Feb 10, 2011 Posted Under: Massage

How to Become a Massage Therapist

One of the fastest growing fields in medicine right now is massage therapy. More and more doctors are recognizing the benefits of medical massage to provide pain relief for their patients. There are a number of large medical practices which now have a massage therapist on staff and a growing number of insurance companies are providing at least partial coverage for massage when it is medically merited. Professional sports teams are hiring massage therapists to work for them and so are the major college sports programs creating an abundance of opportunities.

To become a massage therapist, it is necessary to complete an educational program. There are schools across the country which specialize just in medical massage and there are programs at community colleges and universities which offer degrees in massage therapy. A minimum of 500 hours of training is required in most states to become a licensed massage therapist. One of the tests that is required for certification is administered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. You are required to know in detail anatomy, physiology and kinesiology. You also must be able to answer questions pertaining to Therapeutic massage assessment and application. Plus, there is a section on the test that covers professional standards, ethics, business and legal practices.

When you decide to enter the field, you also must decide what type of massage you want to specialize in. There are over 80 types of massage being practiced around the globe which are distinguished by the techniques which are used. Some employ the deep muscle kneading that most of us associate with massage while others use warm oils or even hot stones. There is one type of massage that does not use the hands of the therapists at all, the therapist uses their bare feet. Kamagra gold

Whatever you decide to specialize in, one of the keys to becoming successful is professionalism. Unfortunately, massage has been misused by people who have used it as a front to provide sexual services. It is absolutely critical for the massage therapist to avoid any inappropriate contact with a patient. Make sure that the person is comfortable with what you are doing and always allow them to decide if they want to be clothed or covered up.

There are exciting opportunities for massage therapists to work in a variety of settings. You could choose to be employed in a doctors office, a chiropractic office or sports medicine clinic. There are a number of spas all across the country which offer massage services and you could even do a stint on a cruise ship where massages are routinely offered each day by the pool.

Once you are a certified as a massage therapist you will have to go through additional training to maintain your certification.
  • You are required to have 50 hours of continuing education every four years to keep your certificate up to date.
  • It is also required that you document performing at least 200 hours of massage therapy over that time.

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