People come with tension in the back and neck after desk work, with stiffness after training or a hard physical day — or simply to give the body a rest. Below: which types of massage we give, how a session fits in with physical therapy, when massage is not suitable and what to know before your first visit.

The information on this page does not replace a doctor's consultation. A massage therapist does not diagnose and does not prescribe treatment.

Types of massage

Classic massage

The foundation the other types grew out of: stroking, rubbing, kneading, vibration. It can be a full-body massage or cover individual areas — the back, the neck and shoulders, the legs, the arms. It suits general fatigue or tension after a working week, when there is no specific complaint. Pace and depth are guided by how it feels to you.

Therapeutic massage

Aimed at a specific area and a specific request: tension between the shoulder blades, a stiff neck, a "locked" lower back, dense spots in the muscles after exertion. The work here is more precise and usually deeper than in a classic massage. The word "therapeutic" is the traditional name of this type of massage, not a promise of a cure: massage works with the tension, not with the cause of an illness. This is the type that can be combined with a programme with the physical therapist.

Sports massage

For people who train regularly — from amateur running to strength work. Before a load the work is shorter and toning; after it, deeper, focused on the muscle groups that carried the main load. The aim is to help the muscles recover between workouts and take the edge off next-day stiffness.

Recovery massage

A gentler-paced session for periods when the body is run down: after an illness, prolonged stress, a hard season or a long spell without movement. The task is not to "work through" a single muscle but to help the body as a whole return to its usual tone. The intensity is lower; areas and length are agreed before the session.

Vacuum cupping massage

Work with special cups that create a vacuum over the skin: the tissue is gently drawn up, local blood flow increases and the feeling of "stagnation" in the area eases. We use it on the back and the neck and shoulder area, as an addition to hands-on work. The cups leave marks on the skin after the session; they fade within a few days. This type has contraindications of its own — see below.

What people come with

tension and stiffness in the muscles of the back, lower back, neck and shoulders — including after long hours at a screen;
a "stone" between the shoulder blades, a heavy head by the end of the day, a neck that does not turn all the way;
local tender, dense spots in the muscles;
fatigue and stiffness after intense training or heavy physical work;
general fatigue and a need to unwind;
muscle tension left after an injury or a long period without movement — at the stage when a doctor has cleared this kind of work;
support between physical therapy (exercise) sessions: massage prepares the tissue for exercise.

Massage is work on muscles and soft tissue. We do not perform spinal manipulation, "adjustments" or thrust techniques at the office: that is a doctor's domain.

Massage and physical therapy

Rehab Place is a physical therapy office, and massage here sits alongside recovery programmes. You can come for massage on its own, without a consultation or exercises. Or combine the two: if you are working with physical therapist Oleksandr Kaliuzhnyi, massage becomes part of the programme, and the two specialists coordinate their work — which areas, at what intensity, and on which day relative to your session.

Let us be straightforward, because this is how people phrase it when they search: massage does not treat. It releases tension and prepares tissue for movement, but it does not add strength to a muscle, change habits or remove the overload you repeat every day at work. If that is where the problem comes from, the effect of a session lasts a few days and then everything returns. In that case it makes sense to combine massage with exercise.

Related services at the office:

exercise, strength and mobility as the basis of recovery — physical therapy (exercise);
work on joint mobility, gentle mobilisation techniques — manual techniques in physical therapy;
pain in the lower back, neck or joints that has dragged on for weeks — back, neck and joint pain: there massage is only one component, not a separate service.

How a session goes

A short conversation. Before the first session the massage therapist asks about your health, complaints, existing diagnoses, operations and any medication you take. This is needed to spot possible contraindications and choose the type of massage, the areas and the intensity. If you have restrictions from a doctor or the physical therapist, say so straight away.

The work. Then comes the massage itself of the chosen areas. We ask how it feels during the session, not only at the end: the work can go deep, but never "through pain". Pain is a signal to ease off, not something to endure.

Advice afterwards. At the end, a few simple recommendations: what to avoid in the next few hours, what to watch for the next day, when it makes sense to come again. If you are also working with the physical therapist, he will know which areas were worked on.

After a first session you may feel something like muscle fatigue after training; it usually settles within a day or two. If instead the pain increases, or numbness or swelling appears, call — we will adjust or postpone the next session.

When massage is not suitable: contraindications

Massage is not a universally safe procedure. Some conditions mean a session has to be postponed or not given at all, and some signs mean a doctor comes first. This section sits before the booking section, not after it, because it matters more to you.

We do not give a session if there is:

a raised body temperature or an acute infection;
an acute inflammatory or purulent process, including in the area to be worked on;
broken skin, a rash or a skin condition in that area;
thrombosis, thrombophlebitis or another vascular condition in which pressure is contraindicated;
bleeding or a tendency to bleed, including on blood-thinning medication;
a fresh injury with a suspected fracture or rupture — a doctor examines it first;
intoxication with alcohol or drugs.

A doctor's clearance is needed before a session if you have: a history of cancer or ongoing cancer treatment, pregnancy, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes with complications, implanted metalwork, or a recent operation.

For vacuum cupping massage the list is stricter: we do not give it over areas with varicose veins or large moles, or if you bruise easily.

See a doctor first, not a massage therapist, if you have: numbness in the groin or saddle area, a change in bladder control, worsening weakness in a leg or arm, pain after a fall or a blow, pain together with fever, or night pain that does not depend on your position. This is not a diagnosis — it is a filter: these signs mean an examination is needed, and a massage session would only cost you time.

The list is not exhaustive. That is why before the first session we ask about your health and existing diagnoses — tell us about them, even if a detail seems minor. If there is any doubt, the final word belongs to your doctor, and we will say so directly.

Your first visit

Bring comfortable clothes that are easy to take off and put on, and your medical documents if you have restrictions from a doctor. Before the first session, allow a few extra minutes for the conversation about your health.

Address: 28 Pavlokichkaska St., Zavodskyi district, Zaporizhzhia — office address and how to get here.

Accessibility

The office is on the ground floor — no stairs inside. There is a ramp at the entrance to the Zavodskyi Palace of Culture building, and parking next to it. Doorways are not narrowed.

Worth knowing in advance: the toilet in the building is not adapted for visitors with reduced mobility — please take this into account when planning your visit.

Cost and booking

The cost of a massage depends on the type and length of the session — ask by phone when you book. We do not publish a fixed price on the site.

To book, call +380 97 824 48 01. It is enough to say which massage you are interested in, or where the tension is, how long it has been there and what makes it worse.

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 09:00–19:00. Saturday by prior appointment. Sunday closed.

Questions and answers

How is therapeutic massage different from classic massage?

In its purpose and precision. Classic massage is general work on the body or an area using the basic techniques, when there is no specific complaint. Therapeutic massage is aimed at a particular area and request: tension between the shoulder blades, a stiff neck, a lower back after exertion. The work is deeper and more targeted, and the areas are set by the complaint rather than by a standard routine.

Who gives the massage?

Alona Kaliuzhna, the massage therapist at Rehab Place. She holds a university medical degree (Zaporizhzhia State Medical University) and a diploma from the Massage and Healthcare Technologies School. She gives classic, therapeutic, sports, recovery and vacuum cupping massage. A massage therapist is not a doctor and does not diagnose. More on Alona Kaliuzhna's page.

Do I need a consultation with the physical therapist before a massage?

No, you can book a massage straight away. But if you have pain that has dragged on for weeks, a recent injury or operation, or numbness in an arm or leg, it is better to start with a consultation with the physical therapist or a doctor. Massage may not be what you need in that case, and the areas and intensity are better decided after an assessment.

Does massage hurt?

It should not. Work on tense muscles can be noticeable, especially in therapeutic or sports massage, but pain is a signal to ease off, not something to endure. We ask how it feels throughout the session and choose the depth so that the body relaxes rather than guards. Mild muscle fatigue the next day is normal; increasing pain is not.

How many sessions will I need?

It depends on the request. For some people one session is enough to release the tension of a hard week; others need a series — for example, combined with exercises with the physical therapist. Naming an exact number in advance would not be honest: we give an estimate after the first session, once we see how the body responds.

Can I come for massage only, without a recovery programme?

Yes. Massage at Rehab Place is a stand-alone service that does not require a consultation or exercises. But if the tension rests on weak muscles, movement habits or pain that keeps returning, sessions will bring temporary relief — in that case we will suggest meeting the physical therapist and combining massage with a programme. The decision is yours.

What is vacuum cupping massage, and who is it not suitable for?

It is massage with special cups that create a vacuum over the skin: the tissue is drawn up and local blood flow increases. The cups leave marks that fade within a few days. It is not suitable with skin conditions or broken skin, varicose veins in the area, or a tendency to bleed or bruise; during pregnancy and with cancer, only with a doctor's clearance.

Can I have a massage if my back hurts?

If it is muscle tension after desk work or exertion — yes, that is exactly what back and neck massage is for. If the pain began after an injury, radiates into a leg or arm, or comes with numbness or fever — see a doctor first. When pain has dragged on for weeks, massage is better combined with the programme on the back, neck and joint pain page.

The information on this page does not replace a doctor's consultation. For questions about diagnosis, imaging, medication and permitted load, speak to your treating doctor.

Massage in Zaporizhzhia — classic, therapeutic, sports