Draping in massage therapy is the professional practice of using clean sheets, blankets, or towels to cover areas of a client’s body that are not being actively massaged. This technique is a universal standard of care, ensuring that only the specific area of the body the therapist is working on is exposed at any given time. The rest of the body remains securely covered beneath the linens throughout the entire session. This procedure allows a client to disrobe to their personal comfort level while maintaining a sense of safety and privacy.
Defining the Role of Draping
The practice of draping serves multiple functions beyond simple modesty. Primarily, it addresses the client’s comfort and emotional safety by protecting their privacy and ensuring that sensitive areas remain covered at all times. This physical barrier helps the client feel respected and secure, promoting the deep relaxation necessary for effective therapeutic work.
Draping also establishes clear professional boundaries for the therapist, reinforcing the non-sexual nature of the therapeutic session. Adhering to codes of conduct prohibits the exposure of areas like the genitals and female breast tissue. Furthermore, the linens play a role in temperature regulation. As the body relaxes during a massage, blood pressure can decrease, sometimes causing a client to feel cooler, so the draping helps maintain a comfortable body temperature.
The Draping Procedure
The physical process begins when the therapist steps out of the room, allowing the client to undress privately to their preferred level of comfort and lie down between the sheets on the massage table. Typically, the client is instructed to position themselves face down (prone) to start the session. Once the therapist returns, they carefully maneuver the linens to expose only the area being treated.
When working on the back, the sheet is folded down to an appropriate level, usually just below the waistband. This exposes the muscle groups of the back while keeping the gluteal cleft and lower body areas securely covered. When the therapist moves to a limb, they use a specific technique to tuck the sheet around the thigh and hip. This creates a secure boundary so that only the part of the leg receiving attention is uncovered. The therapist will never reach or work underneath the sheet to access a muscle.
The transition from the prone to the supine (face-up) position is managed to prevent any exposure. The therapist holds the sheet and blanket tautly over the client’s body, creating a tent of fabric. They then instruct the client to slowly turn over beneath the secure covering. This ensures the client remains fully obscured until they are settled face-up. The therapist can then resume exposing only one area at a time, such as an arm or a portion of the chest and abdomen.
Client Rights and Communication
Draping is an interactive process rooted in informed consent. The client has the right to understand and agree to how the procedure will be executed. Before the session begins, the therapist should explain the draping process and discuss which areas of the body they intend to work on. This open dialogue ensures the client feels empowered and in control of their body and boundaries.
Clients are encouraged to communicate immediately if they feel uncomfortable, exposed, or if the linens are too warm or too cool. A professional therapist will respect any request to adjust the draping, such as asking for an extra blanket or requesting to keep a certain area more covered. If a client prefers to remain fully clothed for modesty, the therapist can often modify techniques to work through the fabric. The client’s voice remains the ultimate authority, even though draping acts as a non-verbal boundary.