Wellness journal
Before a massage after a knee or hip replacement: questions to ask
Recovery is a team effort. Massage may add to your comfort and relaxation, but only when your surgeon agrees. These questions make that conversation easy.
Ask your surgeon or doctor
- Is it all right for me to have a massage yet, and from what date?
- Are there areas of the leg or hip that should be avoided?
- Are there positions I should not lie in, or movements to avoid?
- Is there anything about my medicines, such as blood thinners, that changes how firm the pressure should be?
- Should I wait until a certain check-up or therapy milestone?
Then tell us
When you book, tell the front desk the date of your surgery and that you have your doctor's OK. At the start of the session, tell your therapist the same, plus any instructions you were given. We keep to light pressure, avoid the surgical area while it heals and follow your doctor's limits.
What a first visit may look like
Shorter is usually better at first: 30 minutes, with pillows for support and no rush getting on and off the table. Massage is not a replacement for the exercises your physical therapist gives you. It may simply help you feel more relaxed in the muscles around the hip, thigh and calf. See our page on massage after knee or hip replacement for more.
Massage at Desert Zen is for comfort and relaxation. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for care from your doctor. Please check with your doctor first if you have a medical condition, and tell your therapist about it before the session.
Ready when you are
Choose a time online in a few taps, or call the front desk at (520) 344-3005 and we will find the right one.
Book onlineCall (520) 344-3005
15920 N Oracle Rd, Suite 170, Catalina, AZ 85739 · Open daily 8:00 AM to 8:30 PM