I’m Ready… Lets Go
The Path to Performance
Consulation
The path to performance starts with a consultation and even though you may have read all or a portion of my consultation system it's important to understand that everything is done for a reason. So when you come in for your consultation I recommend having again any external input from your doctors other professionals and even your own observations. During your consultation you're going to be asked very particular questions we are also going to perform physical test in order to understand where you are today. My best advice is to come in with some kind of workout clothes to change into that are not extremely tight or too loose. The consultation portion can take up to 30 minutes. I'm also going to do some brief work on you to see how your body takes to bodywork itself to better understand what we're gonna do moving forward. Before you leave you're going to have a plan for your next session. All sessions are 90 There after your consultation this is done for a number of reasons but most importantly is to get the most out of every session sometimes two hours is too much and sometimes an hour it's just not enough this is a perfect average that allows people to schedule consistently.
Intake Form Perform Checklist HIPAA MNCAM
Sports medicine (must read!)
Sports medicine is about identifying problems that impede performance. Sometimes you may already know about a lot of these impediments from other doctors, physical therapist, or other diagnostics like MRIs. When you come to work with me you're going to have the opportunity to find out what I can do to help alleviate these impediments. This is most often the time when having a healthcare team makes the most sense. I don't assume that just because someone wants told you something can't be improved or something is permanent that it automatically is medical technology and techniques are changing every day.
In medical circles Sports Medicine tends to follow this process:
1. Acute Pain & Swelling
2.Restore Joint Mobility & Range of Motion
3. Bring Back Muscle Strength & Endurance
4. Coordination of Movement (correction of recovery compensations)
5.Retaining of Sport of Activity Skills
Over the years I have accumulated some of the most important skills required to help identify these impediments and to help you overcome them using a variety of important tools and the understanding of when to pass you off to those who have different tools that might be more effective and that most certainly does not end our new relationship at that point it merely helps to enhance it
When you come to work with me you're going to find tools to help release tight muscles and tissues to help heal some of those muscles and tissues using red light therapy. You're going to find techniques like stretching, foam rolling, and cupping to help you once those tissues are healed to begin the process I was making them ready for performance through a carefully crafted plan. Sometimes things like MAT release or corrective exercises might be necessary and I'll be able to help you there as well to understand how it's going to benefit you and how long we hope it will take.
athletic performance
So once we work through the athletic medicine It's time to get down to the herd the clients tend to like the best and that is achieving athletic performance. Athletic performance is built on the foundation of a healthy body which is ready for training. Athletic performance at this stage requires a knowledge from the beginning of where you ultimately want to go. If you were soccer player how can we help condition the muscles and tissues to best exploit those skills necessary in soccer. The idea is just now spend less time with me and spend more time with people like athletic trainers, strength trainers, and skills specific coaches. Many of my clients don't have any of these people they have just never gotten to the end of the athletic medicine process and so they don't know what they want to do with their performance. Yes the quality of your life will be improved and if it means you can do every day tasks with less pain or discomfort or you can stay in better health for longer and decide later how you want to perform that decision is up to you. The next step is the final step is when you are wanting to perform at that next level I will be with you In the form of sports massage as a way of maintaining what you have built no matter who your other professionals are.
Sports massage
Many people use the term sports massage incorrectly and I want to try and help people understand the difference between increasing athletic performance and what the goals of sports massage really are. Sports massage is intended to help wake up muscles prior to athletic activity which should reduce injury and increase performance and then at the end of a session of physical exertion to reduce the risk of injury (a great example would be marathoners who is the massage therapist the morning of and within an hour of completing a marathon right there at the scene of the events). Yes I do provide sports massage services when requested as I have a lot of experience with athletes because they were some of my first clients years ago. But before sports massage there's always training and performance. Athletic training often times will go hand-in-hand with what people tend to call sports massage because sports massage is a term people know when really it's like saying the word Kleenex it's someone imprecise. The most apt term to use in a situation where you were training for something or you are a regular exercise or is to look for sports medicine. When you move into professional sports for example often times of people that athlete will work with our sports medicine professionals.
Pre event & Post event sports massage
Pre-event sports massage has an intended goal of quickly waking up and warming up muscles just prior to physical activity. The most common in most often seen form of sports massage is pre-marathon sports massage often done within 30 minutes of the event. Sports massage sessions of this nature range anywhere from five minutes to 20 minutes depending on the nature of the particular client involved and the physical activity.
Post event sports massage is intended to Help muscles joints and ligaments calm down after extreme exercise which will help reduce inflammation, Delayed onset muscle soreness, and help prevent injury. These sessions typically happen within 3 hours of the activity. Most often stretching is incorporated into the sports massage session as a way to ensure that proper range of motion and joint function. Sports massage sessions of this nature range anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour depending on the particular needs involved.
Frequently asked questions
Is this really for me?
The Perform program is made for those who want to improve their physical performance. This can be someone who has never worked out or tried to get into shape before and wants to make a change all the way to the professional athlete. Most clients are between 18 - 40 who are otherwise healthy who have some simple pain or limitation to performing better. My system helps find those little things that are impairing your performance (this is not a substitute for physical therapy or personal training) and taking steps to fix them. I have many tools to get you including cupping, light therapy, corrective exercise, MAT, stretching and more.
What do I wear to a session?
Because every session will be different because everyone’s needs are different I would suggest that you bring gym style clothing (shorts, t-shirt, inside workout shoes). If needed you can change when you come to your session. If you want to bring your own music that is fine, we will just keep it a respectful level.
How long to get to my goal?
Everyone starts a different distance from their finish line. What I tend to find out in most cases is that people think they are is worst shape than they really are. Most people seem to be closer to their goal than they think. We will make a plan together but not a schedule. Most people cannot stick to a schedule but they can stick to a plan. Your conviction to get to your goal and your commitment are two different things. Most people will need several sessions with me to get started and then as you are able you can bring in your other team of professionals as you see fit. People like Chiropractors, Personal Trainers, and Strength Coaches to keep you moving towards your goal. Others may not want to bring in others and want to do more on their own and that is ok too.
Why do Perform sessions cost more than your other services?
The simple answer is that you are getting far more than massage or simple application work. Both of us are going to be every tool I have available together to get you to your goals. Many of the skills that are used in tools that I provide or not available or necessary during a massage session.
Why are all sessions 90 minutes?
When you are working toward your goals time means something. It is normal for us to work with one or more therapies during one of our sessions. Having the time to do just makes the most sense. Lets take the time to do things right and not rush.
How often do I come in once I have started?
That is dependant on where your starting from in relationship to your goals. We will be talking about this in detail during your consultation. I have found that for you and many other people like you several times the first month and once a month after that will most likely be the plan.
Those Under 18: Tony Schwartz Bodywork will refuse service to anyone under the age of 18 without an adult consent. Anyone between 16 and 17 will need a signed parent or guardian consent form & intake form. Anyone under 15 must have a parent or guardian in the room or in the waiting room at all times during a service.
Intakes: You must fill out an intake form upon your first visit. No service for anyone who does not fill out all required information on the intake form.
Draping: By city ordinance you are required to be draped at all times. You may always request to have the door to the office (left open while you are fully clothed) for your session.
Your Personal Information: Your intake forms, session notes, and direct electronic correspondence are protected by HIPAA. I make a point to keep non-electronic files in the age of hackers and identity theft that follows HIPAA standards. I prefer passive marketing such as social media which allows you to set the terms of when you want to have contact with me. Many of my clients appreciate the fact that they don't hear from me until they contact me first.
Right to Client Refusal: Tony Schwartz Bodywork may refuse service to anyone or limit service to anyone who has health conditions that could cause harm to either party. Tony may refuse service before a session for any reason that could compromise the safety of the practitioner.
Frequently asked etiquette questions
Q: I have never had a session before and I am unsure of the edict. What are some things I should know?
A: Clothing: You should only undress to your comfort level (anywhere from nude to fully clothed). You will never be nude without a sheet.
A: Personal Hygiene: Please take a shower before coming. If you have any contagious skin conditions please inform me upon your arrival so that I may protect myself. Also, please contact me if your home or office is being treated for lice, bed bugs, or other such things as your session will need to be rescheduled.
Q: You have a private office and I am a female is it safe to come?
A: If you would feel better about coming to see a male therapist if you brought someone else with you to sit in the waiting room or join you in the room during a service that is fine with me. Another suggestion would be to leave a note with someone that tells them where you are and your start and end time. When your session is over contact them to let them know you are okay (I used to use a similar system of addresses and a call back time for my own safety on out-call sessions). Lastly, you can always request that the door to the office be left open. Almost all services I provide can be done with clothing on. Massage is health care and as such requires a professional to act with integrity and professionalism that also provides a sense of safety and respect for a client. I promise to make every effort to make that possible.
Q:How far in advance should I request a session?
A: I tell people about one week is perfect…sooner than that just means you might not get the time you want. DO NOT call for last minute sessions. If you do not see it on the website booking system its not available.
Q: I am a guy, what happens if I have an erection?
A: Yep… It happens and I don’t care. Men have erections at random all the time. It does not send me any “signals” nor need give you any reason to be embarrassed or concerned.
Q: If I don’t like the session what happens?
A: Massage and bodywork is a very personal thing and finding the right therapist for you can take time and trying a number of therapists. I never get offended by someone communicating the thoughts about their sessions with me. First and foremost, please say something during the session. I am not a mind reader but people often expect it. If after a session you don’t feel like you got the session you were hoping for, please contact me. Your honesty could lead to much better next session or I can point you in the direction of someone who might be able to serve you better.
If you ever feel a therapist has violated you in someway, that is a criminal act, never hesitate to contact the police immediately and have a report made so that investigation can be completed. In most locations around Minnesota if therapist is required to be licensed and a complaint is made, that office is typically automatically notified. I fully support any client who feels that they have been mistreated to contact the authorities immediately.
Q: I saw something online that I thought might help me. Will you or can you do that?
A: Many treatments are condition dependent so I would need to make sure the treatment fits your condition and that I know how to perform such a treatment. Also ask because it could save you a lot of time and perhaps save you from making pain worse.
Q: I hate being marketed to and I hate intake forms so can I skip it?
A: The short answer is no. The state of Minnesota and my insurance carrier requires documentation of your sessions in the event of a claim. In the case of product recalls, and health department requirements I must have all of the information requested in the intake form. My marketing policy is simple: I do not contact you until I have to. I use passive marketing methods only like social media. I encourage everyone to look at one media source occasionally to keep up to date.
**Tony Schwartz Bodywork LLC is a therapeutic orthopedic massage healthcare specialty provider. None of the providers are medical doctors and by law cannot provide a medical diagnosis. All consultation and paperwork information that you provide from other medical providers will be taken into consideration but perceived medical conditions or injuries you may believe you have should be evaluated by qualified medical doctor before proceeding. You acknowledge that as a result of these statements you choose to waive liability for any injuries or financial hardships as a result of medical costs incurred as a result of any recommendations or therapies which take place as a result of receiving services at Tony Schwartz Bodywork LLC.