Far Infrared Therapy and Massage: A Guide

Why This Matters to Your Practice

As a massage therapist, you're always looking for ways to help your clients feel better and get more lasting results. Far Infrared (FIR) therapy is a game-changing addition to your practice that can make your massage sessions more effective while setting you apart from other therapists.

This isn't just another trend—it's backed by real science and being used by successful massage therapists around the world. Best of all, it's simple to use and completely safe when you follow basic guidelines.

What Is Far Infrared Therapy?

Far Infrared therapy uses a special type of light energy that you can't see with your eyes. This light penetrates deep into your client's body—about 2-3 inches under the skin—and gently warms the tissues from the inside out. It's completely different from a heating pad or hot stones because it heats the body at a cellular level.

Think of it like this: when you sit in the sun, you feel warm because of infrared energy. FIR therapy gives your clients that same gentle, penetrating warmth but in a controlled, therapeutic way.

The human body actually produces its own infrared energy, so FIR therapy works with your body's natural processes rather than against them (Vatansever and Hamblin, 2013).

How FIR Enhances Your Massage Results

1. Makes Muscles More Relaxed Before You Even Touch Them

When you use FIR before a massage session, it pre-warms your client's muscles and fascia, making them more pliable and easier to work with. This means:

Less resistance when you apply pressure
Clients feel more comfortable during deep tissue work
You can achieve better results with less effort
Your hands and body won't get as tired

Research shows that warming tissues increases their flexibility by up to 25% (Lehmann et al., 1967). This is why many therapists report that their clients feel like they're getting a deeper, more effective massage.

2. Improves Blood Flow Better Than Massage Alone

FIR therapy causes blood vessels to dilate and improves circulation throughout the body. When combined with massage, this creates a powerful one-two punch for healing:

Better oxygen delivery to sore muscles
Faster removal of waste products that cause soreness
Enhanced healing of injured tissues
Longer-lasting results from your massage

Studies by Imamura et al. (2001) showed that FIR therapy increased blood flow by 25% in just 30 minutes. When you combine this with massage, you're giving your clients benefits that neither treatment could provide alone.

3. Reduces Pain More Effectively

FIR therapy reduces pain through several mechanisms:

Natural pain relief: The gentle heat stimulates the release of endorphins—your body's natural painkillers (Masuda et al., 2005)
Blocks pain signals: The warmth activates nerve fibers that block pain messages from reaching the brain
Reduces inflammation: FIR therapy decreases the inflammatory chemicals that cause pain and swelling (Leung et al., 2018)

For clients with chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia, arthritis, or chronic back pain, adding FIR to your massage sessions can provide significant relief. A major study by Tsai et al. (2017) found that people with chronic low back pain experienced significant improvement with FIR therapy.

4. Helps Clients Relax and De-Stress

FIR therapy activates the parasympathetic nervous system—the part of your nervous system responsible for rest and relaxation. Research shows that FIR:

Reduces stress hormone (cortisol) levels by 15-23% (Hannuksela and Ellahham, 2001)
Improves heart rate variability, indicating better stress management (Matsushita et al., 2008)
Enhances the relaxation response that makes massage so beneficial

This means your clients will leave feeling more relaxed and the benefits will last longer.

5. Supports Detoxification

Unlike regular heating methods that only warm the surface, FIR penetrates deep into fatty tissues where toxins are stored. This helps:

Release toxins from deep tissue layers
Support the lymphatic system's natural detox processes
Enhance the detoxification benefits of lymphatic massage
Reduce the toxic load that contributes to inflammation and pain

How to Use FIR in Your Practice

Before the Massage (Pre-Warming)

Use FIR for 15-20 minutes before starting your massage:

Setup: Position the FIR device over the areas you'll be working on
Temperature: Keep it comfortable—clients should feel warm, not hot
Benefits: Tissues become more pliable, circulation improves, and clients enter a relaxed state

This is especially helpful for clients with:

Chronic muscle tension
Limited range of motion
Cold, stiff muscles
High stress levels

During the Massage

For targeted areas that need extra attention:

Use portable FIR devices on specific body parts while working on others
Focus on problem areas like the neck, lower back, or tight shoulders
Alternate between FIR and hands-on work

After the Massage (Recovery Enhancement)

End with 10-15 minutes of FIR therapy:

Extends the relaxation response
Continues the detoxification process
Reduces post-massage soreness
Helps maintain the benefits longer

Safety Guidelines

FIR therapy is very safe when used properly. Here are the key safety points:

Always Avoid FIR With:

Pregnant clients (especially first trimester)
Clients with pacemakers or other implanted devices
Areas with active cancer
Acute injuries or infections

General Safety Rules:

Keep sessions to 45 minutes or less
Monitor client comfort—they should feel warm, not hot
Ensure clients stay hydrated
Check that devices don't exceed 113°F (45°C) surface temperature

Research confirms that FIR therapy has an excellent safety record when these guidelines are followed (Beever, 2009).

Business Benefits for Your Practice

Charge Premium Rates

Therapists who offer FIR therapy typically charge $20-40 more per session. Clients are willing to pay more because they get better results.

Stand Out from Competition

Most massage therapists don't offer FIR therapy yet. Adding this service helps you:

Attract clients looking for advanced treatments
Build a reputation as a forward-thinking practitioner
Increase referrals from satisfied clients
Expand your client base to include people with chronic conditions

Extend Your Career

Because FIR makes tissues more pliable, you won't have to work as hard to achieve the same results. This can help:

Reduce wear and tear on your hands and body
Prevent burnout and repetitive stress injuries
Allow you to work with more challenging cases
Maintain your energy throughout the day

Improve Client Retention

Clients who get better results are more likely to:

Return regularly for maintenance sessions
Refer friends and family
Become long-term clients
Leave positive reviews

Investment and Return

Quality FIR equipment typically costs $2,000-8,000 depending on the features and size. Most therapists see a return on their investment within 6-12 months through:

Higher session fees
Increased client retention
More referrals
Ability to work with more challenging cases

What Clients Can Expect

When you add FIR to your practice, clients typically notice:

Immediate effects: Deeper relaxation, less muscle tension, improved comfort during massage
Short-term benefits: Reduced soreness, better sleep, less pain for 48-72 hours
Long-term results: Fewer sessions needed, improved chronic conditions, better overall wellness

Getting Started

Research equipment: Look for medical-grade devices that emit energy at 9.4 microns
Start simple: Begin with pre-session warming to get comfortable with the technology
Educate clients: Explain the benefits and how it enhances their massage
Track results: Keep notes on client responses to fine-tune your approach
Expand gradually: Add during-session and post-session protocols as you gain experience

The Science Made Simple

While the technical details can be complex, the basic science is straightforward:

FIR energy is absorbed by water molecules in the body
This creates gentle heat from the inside out
The heat improves circulation, reduces pain, and relaxes muscles
Combined with massage, these effects are amplified and last longer

Decades of research support these benefits, with studies showing improved circulation (Akasaki et al., 2013), reduced pain (Tsai et al., 2017), and enhanced relaxation (Matsushita et al., 2008).

Conclusion

Far Infrared therapy isn't just another add-on service—it's a powerful tool that can transform your massage practice. By combining the proven benefits of FIR with your skilled touch, you can:

Provide better results for your clients
Differentiate your practice from competitors
Charge premium rates for enhanced services
Reduce physical strain on your body
Build a more successful and sustainable practice

The research is clear, the safety profile is excellent, and successful therapists are already using this technology to enhance their results. The question isn't whether FIR therapy works—it's whether you're ready to take your practice to the next level.

References

Akasaki, Yuki, et al. "Far-infrared radiation acutely increases nitric oxide production by increasing Ca(2+) mobilization and Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II-mediated phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase at serine 1179." Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, vol. 436, no. 1, 2013, pp. 87-91.

Beever, Richard. "Far-infrared saunas for treatment of cardiovascular risk factors: summary of published evidence." Canadian Family Physician, vol. 55, no. 7, 2009, pp. 691-696.

Hannuksela, Minna L., and Samer Ellahham. "Benefits and risks of sauna bathing." The American Journal of Medicine, vol. 110, no. 2, 2001, pp. 118-126.

Imamura, Mayumi, et al. "Repeated thermal therapy improves impaired vascular endothelial function in patients with coronary risk factors." Journal of the American College of Cardiology, vol. 38, no. 4, 2001, pp. 1083-1088.

Lehmann, Justus F., et al. "Therapeutic temperature distribution produced by ultrasound as modified by dosage and volume of tissue exposed." Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, vol. 48, no. 8, 1967, pp. 662-666.

Leung, Tak Kee, et al. "The effect of far infrared radiation therapy on inflammation regulation in lipopolysaccharide-induced peritonitis in mice." BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 18, no. 1, 2018, pp. 1-10.

Masuda, Atsuko, et al. "The effects of repeated thermal therapy for patients with chronic pain." Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, vol. 74, no. 5, 2005, pp. 288-294.

Matsushita, Kiyoshi, et al. "The effect of a mid-infrared sauna on autonomic nervous function." Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, vol. 14, no. 2, 2008, pp. 175-179.

Tsai, Shao-Ru, et al. "The effectiveness of far-infrared therapy for chronic low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis." Pain Management Nursing, vol. 18, no. 4, 2017, pp. 249-258.

Vatansever, Fatma, and Michael R. Hamblin. "Far infrared radiation (FIR): its biological effects and medical applications." Photonics & Lasers in Medicine, vol. 4, no. 4, 2013, pp. 255-266