If this is your first massage, acupuncture or chiropractic treatment at Backworks, you might be wondering what to expect.

Here we’ll give you an idea of what takes place during a Backworks therapeutic session.  

 A: Massage;  B: Chiropractic; C: Acupuncture

A) Massage: 

Your First Massage Therapy Session at Backworks:

We are committed to ensuring that every time you visit one of our clinics, you enjoy a caring and healing experience provided by a professional massage therapist. If this is your first visit to Backworks, or have never received a professional massage therapy session, we thought it would be helpful for you to know what to expect on your first visit.

When You Arrive:

Once you arrive at Backworks, our front desk will greet you and ask you to fill out a Patient Intake Form. The Intake Form is where you list any relevant information for the therapist, If you have any past/present injuries and other physical conditions we should be made aware of, it is best that you tell the therapists before your treatment.  Your massage therapist will greet you, introduce themself and review the Patient Intake Form. Although we do perform a variety of massage styles, (Therapeutic, Relaxation, Chinese, Hot Stone, Foot Reflexology), our speciality is therapeutic styled massage. Backworks specializes in addressing the neck and shoulders, mid and lower back areas. Again, the majority of our therapists do perform relaxation, stress reduction massages, but our specialty is neck and back massages; as well as Deep Tissue Massage.

The Treatment Room:

Your massage therapist will then take you to a peaceful, clean treatment room where a comfortable massage table dressed with a warming blanket and clean sheets awaits (In the colder weather, heated blankets are used).  A small chair is provided for your use. Your massage therapist will leave the room and wait outside while you disrobe to your level of comfort. Some clients prefer to completely disrobe, while some will remain partially clothed, and others use a hospital johnny that we provide. Once disrobed, you will lie on the massage table--face down, under the top sheet. Your massage therapist will give you a few minutes for this process and also give you a bell to ring when you are ready; before entering your room.

You will always be draped with the top sheet during your massage session and an additional blanket is available at your request. Your massage therapist will only uncover the part of the body they are working on, ensuring that your modesty is respected at all times.

You can expect a tranquil and comfortable environment during your massage. The massage table is padded and *when required) a heating blanket is placed beneath the sheet, which you can have adjusted to your preference. There will be relaxing music playing, unless you request otherwise, and the room should be quiet, with no outside distractions.

The Treatment:

Before beginning the session, your therapist will ask you to alert them if, at any time during the session, a technique or stroke they are using is uncomfortable. Depending on your specific needs or requests, your massage therapist will either perform a customized full-body massage (for general relaxation and stress reduction) or focus on the specific parts of your body that you have requested.  only the highest quality hypo-allergenic massage creams during your treatment.

When Your Treatment Is Finished:

Once your massage therapy session is completed, your therapist insure that your body is completely clean and free of massage cream. (The majority of our patients work in the Financial District, and the last thing we want them is going back to work feeling they just left Jiffy Lube. At Backworks, we take great care to make sure that you feel comfortable when you leave our office). When the therapist is done, they will leave the room so you may re-dress. Your therapist will wait outside the room for you. When you have dressed, simply come out of the room. 

If, for example, a massage therapy sessions is one hour in length. This time includes a 5 minute pre-interview, 50 minutes of hands-on time and 5 minutes at the end for you to re-dress.

We look forward to seeing you on your next visit, and any questions you may have will gladly be answered by our staff.

Re-Scheduling & Payment:

After a treatment, the person comes to the Front Desk. They will be asked if they wish to re-schedule. Upon conclusion of the treatment, the transaction is finalized. At Backworks, our policy is "Satisfaction Guaranteed;" if you are not happy, then there is no charge.

We tell many of our patients that some treatments are a process; it's a collective endeavor. It's like going to the gym, you cannot get in shape with one visit. Many times, it takes years to develop muscular problems, and it usually takes a series of treatments (from 3 to up to 10 sessions) to resolve the problem(s). However, Backworks offers Reduced Rae "Package Plan" Programs for our patients; to provide them with a substantial savings for the purchase of either 5 or 10 sessions.

B) Chiropractic:

If this is your initial chiropractic visit, you will be asked to fill out a New Patient Intake Form; subsequent to that, you will see the doctor. You will then be given an examination by the doctor,  and if required, a manual adjustment of your spinal vertebrae. Your First Visit with the Chiropractic Physician is 30 minutes; with each subsequent visit being 15 minutes; on average.

 A chiropractor's job is to maintain the intregrity of your spinal column; to insure that the 33 vertebrae in your spine are properly aligned. This is usually done manually; with the Chiropractor using his hands to facilitate a spinal adjustment. Occasionally, a milder form of adjustement is used; with an instrument called an "Activator." It is a spring loaded instrument that is used to adjust the spinal vertebrae; it is a painless and non-invasive procedure.

Please be advised that just because you have an appointment with the Chiropractor does that mean that the Chiropractor will adjust your back. If you do not want your back adjusted, simply tell him. Many times the Chiropractic Physician will recommend alternative therapies; such as massage, acupuncture or physical medicine therapies.

Upon completion of your treatment, usually the patient will re-schedule. Please be advised that a Chiropractic adjustment is usally required periodically to maintain spinal balance. Some patient's come 1-2 times per week, others once a month and others even less. It all depensd on the individual.

C) Acupuncture:

An Acupuncturist's job is to balance the body's natural energy so that it flows through one's body in a harmonious and fluid process. To this end, the Acupuncturist uses small, very thin, sterelized needles (each individually wrapped), and inserts them (on the top layer of the skin) at various Acupuncture Points throughout the body.

If you ahve any questions, please call Backworks and schedule a Free Consultation witht eh Acupuncturist. Please be advised that Acupuncture rteats a wide array and scope of issues; please feel free to discuss them with the Acupuncturist.

Finally, all Acupuncturists in the Commonwealth of Massaschusetts are licensed by the Commonwealth, by the same people who license the medical doctors. Any questions please call us at 617-451-2225, or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Office Policies & Etiquette

Quiet Please

Backworks is a place for therapy, relaxation, and rejuvenation. To manitain this tranquil environment, we ask that you aer respectful of others privacy, speak softly and deactivate any disruptive communication devices. Thank you.

Personal Preferences

Whether it is the temperature of the treatment room, the level of pressure of the massage, the the music in the room, please dommunicaqte your preference(s) to the therapist to insure you have an positive experience.

Therapist Gender

Backworks provides massage therapy for either therapeutic or relaxtion purposes; in a non-sexual atmosphere. Please feel free to request either a male or female therapist for your treatment; and we will do our best to accomodate your needs.

Feedback

If your experience at Backworks has not met your expectations, please feel free to contact the Program Director, or Office Manager before leaving our office. If someone is not available, please call back the next day.

Making Appointments

To make an appointment, either call us at 617-451-2225 or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . We suggest making appointments in advance, but Same Day Appointments are usually available; so call the office.

Cancellation

Every night our staff will call the next day patients to remind them of their appointments. Due to our small size, cancellations affect the therapists and disrupts our schedule. We, therefore, ask that a 24 hour notice be given for all cancelations. Usually we allow one cancellation, but the second time we will levy you a 50% charge

Arrivals

Please try and arrive at least five minutes before your scheduled appointment (new patients have a brief card to initially complete). Late arrivals may shorten the duration of the treatment. This allows time for a leisurely check-in, and affords you a few moments to relax before your treatment. Please present all Gift Certificates and Promotions at check-in.

Gratuities

The Therapists do work on tips, and tips are accepted. A usual tip can be 5-15%, but please remember that tipping is not required, and any amount given is sincerely appreciated.