Massage Therapists
Massage therapy is another of the nontraditional approaches to health care and wellness, but it has been around for centuries. Today, other practitioners such as nurses, nurse practitioners, and chiropractors have studied massage therapy and are incorporating the medical benefits of massage therapy into their practice.
Massage therapy can be used for pain relief and control, stress reduction, rehabilitation of sports and other injuries, and improving circulation, which helps to remove waste products from the body.
Duties, Activities, and Scope of Practice
There are over eighty different types of massage in which a therapist can specialize. Some of the most common are Swedish massage, deep-tissue massage, sports massage, reflexology, and acupressure. The type and length of massage depends on the needs and the physical condition of the patient.
Massage therapists work by appointment. Most massages are thirty minutes to one hour long. The patient or client is interviewed at the beginning of the session to determine his health status, medical history, and desired effects of the massage.
Fact
Massage therapists use oils, lotions, and creams to rub the patient's muscles. The patient is covered with a sheet or blanket, and only the portion of the body being worked on is exposed. As the massage progresses, the therapist alters and adjusts the approach or concentration on specific areas to meet the needs of the client.
Education and Training
Education and certification laws vary from one state to another, and often within the state. In 2004, however, thirty-three states passed legislation to regulate massage therapy by requiring formal education and a certification exam. Check with your state and locality to determine requirements.
There are about 1,300 massage therapy schools and programs in the United States. Only about 300 are accredited, and if your state requires certification, you will most likely need to have attended an accredited program. The curriculum consists of anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, ethics, business and legal practice, pathology, and hands-on massage therapy techniques. Additional modalities may be taught in elective courses.
Licensure/Certification
Thirty-six states and the District of Columbia regulate massage therapy. Other states may regulate massage therapy through city or county governments. The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) offers nationally recognized certification. The basic requirements to sit for this test are to have graduated from an accredited program or a program that includes 500 hours of training. Proof of training is required if it is not from an accredited program. Their Web site is
The credential has to be renewed every four years and requires 200 hours of massage and 48 credit hours of continuing education.
Work Settings and Salaries
The median hourly wage for 2004 as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor was $15.36, which includes gratuities. Wages ranged from $7.16 to $32.21 per hour, including gratuities. Gratuities for massage therapists working in hospitals or other clinical settings are not commonplace. Therapists who work in private practice or for health spas, hotels, and salons do make gratuities, and salaries can weigh heavily on the tips.
ssential
Massage therapists can be found working in chiropractic centers, physicians' offices, and fitness and recreation centers. Due to the high physical demands of the job and the time needed between clients, massage therapists generally work fifteen to thirty hours per week, and this is considered to be full-time.
Career Potential and Additional Information
This field is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations over the next decade. The benefits of massage therapy for an aging population will cause it to grow in popularity. Health care providers are just beginning to recognize the benefits of massage therapy to supplement and complement traditional therapies in the treatment of certain illnesses and injuries. Businesses are discovering the advantages of hiring massage therapists to provide in-house massages as an employee benefit.
To find out more about this profession, contact the American Massage Therapy Association. Their Web site is
