Job Description: Massage Therapist

Massage Therapist Job Duties | Massage Therapist Schools | Massage Therapist Salary | Massage Therapist Pros and Cons

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES OF A MASSAGE THERAPIST

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The practice of using touch to manipulate soft tissue muscles in the body is referred to as massage therapy. There are a variety of reasons for the use of massage therapy including the treatment of painful ailments, reducing stress, rehabilitating injuries, promotion general health and decompressing tired muscles.

Massage therapy may be sought for the purposes of medical benefit or relaxation. There are over 80 different types of massage referred to as modalities. Each has it's own techniques and many are used for specific types of circumstances.

Some of these modalities include: Swedish massage, Shiatsu massage, sports massage, reflexology, acupressure and deep-tissue massage.

Massage therapists generally specialize in several modalities, each one requiring different techniques. Massages range from ten minutes to two hours depending on the type of massage and the person’s physical condition and needs. Certain types of massage are given to a specific type of client, for example, prenatal massage is given to pregnant women.

Read the information below about the field of massage therapy and see if it's the right career for you.

What Are The Job Duties Of A Massage Therapist

· Confer with a client to learn about medical history, problems, specific pains
· Determine how to treat a patient based on individual problems and needs; develop a treatment plan that will provide maximum benefit to the client
· Asses a client’s soft tissue condition, muscle strength, range of motion and joint quality and function
· Provide massage therapy based on the treatment that has been determined
· Provide client specific information and guidance about techniques for stretching, strengthening, relaxing, postural improvement and rehabilitating exercises
· Confer with physiotherapists, doctors and chiropractors to design client treatment plans
· Make referrals to different specialists if it is ascertained that the client’s condition will benefit from it
· Preparation and blending of oils for application to the client’s skin
· Treat clients in professional settings, or in clients’ homes and offices
· Use complementary aids like wet compresses, ice, infrared lamps and whirlpool baths to enhance treatment effectiveness and promote client’s recovery and well being
· Prompt arrival at the client’s home or office or work facility
· Uphold standards of sanitization and sterilization as required by law and the institution
· Perform prep work, maintain a clean work environment and track inventory of products used for massage therapy
· Handle client enquiries with courtesy, respond to questions and provide information in an accurate, appropriate and timely manner
· Work independently and without the need for direct supervision
· Maintain client treatment records

A massage therapist requires knowledge of specific techniques and information to diagnose client conditions and prepare treatment plans. A therapist needs to be skilled in the provision of massage therapy, perceptive to client requirements, responsible, courteous and punctual. Attentive listening skills and good oral communication skills are important in the role.

What Type of Degree is Needed To Be A Massage Therapist

The primary role of the massage therapist is to provide relief to patients in chronic pain, relieve stress, and treat muscular injuries and other ailments. For the most part massage therapists are self employed, capable of choosing their own clients where they feel the mutual benefit will be highest. Massage therapists have the flexibility to set their own working hours and enjoy career flexibility not often found in other healthcare fields.

There are approximately 1,300 massage therapy schools all across the county that provides training programs. Postsecondary schools, colleges, massage therapy schools, community colleges and junior colleges offer in-school, online and hands-on training options to students. Diploma courses are available to educate students in anatomy, pathology, physiology, kinesiology, professional ethics and office procedures. A balanced education system of classroom instruction and clinical practice prepares students for entry level therapist positions in a range of professional settings.

The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) offers two types of certification tests:

· National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB)
· National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage (NCETM)

Both programs cover general knowledge of body systems, detailed study of anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology, pathology, therapeutic massage assessment and application, professional standards, ethics, business and legal practices.

State boards indicate the type of exam a student needs to take. In states where massage therapy is regulated, anyone who passes the exam in one state can apply for licensure in another state. In states that have not regulated massage therapy, students will need to take the state specific test.

Attending an accredited program ensures proper training and classroom instruction in accordance with state board laws. Students are equipped to enter the work environment because they are well trained in the knowledge and skills necessary for the practice of massage therapy.

Massage therapists may need to go back to school if they change states, moving to one where they are not licensed. Individuals are mostly required to take an entire massage training course rather than a supplemental program. States insist on a state specific prescribed list of courses and often this cannot be matched by what one has studied in another state.

Certification awarded by the National Certification Exam board, is national certification that needs re-certification once every four years. Applicants can re-take the exam or document 50 hours of continuing education, two hours of professional ethics and at least 200 hours of therapeutic massage sessions over the four year period.

COMTA is the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation, the accreditation program of the American Massage Therapy Association. Those states with COMTA in their descriptions require students to accredited schools to get licensed.

What Is The Salary Of A Massage Therapist

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that approximately 122,400 jobs were held in 2008 and the projected figure by 2018 is 145,600. Over 50 percent of this figure was self-employed. The actual figures are a lot higher because a large number of people practice massage therapy as an alternate income source.

Majority of the massage therapists operate their own business. Alternatively, massage therapists work in a wide array of settings in public and private business environs. Massage therapists may be found in private offices, physicians and chiropractors’ offices, hospitals, nursing homes, studios, fitness centers, hotels, airports, shopping malls and sports medicine facilities. Massage therapists will work in clients’ homes or offices as required. In terms of location, massage therapist numbers tend to be concentrated in metropolitan cities, resorts and destination locales.

The employment outlook for massage therapists is one of faster than average growth. Opportunities are expected to be available for students who complete formal training programs, pass professionally recognized exams and get certified. It is expected that part of the new massage therapist workforce will work only part time until they can build a client base of their own.

Employment growth rate is expected to rise by 19 percent during the period 2008 to 2018. This is the result of continued demand for massage services leading to new openings for massage therapists.

Massage Therapist Wages

The average hourly rate for a massage therapist ranges between $9.5 and $49.50; the hourly overtime rate for a massage therapist ranges between $9 and $17. National annualized data shows that the bonus for a massage therapist can reach a maximum level of $3,065 approximately. Overall annual pay scales range between $18,875 and $93,780 for a massage therapist.

The average hourly rate for a licensed massage therapist ranges between $10.5 and $52; the hourly overtime rate for a licensed massage therapist ranges between $10.5 and $40. National annualized data shows that the bonus for a licensed massage therapist can reach a maximum level of $2,477 approximately. Overall annual pay scales range between $20,506 and $103,423 for a licensed massage therapist.

Pay scales for certified massage therapist falls within the same pay scale ranges of the licensed massage therapist.

The median annual wage for a massage therapist in 2009 was $35,230 and the median hourly wage was $16.94. The middle 50 percent earned approximately $11.36 to $25.14; the highest 10 percent earned more than $33.47 and the lowest 10 percent earned less than $8.

(Figures are approximate and have been rounded off to the nearest full number)

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Being A Massage Therapist

In every job there are advantages and disadvantages; the same holds good for becoming massage therapist. The advantages include:

· As projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment growth for massage therapists is set to increase by a higher than average rate to reach 19 percent increase by 2018.
· The regulation of massage education and standards state wise is leading to a new perception of massage therapy as a career.
· The increase in spas, luxury hotels, fitness centers and sports centers leads to a continued demand for massage therapists.
· The role offers the highest flexibility in the healthcare industry; massage therapists work for themselves, set their own timings and earn as much as they want to.
· Massage therapists for the most part work in excellent work environments with soothing music and dim lighting. However, this is dependent on the client’s needs.
· Massage therapists have a large number of settings to choose from, to work in.
· Massage therapists have an extensive field of specializations to choose from.

The downside to becoming a massage therapist includes the following negative aspects in the job:

· Massage therapy practice is physically very demanding and therapists are susceptible to injury when the proper techniques are not used.
· Repetitive motion problems, fatigue from standing for extended periods of time and constantly expending energy in providing massage therapy puts a heavy strain on the therapist.
· Massage therapy is a wholly physical practice and it takes considerable time to travel to each appointment, complete the function, bill the client, receive payment, and move on to the next client. This can in some ways limit the actual work time for massage therapists.
· Wages are determined by several factors that influence the salary scales of massage therapists. For example, location, education qualifications, areas of specialization and more.