Frequently Asked Questions

Our online booking system allows you to reserve a time and change your appointment.

Appointments must be made or changed at least 24 hours in advance.

We will get back with you to schedule your consultation appointment at a time convenient for you.

Soft tissue therapy is also known to promote better sleep, improve concentration (ACT/SAT exam anyone?), reduce anxiety and create an overall sense of well-being.

Interestingly, athletes competing in events and those that are training intensely have indicated a much faster return-to-play when a recovery massage was received 24-48 hours after the activity.

If you are under 18-years old, we do need to have your parent or guardian get you signed up. Then at your first visit they will need to fill out a consent form.

We will discuss your visit frequency at the first session, then evaluate the visit frequency occasionally as your body adapts to the rigor and endurance of your activities. During the off-season, the frequency of visits may be reduced if training intensity is also reduced.

We respect your time and want to give you a few minutes to simply gather your wits in preparation for the treatment session. A phrase we like is: If you arrive 10-minutes early, you are actually on time and if you arrive at the appointment time, you are actually late!

You will be properly and professionally covered (draped) during the entire session and, if at any time you feel uncomfortable about the session, draping, or work being performed, simply tell us and we will adapt the session to ensure your comfort.

For our younger clients (14 years old and younger) we will work around their loose-fitting clothing while on the table. We recommend boys and girls wear typical gym-style work-out gear (brief-style underwear, mid-thigh shorts, and t-shirt).

Avoid compression-style clothing. Boys should avoid compression shorts/shirts and girls should avoid leggings/sports bras (halter/back clasp bras work best if available). Save the compression wear for training and competition, this is a time to be comfortable and relaxed!

We do not require any special clothing style for clients who are 15 years old and above. If new to manual soft tissue therapy, we will explain how the session works, levels of undress, and how they are covered. They may choose to wear the same style clothing as described above and decide their own level of comfort while on the table.

Again, this is a time for you to feel safe and comfortable while receiving treatment for aches, pains, soreness or just general wellbeing.

In other cases, treatment may be performed on multiple areas. You and your therapist will customize each session to address your current goals and concerns.

As far as feel, some treatments such as manual lymph drainage use a very light touch and a rhythmic motion in a specific sequence. Other treatments will be a little firmer, pushing and gliding on the tissue, sometimes shallow, sometimes with more pressure. More firm pressure may cause some minor pain, but always within your tolerance levels.

We do not agree that massage therapy MUST hurt to be effective. That is false. Very seldom would you ever be bruised the next day.

If you have never received a massage session of any type in the past, we will take time to describe and demonstrate (usually on your arm) what we do. It is your session, so we will do all we can to help you feel safe and relaxed during the treatment.

The practitioner will either gently move you or tell you what is needed throughout the session (such as lifting your arm). In most sessions, you will communicate with your therapist as they are working on your areas of concern.

If you are receiving therapy for a mind-body condition such as anxiety, stress, or depression, the therapist may work in silence. At any time, if you have any questions regarding the session or about the particular technique you are receiving, feel free to ask.

If your child is 15 years old or older and they are ok being on site alone, then yes, you may leave and come back at least 10-minutes before the treatment session ends. When returning, please come into the clinic and have a seat in the waiting area. Once the session is complete, we can have a brief conversation about our findings and recommended follow-up plans.

Leaving your student on site is a privilege which may be revoked solely at our discretion, regardless of age. We also care for the safety of your child and cannot let them wait outside, come out to meet you in the parking lot, or hop a ride with another person or friend unless they arrived at the clinic on their own (bike or car).

Yes. We provide manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) for pre-surgical, post-surgical, and oncology needs as well as general health and wellness. Similar to all of our clinical modalities, certain therapists are well-trained in the MLD procedures for different conditions and recovery.

For general health and wellness, all of our MLD trained therapists provide excellent care. For pre-surgical, post-surgical, and oncology treatments, clients are only paired with therapists properly trained to care for the specific condition.

Post-surgical manual lymphatic drainage treatments at RTPI are specifically tailored to the post-surgical needs of the client. The treatments are gentle and based on the Vodder techniques. We do not open incisions in any way. We do not “squeeze” fluid or tissue out incisions.

The body’s reaction to surgery is typically swelling in the affected and adjacent areas. For example, a lipo-360 or abdominoplasty procedure may cause swelling in the abdomen, thighs, hips, low back, and even possibly calves. This means MLD techniques would be used in the surgical and non-surgical areas to help reduce swelling and promote healing. Plus, gentle mobilization of the superficial scar may be provided to help prevent tightness and pulling in the underlying tissue as the incision heals.  

Appropriate to the surgery received, our MLD treatment is performed on the areas of the body most affected. This could include areas around and on breast tissue, the lower abdomen, the suprapubic region (at the pubic bone), in the armpit areas, around the glutes, at the upper thighs and in the crease of the leg (inguinal area). We do not touch or work on the genitals or the vulvar area. 

For pre-surgical, post-surgical, and oncology treatments, clients are only paired with therapists properly trained and able to care for the specific condition.

Typically we welcome new clients between 2-10 days post-op, depending on the surgical procedure performed and how the client is feeling after surgery.

Well, just like any other medical (or alternative) treatment some medical practitioners recommend certain treatments over others. Several decades ago, it was thought patients needed to completely rest for 4-6 weeks after injuries or surgeries. Today, most medical professionals will tell you to get up and move (walk) as soon as a few days post-procedure, as part of the recovery. 

Similarly, manual lymphatic drainage has medical practitioners who have recognized the research results and benefits of treatment, and those who have not yet discovered it. In some cases, medical practitioners are not comfortable recommending MLD because they have not had a chance to learn how and why it works or they have seen bad results from poorly-trained massage practitioners. 

At RTPI, we are happy to speak with any medical practitioner who would like to learn what we do, how we do it, and what we see for results post-surgically. 

Anyone is welcome to call or text our main number (763-270-9330) and ask to speak to the Chief Myotherapist (Kevin). He has extensive training in all the therapies offered at the RTPI clinics and is responsible for the training of the therapists who work there.

As a therapeutic manual soft tissue therapy clinic, select therapists are trained in, and do offer, full chest and breast manual soft tissue therapy for any gender, as part of a health, wellness, and/or recovery therapy. This is an optional, therapeutic, non-sexual modality which can be included in almost any of our appointments.

While this treatment may not be suitable for everyone, those who wish a more holistic and complete therapy. Humans who are suffering from upper back, neck, shoulders, rib cage, diaphragm, breast, and chest pains or tightness may find the full chest therapy very effective.

This modality may require execution of a separate consent/waiver before each appointment.

There are many reasons why a client may want to select a full chest manual soft tissue therapy as part of their regular session.

Here are the first 19-reasons we could come up with while writing this FAQ:
  • Athletes who run in their sport and need better breathing performance.
  • Forward head and shoulder posture
  • Upper, mid and/or low back pain
  • Breathing issues including shallowness and heaviness (without medical restrictions)
  • Younger humans with developmental issues, hormonal issues, or growing pains
  • Asthmatics, people with seasonal allergies, COPD
  • Women with large, heavy breasts experiencing back pain
  • Humans who have a shoulders-forward posture from working at a desk all day.
  • Pain during binding and/or after top surgery (once fully healed)
  • Chest pain from menstruation or menopause
  • Prenatal or postnatal chest heaviness
  • Weightlifters and boxers who are seeking better upper body performance
  • Moms with difficulties breastfeeding
  • Pain after augmentation or reduction or liposuction to the chest (after fully healed)
  • Diaphragm tension or people who find it difficult to breathe deeply
  • Post-cancer surgical issues related to mastectomy, reconstruction, enhancement, reduction, radiation
  • Scar tissue work surgical procedures on the front of the body, including heart surgery
  • People experiencing pain or tenderness in the chest (without medical restriction)
  • Any human who wants to feel better, recover quicker, and return to play faster.

Yes! We consider our clinic to be a safe place for humans of all ages and genders.

This treatment is safe and effective for anyone. For medical and health reasons there are no restrictions due to gender, age, or any other demographic label.

Minors must have parental consent (just like all our manual soft tissue treatments) and must consent themselves to the treatment.

You may change your mind at any time, up to and include while the work is being done. Based on your condition when you arrive, we may even suggest you don’t need the work at this time.

Clients are ALWAYS in control of consenting to the work being done during our sessions. Clients should never be afraid or intimidated to speak up with any questions or concerns!

Every client is in control of their session at all times.

This treatment often feels slightly lighter in pressure than work on the back or legs. Of course, at all times, if the pressure is too much or too little, please let your therapist know.

For all genders, the front of the body can hold tenderness, especially since these areas are often skipped or ignored. Clients have described the treatment as “feeling complete and providing a great openness to the chest and front of the body.”

While the work is being done, clients often tell us it feels almost the same as work on the back irrespective of the anatomy concerns. Clients often say it “does not feel sexual in any way.”

Once off the table, clients mention they feel “liberated, complete, and normalized” and often wonder why they have not sought out this treatment before.

Yes! Each therapist must receive specific, specialized training before being allowed to perform this treatment (and many other treatments) in our clinic. Each therapist must also experience this work as a client, so they understand how it feels.

Training received includes specific topics in etiquette, anatomy and physiology of the tissue, specific treatment protocols and touch, communications, draping, and more. For questions on RTPI’s training, please ask to speak with the Chief Myotherapist.

For your first visit or two, we strongly discourage clients from requesting a specific gender therapist so we can evaluate your condition and select the therapist with the skills and training necessary to treat you best. Our therapists are professional, non-judgmental, and trained to work on ANY human, not just male or female.

After coming to see us for a few sessions, if you have a preferred therapist, we can always try to keep you on their calendar.

For the full chest therapy session, there are two draping methods used. During first part of the treatment, something called “plank draping” is used. Plank draping has the top blanket folded up on the lower half of the body to cover the pubic area down to the toes. The sheet is folded up on the sides of the torso (still covering the chest and belly) from the shoulders to about the lower hip area on each side exposing the sides of the torso.

During the second part of the treatment, the sheet will be folded at the lower abdomen near the pubic bone, toward the feet, to provide full access to the front of the torso including the chest and belly.

For all clients, genitals will always be covered.

Generally, no. We have other comprehensive protocols for post-surgical recovery and oncology clients. These are different depending on your treatments, condition, and surgery procedure. After things are healed (usually 12-weeks), then yes, you may have this treatment performed.

Yes, provided you are fully healed (at least 12-weeks after) and have no complications or medical issues in the area. If you are already seeing us for post-surgery recovery, we will let you know when it would be appropriate to have full chest work done as a therapy.

We will have the table warmer on to help you stay warm and cozy during your session – just as if you were laying on your belly and we were working on your full back.

If you know you are often chilled, please talk with your therapist and they can work magic with extra blankets and possibly even a warm towel. We want you to be comfortable, so please mention this before you get into the room.

Anyone is welcome to call or text our main number (763-270-9330) and ask to speak to the Chief Myotherapist (Kevin). He has extensive training in all the therapies offered at the clinics and is responsible for the training of the therapists who work there.

Our full chest manual soft tissue therapy is for humans, not genders. Our clinic is a safe place and anyone can receive this therapy.

Allow us to rant for a second …

Society of the past has given advantage to those presenting as male in the manual soft tissue therapy (massage) world by allowing only males access to anterior torso therapy. Restricting access to full chest (and yes, breast) work in a professional, therapeutic, and non-sexual manner – especially in the United States of America – has put massage therapists in a discriminatory position. 

As society continues to validate and support the existence of non-binary genders and equal access to health and wellness, we believe this treatment is vital and appropriate for any gender and any age human. We must begin normalizing healthcare and removing the giddiness others show to physical body differences.

If gender discrimination is against the law then offering full chest manual soft tissue therapy to only those presenting as male would essentially be — illegal. Instead, at RTPI, we choose equality.  You are safe on our table.