Massage Therapy Careers
Massage Therapy is the practice of using therapeutic touch to manipulate the soft tissues of the body and the muscles in order to increase circulation, improve range of motion in joints, reduce pain, reduce stress and
promote relaxation. The first written records that refer to massage date back more than 4,000 years, making
massage therapy one of the oldest known healing arts. Massage
therapists are the skilled allied health professionals who practice massage therapy.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, "Employment for massage therapists is expected to increase faster than average over the period from 2004 to 2014 as more people learn about the benefits of massage therapy." |
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Massage Therapy reduces stress, promotes relaxation, and also:
- Reduces heart rate
- Helps lower blood pressure
- Increases blood circulation
- Increases lymph flow
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- Increase muscle flexibility
- Improve joint range of motion
- Increases endorphins
- Improve immune system function
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Surveys of hospitals, conducted through the American Hospital Association, have shown a rapid increase in use of massage in the hospital setting. Massage therapists are vital members of the allied health profession who treat patients referred by physicians, chiropractors, and physical therapists
and work in a wide variety of settings in addition to working as independent self employed practitioners.
Massage therapists work in hospitals, physician or chiropractor offices, nursing homes, pain clinics, resorts, aboard cruise ships, in shopping malls, airports, spas, and salons. Some focus exclusively on massage for stress relief and relaxation, while others specialize—pregnancy massage, massage to reduce
swelling after cancer surgery, massage for pain relief, or massage to treat sports injuries to give just a few examples.
Massage therapists often specialize and go into business for themselves
There are many different types of massage treatment modalities; Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, reflexology, acupressure, sports massage, and neuromuscular massage are just a few of the many approaches. Most massage therapists specialize in several modalities, which require
learning different techniques. Because massage therapists tend to specialize in only a few areas of massage, customers will often be referred or seek a therapist with a certain type of massage in mind.
Experienced massage therapists with knowledge of a variety of different techniques often work as employees until they have built up a
good reputation and client base and then go into business for themselves. While the average earnings of massage therapists who are employed in health care settings or spas ranged from $20,000 to $49,000 per year in 2005, self employed massage therapists
often charge $50 per session or more and can earn six figure incomes, or even more if they open practice clinics that employ additional massage therapists.
Going into massage therapy practice for yourself requires a substantial investment in equipment such as tables, special chairs, oils, towels, office space or the means to transport equipment if treating clients at their location. Additionally, the self employed massage therapist must have insurance, good
financial and client record keeping skills, must market their business, maintain supplies and equipment, educate their clients about massage, inform them of any physical irregularities they discover, and work with health insurance companies to receive fees. Whether you plan to practice massage therapy as an employee or go into business for yourself it's clear that a solid education is the key to success!
Education Standards for Massage Therapists
Entry-level educational requirements for massage therapists vary greatly by
state and location. As of November 2005, 36 states and Washington, DC had passed laws that regulate massage therapy. Most of the boards governing massage therapy in these
states require practicing massage therapists to complete a formal education program and pass the national certification examination or a State exam. Some State regulations require that therapists keep up on their knowledge and technique through continuing education. State regulatory requirements for massage practice range from a minimum of 300 in-class hours at a recognized massage school to 1,000 in-class hours of massage training in an accredited massage program.
The Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA) is recognized by the US Department of Education as a specialized accrediting agency for massage therapy and bodywork programs and institutions. It is the only recognized accrediting agency focused solely on the quality of education for massage therapy.
The American Massage Therapy Association is the recognized professional association for massage therapists
and it strives to advance the profession through ethics and standards, certification, school accreditation, continuing education, professional publications, legislative efforts, public education, and fostering the development of members. The AMTA requires its members to have minimum training of 500 hours of classroom instruction and recommends training at a school accredited by COMTA. Its Professional-level members must provide evidence of 48 clock hours of continuing education every 4 years.
Programs Length and Subjects Covered
Length of program varies from school to school depending on the subjects covered, state regulations involved, and degree of specialty training offered, so be
certain to request information from multiple schools in your area in order to compare curriculum, costs, and program
length so you can choose the one that best meets your needs. Subjects commonly include the study of Anatomy
and Physiology, Kineseology, Pathology, Massage Theory, Massage Techniques
and Practice, Professional Practices, and Business.
Certification
After completion of a training program, many massage therapists opt to take the national certification examination for therapeutic massage and bodywork administered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork. The certification exam is an entry-level test that requires that a person has completed a minimum of 500 in-class hours of massage training, and it is now required in some states and municipalities in order for massage therapists to practice. Becoming certified means having
a professional edge, increased prestige among employers, better job security, greater earnings capability, and greater career advancement opportunities.
Getting Started
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