Additional safety measures

Lockdown has now been relaxed enough that massage therapists have been given the green light to return to work.  The studio, therefore, will be open and ready to take sports massage appointments from July 13th 2020. There inevitably will be some changes in the process both before and during each session, to help ensure both client and therapist safety.

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Before you leave your home, please check your temperature, and consider if you are experiencing any Covid-19 symptoms. If yes to any of those questions, please postpone or cancel your appointment. Our cancellation policy has been amended to reflect the flexibility required for such cases. This can be found on the “Covid-19 updates” section of our website.

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If you are a first-time client, your pre-session consultation will now take place via the phone or video-conferencing (Zoom) – rather than face to face. And/or a consultation form emailed for completion prior to the visit.

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If you are an existing client there will be a short update consultation – to see how you have been since pre lockdown and whether you have any Covid-19 issues. This will be done via email which will be accompanied by an additional consent form. We will also take this opportunity to update any of your personal information.

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On completing the new consent form regarding exposure to Covid-19, if you are considered a high-risk client, it may not be possible to massage you at this time. (A list of contraindicated conditions can be found below).

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All consultation & consent documents should ideally be signed and emailed back. If you require a hard copy on your appointment, please bring your own pen.

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Please also bring your own water – so we do not use any glassware.

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Please wear easy to remove clothes. You will be given a container in which to put them when you undress. Please avoid wearing jewellery as this makes the process simpler.

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When you arrive, your therapist will take your temperature with a non-contact thermometer. You will be required to take off your shoes, use the provided hand sanitiser and walk into the practice room without touching anything. Your therapist will open and close the door for you.

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The chairs in the waiting area will be covered by couch roll. Cushions and soft furnishings will have been removed.

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The massage table will have been thoroughly disinfected. The linens are all clean, and you will be encouraged to wear a mask (provided).

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The therapist will be using personal protective equipment – until the requirement relaxes. The apron may be replaced with a button up top, but they will wear gloves and a  mask. Being massaged in gloves is not unpleasant – you will barely feel it. (This information is likely to change as the situation regarding use of PPE is fluid).

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The massage will continue as per usual, though would recommend not chatting to avoid droplet formation.

 

When the massage is over, please leave all the linens, towels, and mask on the table – unless the mask is yours. Put your clothes back on and exit again without touching anything. You may also wish to use the hand sanitiser before you put your shoes back on.

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Payment ideally should be made prior to the appointment via Direct Transfer or at the time of booking via the website to avoid touching card machines or money.

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There will be an approximate 30-minute gap between clients, to enable disinfection of the practice space, therapy table and equipment, hallways and bathrooms etc, with enough time to dry and take effect.

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Contra-indicated conditions (we cannot treat you)

High Risk

• have had an organ transplant

• are having chemotherapy or antibody treatment for cancer, including immunotherapy

• are having an intense course of radiotherapy (radical radiotherapy) for lung cancer

• are having targeted cancer treatments that can affect the immune system (such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors)

• have blood or bone marrow cancer (such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma)

• have had a bone marrow or stem cell transplant in the past 6 months, or are still taking immunosuppressant medicine

• have been told by a doctor they have a severe lung condition (such as cystic fibrosis, severe asthma or severe COPD)

• have a condition that means they have a very high risk of getting infections (such as SCID or sickle cell)

• are taking medicine that makes them much more likely to get infections (such as high doses of steroids or immunosuppressant medicine)

• have a serious heart condition and are pregnant

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Moderate Risk

• are 70 or older

• have a lung condition that's not severe (such as asthma, COPD, emphysema or bronchitis)

• have heart disease (such as heart failure)

• have diabetes

• have chronic kidney disease

• have liver disease (such as hepatitis)

• have a condition affecting the brain or nerves (such as Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy)

• have a condition that means they have a high risk of getting infections

• are taking medicine that can affect the immune system (such as low doses of steroids)

• are very obese (a BMI of 40 or above)

• are pregnant

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*Information provided by the NHS