

Your current experience matters just as much as your history.

Don’t Diagnose Yourself Before You Come In

You don’t need to figure out whether an injury from five years ago is responsible for something you’re feeling today. Tell me what happened.

Tell me what you’re experiencing now. Tell me what feels different. Tell me what movements or positions bother you. Tell me what your goals are. If you have received a diagnosis from an appropriate healthcare professional, you can tell me that too. What I don’t need is for you to arrive having solved the entire puzzle yourself.

Sometimes Your History Means We Need to Modify the Session

Individualized massage means being willing to change the plan. That could mean adjusting your position. It could mean changing pressure. It could mean avoiding a particular area. It could mean spending more time discussing what you’re experiencing before we begin. In some circumstances, it could mean deciding that massage should wait until you’ve received appropriate medical evaluation or clearance. There isn’t one massage routine that is appropriate for every person and every medical history.

This Is Also Why Your Intake Form Matters

I know filling out paperwork isn’t the exciting part of getting a massage. However, your intake information gives me a starting point before you’re on the table. Please don’t leave something out because you assume it is too old to matter.

You can tell me:

• Previous injuries
• Relevant surgeries
• Current areas of discomfort
• Medical conditions relevant to massage
• Changes in your health
• Current restrictions
• Guidance you’ve received from another healthcare professional
• Anything that may affect your comfort during the session

If you’re unsure whether something is relevant, tell me. I’d rather have the information and determine that it doesn’t change our session than discover something important after we’ve already started.

Your Massage Should Reflect the Person You Are Today

Your body has a history. That history matters, but it doesn’t define every sensation you’re experiencing now. When I ask about old injuries, I’m gathering information that helps me make more thoughtful decisions about your massage. I’m not looking for an excuse to blame today’s discomfort on something that happened years ago. I want to know where you’ve been, what you’re experiencing now, and what you want to accomplish. That gives us a much better place to start.

About Jessica Deardorff, LMT

Jessica Deardorff is the owner of Inspire Movements Massage Therapy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She has practiced massage therapy since 2016 and holds an active Colorado massage therapist license, MT.0021143.

Her areas of focus include low back pain, sciatica support, headaches and migraines, mobility-focused massage, therapeutic ashiatsu, and cupping therapy.

Jessica’s approach emphasizes individualized therapeutic massage, communication, and adapting each session around the person receiving it.

Educational disclaimer: This article provides general educational information and is not medical advice or a diagnosis. Massage therapy does not replace evaluation or treatment from an appropriate healthcare professional.