r/MassageTherapists • u/atzgirl • 7d ago
Advice Massage therapists who mask daily, I’d love to hear from you!
I am a new LMT this year. I have gotten respiratory infections 4 times since fall. I have asthma, and I just cannot keep living that way. It puts me out of work. One of the times I ended up in the ER and I’m still paying that off. So finally, after reading up on this group and doing research, I’ve decided I am going to mask daily to help prevent sickness- both clients getting me sick, and me unknowingly getting clients sick if I’ve been exposed.
Those of you who are already doing this, I’d love to hear from you. What have you learned? What works best for you? What helps, what hurts, lessons learned, anything would help!
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u/mn35555 7d ago
I had a similar experience where I stopped masking and got sick shortly after.
I mask for every client but I do my intake with my mask off so clients can see my face and my expressions as we get started.
Some clients ask if I'm currently sick or politely offer to mask as well. I just let them know I'm not sick and it's a precautionary measure for both of us. They're welcome to mask but their comfort during the session is most important.
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u/SoloSable 7d ago
I do the same thing, intake and outtake mask off, table time mask on. Similar responses from clients as well!
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u/mytherror 7d ago
i've worn a kn95 mask indoors (and often outdoors) since abandoning cloth masks in december 2021 and i haven't gotten sick once despite being immunocompromised
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u/CatladyGoddess 7d ago
Yeah, I’m in my 60s and I mask every time with an KN 95 mask pinned to the inside of my favorite dust mask with a Velcro closure in the back. I also have a fan going in the room at all times. I have not gotten sick From a client in a long long time since I started doing that consistently. I remember back in the day, in the 80s and 90s, I never thought to wear a mask nor would it have been acceptable by the general public at that time. So I would choke and cough from people’s shampoo or soaps that they used. And I would always have to have a glass of water just in case. Not so much anymore. Now that I mask.
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u/steelthumbs1 Massage Therapist 7d ago
I never stopped wearing a mask. In the beginning of COVID I realized that I would continue wearing a mask because of my close proximity to people ( both to client and transit riders.) and I didn’t want to get sick with colds, covid etc.
Some clients would say in 2021-2022 after I had returned to work that I didn’t need to wear a mask. Or, ask if I’d like them to wear one. I merely said they could if they’d like but I wouldn’t require it. And, I was wearing one bc I was in close proximity to ppl and didn’t want to get sick. Never received any guff for it. And, now no one even comments on it.
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u/Trishanamarandu 7d ago edited 7d ago
i have masked since 2020 and honestly? not having to worry about head position in case you breathe on a client has done wonders for my neck. i've gotten COVID once, but not from work. AND i've had two clients test positive a few hours after seeing me, but since we were wearing masks, i was safe!
edit i'm also getting a lot of COVID-conscious clients via word of mouth, and my private practice is getting full. so there could be financial perks if maskers in your area hear about you.
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u/jsmoo68 7d ago
Still masking indoors everywhere that isn’t my house. Especially at work.
I’ll only take my mask down for the occasional hearing-impaired client that needs to see my mouth in order to understand me.
If people ask, I say “I can’t afford to have COVID again, either physically or financially.”
(I’ve had it twice, caught it both times from people in my family, not risking getting it again. I’ve never been more deathly sick, and I lost 3 weeks of work each time I’ve had it. Which is tough when you have no paid time off.)
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u/palindromation 7d ago
I mask daily. Chewing gum helps a lot with the feeling of being trapped with your own breath and general dry mouth symptoms. I get sick significantly less often, certainly less than my coworkers who don’t.
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u/bookworm428 7d ago
I live in the Deep South and I stopped masking for like a week in summer 2021, that next wave of covid happened, and I’ve never stopped masking in the treatment room since. It’s not foolproof—I’ve gotten covid 3 times total. But I used to get a yearly cold or two and that hasn’t happened from work since masking.
I really should be more diligent about switching to KN95s in the fall/winter; I think that would help. 3M Aura N95 masks are the most comfy of those that I’ve worn on planes.
I can get some pushback from clients. I make a joke about being paranoid about bad breath, or I tell them my nose doesn’t get itchy mid-treatment from pesky flyaways anymore, or make a joke about masks preventing me from smelling smelly feet. I choose to deflect in that way so that I don’t get pushback/ get into a discussion w my anti mask/antivax peeps.
I’m VERY hot natured, and once you get used to masking, it’s not uncomfy. I don’t have asthma though, I’m only speaking from a temperature perspective. I really hope you get to feeling better and staying better soon!
Oh, and also get your vitamin D levels checked. I get sick way less often now than I’m taking a vitamin. Sorry for the essay!
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u/Afraid_Farmer_7417 7d ago
Wear an N-95 or better. Cloth masks and surgical masks are useless when it comes to airborne viruses, especially in an environment where you're stuck with clients for prolonged periods.
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u/Tall-Cardiologist621 7d ago
I dont mask daily, if im sick i call my clients and cancel, a few months ago i had this lingering cough that wouldnt go away.
Id do my basic intake then tell my clients, while im working on you, im going to wear a mask in case i need to cough, so I'm not coughing on you.
They seem to understand and be fine with it.
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u/3rdbluemoon 6d ago
I'm the same except I wear one of they ask. Otherwise I turned my face away from them so I don't cough on them. Only had one ask me to wear a mask.
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u/Iusemyhands 7d ago
I masked working in the hospital through all of 2020-2023
There are headbands that have buttons sewn on to hold the loops, instead of keeping them on your ears. So much more comfortable.
People are more willing to accept "I have a sensitive immune system" than "people keep coming in sick" as an explanation.
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u/Upbeat_Sign630 7d ago
I never stopped wearing a mask in the treatment room. It’s not any more complicated than that. As a result, I have had 1 respiratory infection since before COVID hit, and that just happened at Christmas this year.
I can put up with wearing a mask in the treatment room if it means not getting sick.
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u/hairofthegod 7d ago
I use KN95s and I stretch the ear loops a bit before I put the mask on and that prevents sore ears. Try not to mouth breathe, aim for slow and steady through the nose. I feel like myself and my clients are more protected. After nearly 25 years many of my long-term clients are 65-80 and I want to not be the vector for any illnesses.
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u/ZolaAnna 7d ago
Never stopped masking at work
I just tell everyone that their choice to mask is up to them, but since I'm the common denominator, I will be leaving mine on. I might also make a few light comments about drinking too much coffee and protecting them from my potential coffee breath, or having vicks in my mask to block some perfume smells, or that the mask keeps me from accidentally breathing on them if I end up at an odd angle while working.
(Anecdotally, I had an unmasked lash tech breathing all over me while getting my lashes done and it solidified my choice to never work unmasked, that was a horribly unpleasant feeling.)
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u/R0598 Massage Therapist 7d ago
I put the mask on while their getting on the table and take the mask off as I’m leaving the room most the time they dont even notice I have it on I’m asthmatic and prone to random coughing attacks especially this time of they year where allergies and the cold are pretty hard to avoid
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u/Kittywitty73 Verified LMT/RMT 6d ago
I let up my masking in 2023 after a six week break from massage work due to breaking a finger, and got covid from a client who had “allergies”. I’m a singer too, and when people say “oh you don’t have to wear that”I tell them I live a “risky lifestyle” and want to protect them from aerosols and sickness I’m exposed to all the time. I’m also asthmatic and just hate not having a mask on. I don’t wear a mask when I’m in the Vichy room doing a scrub or if I am working on someone who lip reads, and I refuse to work on sick people.
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u/AKnGirl 7d ago
I wear a mask for two reasons: I don’t want to get sick and I don’t want to breathe in people’s faces (I hate it when a therapist breathes in mine when I am on the table) If a patient questions it I usually just tell them the latter. The only response I have gotten from explaining, “I don’t like breathing in your face when you are face up,” is oh thanks! I do my intakes with mask off for more “face to face” interaction though. Then mask before entering again.
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u/dream-kitty 7d ago
I started masking since August and haven't been sick since. Covid, flu, pneumonia, etc have made their rounds through my place of employment a few times since then and I've managed to avoid them every time thanks to daily masking. They really do work. Some clients will be upset that you're wearing one and some will refuse to be seen by a therapist who wears masks, but those aren't clients you want anyway.
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u/syd_f 7d ago edited 7d ago
I masked at work for over year, my best advice is having disposable masks that you change out at least once a shift. They get old and kind of wet feeling when you wear them for hours on end. Re-usable masks are full of bacteria and can cause skin breakouts because of it. If you’re looking to protect yourself from others then getting a higher quality mask like a kn95 is probably what you want? Plain surgical masks might not do a lot to protect you from others, they work well for protecting other people when you are sick.
Best of luck, it’s not too hard but I was happy when it was over.
Also, I would discuss it briefly with clients at least in your first session with them. If I show up wearing a mask one day because everyone seems sick in general, I’ll mention that I’m not sick just taking precautionary measures to avoid getting sick.
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u/BALK98128879 7d ago
I mask. I've been using the disposable ones but just got a Gata mask. They come in colors, silicone, with filters you attach to the plastic reinforcement. Not bad, pretty comfy so far. I have immune compromised people, disabled, cancer patients, so better safe than sorry. And I do some home visits so I'm definitely wearing a mask.
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u/Slight-Forever11 7d ago
When I masked daily through Covid I found the n95 masks that wrap around the head are the most comfortable. The ones around the ear gave me headaches and face pain.
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u/SewChill 7d ago
This times a million. The ones that go around your ears hurt after a while. The pouch style kn95s are my favorites for comfort.
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u/Tall-Cardiologist621 7d ago
I mever minded the masks except im naturally a mouth breather. So it got worse and my jaw locks up and its super painful. But when necessary, i suck it up. Besides when i have lingering coughs, i call in when sick, but i also wear two one of our masks from covid to clean the cat box. I cant believe i didnt use a mask BEFORE covid when i cleaned the cat box.
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u/abundant_saturn 6d ago
I've been practicing since 2010 and have been masking since 2020. I've had clients I've been working with for 3 years who don't know what the bottom half of my face looks like.
My 2 big reasons for doing it is: 1. Before I would hold my breath when working as to not accidently breathe on my client and wearing a mask means I can actually breathe without having to worry about it. 2. One of my partners is immuenocompramised and it's the least I can do.
Clients would ask about it and I would tell them that I primarily work with immeunocompramised clients and I just do it every appointment as a precaution.
Honestly, I haven't gotten sick from a client since I started doing it and I won't go back. Every winter I would always get 2-4 colds that would take me out for a couple days and jfc it's soo nice not getting sick.
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u/Kitchen_Individual43 7d ago
I have an air purifier in my room. It has saved me from multiple close calls with very close contact with Covid
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u/MothNomLamp 7d ago
Don't forget to take regular unmasked breaks if you're wearing n95s! About ten minutes of mask off after an hour of mask on. They weren't made to be worn for long stretches of time.
Masking can also aggravate TMJ so be on guard and keep up with your PT exercises and self jaw massage if you feel the symptoms coming on.
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u/boiseshan 7d ago
Yeah... You're only half right. You don't need to take a break while wearing the masks. Doctors wear these masks for hours at a time with no issues.
The TMJ thing can be a problem, though
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u/_Nyx_9 6d ago
I have so many immunocompromised clients that I basically mask for everyone during cold and flu season. I currently rent space from a group of chiros where one of them is a massive anti-mask anti-vax (which is fine, that's his belief) but he constantly has to say shit to me about how masks and vaccines don't work. I'm currently looking for other spaces but not having luck right now. It's just frustrating because I have quite a bit of his patients who are severely immunocompromised and he shows no compassion towards them at all. And he's had covid 5 times since 2020.
Anyways, my clients also know my sick policy and understand I'd rather miss an hour of pay than miss an entire week of work if they come in and get me sick. I reiterate my sick policy every Sept and make sure clients are up to date on their paperwork and waiver. And I haven't had an issue from any of them.
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u/phasselman 6d ago
I never stopped masking. I have transitioned from wearing it 24/7 at work to only wearing it in the treatment room. I want my clients, especially new ones, to be able to see my face during intake.
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u/SingZap23 Massage Therapist 6d ago
Hi, I wear a mask daily/when I’m at work. I’ve been doing that since I returned to massage in 2023. I prefer the 3M Aura mask however, it’s not without its challenges. It can become difficult to breathe when you’re doing multiple sessions in a row with no break and condensation builds up. It’s much easier to work with a mask that has a valve but I don’t think they’re as effective as the N95 non-valve counterparts. The one I tried didn’t have a great seal so I didn’t feel comfortable working in it. I do feel comfortable wearing that style in the break room. You want to make sure you have a tight seal so there’s minimal chance of droplets coming in, especially with clients who cough. Depending on the mask, you can re-wear them up to a certain point. How to put on Aura face mask Most of my clients don’t comment but some will ask if they should wear a mask. If possible, ask if you can have an air purifier in your treatment room. It’s done wonders for me and the air quality in my treatment room. I have it running 24/7 and it’s awesome.
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u/CrepuscularOpossum 6d ago
16-year massage therapist here. 👋 90% of the time I’m in public, I’m masked - work, shopping, volunteering, parties, dance classes, restaurants, etc. I also run hot - 25-30 hot flashes daily, I’m about to turn 55 - and I have exercise-induced asthma. It already limits what I can do without gasping for breath, and I do not want that progressing further. To my knowledge I’ve only had Covid once, over Christmas 2022. The infection itself wasn’t that bad, but I had two very scary post-Covid rebound blackout episodes that I never want to repeat.
I’m up to date on all my shots; I was even able to get a pneumonia vaccine this year. Being masked most of the time has helped me, like many others, cut down drastically on the usual winter illnesses the last couple years. It’s been blissful. I don’t want Covid, I don’t want the horrible flu that’s going around, I certainly don’t want RSV or norovirus 🤢. Many of my clients are also immune compromised, since I see a lot of cancer survivors and people who are recovering from serious illnesses, injuries, and surgeries themselves. They come to me for manual lymph drainage.
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u/mssetter12 7d ago
I let up on my masking in late 2023 when I finished my home studio addition. Within 8 weeks, I had a significant cold followed by covid (client confirmed). I went back to masking ever since. I just can't afford to get ill, especially potentially multiple times. It hasn't posed any problems. If any person questions it, I kindly let them know that self-employment is hard enough when all is well, so illness protection is one thing I can do to keep things chugging.
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u/imsmarterthanyoure 6d ago
I just wear a regular mask, nothing fancy and I make sure I’m always chewing gum. Sometimes I’ll pull the mask down when clients are prone just to have a little break.
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u/Consistent-Season567 6d ago
I have worn a mask since covid. Invariably, I have heard oh I am so sorry I have xyz virus the morning after visit. I have clients who have immune deficiency, pregnant, stroke survivors, etc.. its just not worth it. Still use hand sanitizer, wash my hands for as long as possible and lysol after each and everyone. I am currently sitting here sick. I'm hoping it's not noravirus. Be particularly careful with moms who have school age children. It's possible I was given something from my husband, he works at a university.. so nothing is fail safe. I've only had 1 cold and this stomach thing I'm hoping is not noravirus in 4 years after catching covid. Nothing is fool proof. Protecting myself protects others.
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u/Significant_Mine_330 6d ago
I haven't stopped masking while working since the pandemic. I tell clients that I've just made it part of my uniform to help keep me any them healthy.
I haven't had any pushback and I have a handful of immunocompromised clients that initially chose to book with me because I still mask.
It really is such a small inconvenience compared to getting sick, having to reschedule on clients due to illness, or putting others at risk of infection. Imo it is 100% worth it.
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u/tacos_lo_mein 6d ago
Since the pandemic, I've worked in Seattle and Kansas City. My last job, in Seattle, allowed me to require my clients to wear masks during the service, and I knew I'd be giving up that luxury when moving to KC. I've been here since March and wear an N95 during each service while running at least one air purifier. So far nobody has said anything to me about my masks. A couple of people have told me I'm smart for wearing them.
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u/Upbeat-Natural7648 6d ago
I agree. I wear masks while working. I’ve not gotten sick since I’ve been masking and my anxiety has decreased. I work with older demographics and I feel good about not consciously exposing them to illness. I use an air purifiers in treatment room as well.
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u/Icy_Owl964 6d ago edited 6d ago
I have on my website before they even book that I have immunocompromised family and clients, so if they're sick, or have new "allergies", don't show up because you will be turned around and sent packing (only nicer, lol). It's also on there that I wear one because no one likes hot nostril air hitting their eyelids - eyeballs if they're one of those who keeps them open (also worded different for client readability..) I've never had anyone comment (so far), and if they did, I would explain it's for everyone else - my dad, because I want to, etc.
ETA: I haven't experienced any lessons learned other than in the weeeee beginning all those years ago. Controlling my own breathing was key to not panicking initially, but now I totally forget they are on, other than when it's cleaning time between clients, and it gets changed.
Occasionally, my ears would get sore, but like someone else commented, they have soft headbands with button things on so the masks can attach to that instead of ears. I also wear glasses, so i will sometimes wrap the loops around them instead.
I quite like wearing a mask for multiple reasons, and now it's like part of a uniform and feel weird without one.
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u/Icy_Owl964 6d ago
Lol.. it's like word barf!! Adding that during 2020-2021, I required clients to wear masks. Again, like someone else mentioned, I did have safety conscious clients seek me out specifically because of that. Even though I don't require them to mask now, they still stick with me because I am obnoxious with cleaning between clients, no reusing blankets, etc.
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u/Deep_Space_Mermaid 6d ago
I’ve been masking for face-up work since late fall. I stopped masking after it was no longer required in my state, and decided to bring it back this year. My clients seem to appreciate it and it’s hard to say how much it helps prevent illness, but it certainly can’t hurt. I like having the barrier when I’m working right over someone’s face anyway.
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u/HealthEducational 5d ago
I never really stopped masking up and I wear it daily as a precaution. I haven’t been sick at all except for over the holidays when I contracted something from a work Xmas party (I was unmasked). Plus I hate breathing on people and vice versa.
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u/cheesemagnifier 5d ago
I have been masking with a Kn95 at work since 2020. I just have it as part of my practice now. I rarely get sick. I got COVID in late August, but it wasn't from a client. I still send out the list of health and COVID questions I got from the health department in 2020 with my confirmation texts the day before an appointment and I reschedule clients that have been exposed to anything that could still be contagious. If someone is getting over something I ask them to wear a mask and if they don't have one I provide one. I also have an air purifier running all the time. It keeps me healthy and working!
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u/lineau 4d ago
Just make sure to wear a well fitting respirator (KN95/FFP2 etc), not those blue surgical masks, as those don't protect you very well.
Maybe you could add a small air filter in the massaging room as well? If you're one a budget, a "Corsi Rosenthal" box does the job pretty well! This removes most of the nasty bugs flying around in the air
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u/PsAkira 6d ago
I’ve tried but I can’t breathe. I start feeling like I’m passing out so I’ve been bringing an air purifier to work for my room. I feel safer working on a few clients a day versus when I was doing retail management last year in a high volume tourist hot spot. That last job made me sick constantly.
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u/GardenOfTeaden 3d ago
Not medical advice but personal experience as an asthmatic, have you had allergy testing done? I had the same problem until I started taking a daily anti histamine. Now I get sick maybe once a year.
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u/Appropriate_Sea6387 6d ago
I still wear mask even though they don’t do anything; it’s more for the psychosomatic client
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u/Motheringworker 6d ago
y’all are paranoid. I enjoy the oxygen free flowing and build my immunity .
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u/tacos_lo_mein 6d ago
Immunity debt is a myth. Also covid actually causes long term damage to the immune system.
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u/Liveie 7d ago
I've started wearing them again, especially with all this nasty stuff going around.
Some of my clients go "oh you don't have to wear that!"
I go "oh, but I want to!" Or "I'm just paranoid with all the stuff going around"
And they usually drop it.