When preparing for a professional massage, clients often wonder about the expected level of undress and whether they should keep their underwear on. This question stems from a natural desire for modesty combined with uncertainty about the proper etiquette in a therapeutic setting. The most important principle to understand is that a licensed massage therapist will always instruct you to undress only to your comfort level. This means the decision about wearing or removing underwear is yours alone, and it is a choice that a professional practitioner will respect throughout your session.
Understanding Professional Draping
The primary safeguard for client modesty is a technique called professional draping, which all licensed therapists are trained to use. Draping involves the careful use of large sheets or blankets to cover the entire body, ensuring that sensitive areas are protected at all times. Only the specific area of the body being actively massaged is uncovered, and this small section is re-covered before the therapist moves to a different part of the body. The draping acts as a physical and professional barrier, which is why your modesty is maintained regardless of whether you choose to wear underwear or not.
This protocol ensures that the client remains warm and secure throughout the entire process, preventing any unnecessary exposure. For instance, while the therapist works on your back, the sheet will be carefully folded down only to the hip line, and your legs and lower body will remain entirely covered. Similarly, when a leg is being massaged, the sheet is secured around the upper thigh to provide full coverage of the gluteal and groin regions.
Practical Considerations for Treatment Access
While modesty is maintained through draping, the physical presence of underwear can sometimes limit the effectiveness of a massage, which is why some clients choose to remove it. Therapeutic massage often involves deep work on muscles that attach to the pelvis, hips, and lower back, areas that are functionally connected to the fabric of most underwear. Full access to the gluteal muscles and the attachments around the sacrum and iliac crest, for example, is necessary for treating common issues like sciatica and chronic lower back pain. If underwear is kept on, the therapist must work over the fabric, which can dilute the pressure and prevent access to the entire muscle origin and insertion points.
Furthermore, garments can restrict the therapist’s ability to perform certain range-of-motion assessments or stretches, particularly those involving the inner thigh or hip rotator muscles. Deep tissue techniques often require long, uninterrupted strokes to effectively separate muscle fibers and release fascial restrictions. The edge of a waistband or the seams of briefs can interrupt this flow, making the work less precise and less comfortable. Keeping underwear on also introduces the risk of massage oils or lotions staining the fabric, as these products are applied directly to the skin to reduce friction.
Communicating Your Comfort and Preferences
The client has the ultimate authority over their own body, and your comfort level should always dictate your decision regarding underwear. If you prefer to keep your underwear on, you should communicate this preference to your therapist before the session begins. They will simply adjust their technique to work around the garment, respecting your boundary without question. Many massage practices offer disposable underwear options, which are often preferred by clients who want to maintain modesty while minimizing oil exposure to their own clothes.
If you choose to wear your personal underwear, selecting a loose-fitting or older pair is advisable to mitigate the risk of staining from the massage products. For men, loose-fitting boxer shorts are sometimes less restrictive than boxer briefs for accessing the upper hamstring and gluteal muscles. The most important step is to be clear with your practitioner about your choice, as open communication ensures that you receive the most therapeutic and relaxing experience possible.