Massage therapy is an essential healthcare service to thousands of Canadians who use this treatment regularly. Massage therapy has a positive impact on health, safety, and well-being. Responsibilities of a massage therapist towards the client are crystal clear. If this is your first massage, you might be interested about learning what a massage therapist does. Here are ten tasks and responsibilities conducted by a massage therapist:
1. A massage therapist can work anywhere
A registered massage therapist can perform their job at different locations. Some massage therapists work in medical clinics and healthcare offices, while others will visit homes and offer at-home services. There are advantages to both approaches depending on personal preferences. Mobile massage therapists are generally viewed as cheaper, less experienced, and lower quality than those working from offices although this is by no means always the case. The nature of the massage technique is the same regardless of where it’s occurring.
2. A massage therapist knows different types of massages
There are dozens of massage therapy types, ranging from relaxing therapies to more intense massages. There is no one-size-fits-all in massages. Speak with your registered massage therapist to find information on what they offer. If you want a more intense massage, a light touch won’t work. Alternatively, if you’re sensitive to pain, you won’t want someone grinding into your tissue with weight.
3. A massage therapist talks with you
A massage therapist is there to customize a massage approach for the client. This involves understanding a client’s symptoms, discussing their medical history, and agreeing on the desired results. In this part of the process, they may also locate tense areas of the body which can oftentimes involve moving the hands over certain regions. This is to get to know these areas, analyzing sensitivity and function.
4. A massage therapist helps you relax
No massage is about creating tension. Whether it’s a Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, pregnancy massage, hot stone massage, athletic or sports massage, couples massage, or otherwise, a massage therapist is there to make you feel relaxed. If there’s something about what’s happening that is making you feel uncomfortable or which doesn’t feel right, speak up and a massage therapist can adjust what they’re doing.
5. A massage therapist will use a skilled touch
A massage is all about manipulation through touch. A massage therapist manipulates the muscles, soft tissue, and function of the body through touch. Throughout a massage, they are listening to your body and looking at responses, adjusting the feel along the way if needed.
6. A massage therapist uses different tools
A massage therapist has several tools they can use in their practice. In treating injuries or in providing a general massage, they may use their fingers, hands, forearms, elbows, and even sometimes feet. These knead into muscles and soft tissues. They also commonly employ oils and lotions to allow for some glide. The average massage lasts anywhere from 5 minutes up to 1 hour.
7. A massage therapist heals your body
The exact massage type necessitates what will be touched. In a full-body massage, the arms, legs, hands, feet, neck, back, stomach, and buttocks are all areas that are given attention. The torso is touched, around the breasts but not the breasts themselves. Naturally, if there’s somewhere you don’t want to be touched, a massage therapist doesn’t have to. These are subjects that can be brought up before or during a massage. It is not a problem. Massage therapists handle these requests frequently. Massage therapy done right can relieve pain, helps the body’s own natural healing response, improves circulation, relieves stress, increases relaxation, and aids in improving general wellness. This relies on the skill of the therapist, however. A poorly trained massage therapy is like any practitioner who is poorly trained or inexperienced. One must ensure they trust their massage therapist to do the job right in manipulating their bodies to reflect the intended result.
8. A massage therapist offers consulting
Massage therapists are also there to answer questions. They may provide guidance on pain management, stretching, how to strengthen certain muscles, relaxation techniques, and improvements one can do on their posture. A massage therapist may also offer some at-home poses or stretches one can do to further maximize the result of a massage.
9. A massage therapist documents your progress
A massage therapist wants to see you get better. They want to know they’re providing some benefit. This is why they document a client’s condition and progress. Over time, a client should understandably see some benefit. Documentation will show that. If there is no benefit, a new approach may be needed or stopping altogether may be a client’s preference.
10. A massage therapist collaborate
It’s not uncommon for a massage therapist to collaborate with other healthcare professionals, including chiropractors, physicians, psychologists, and physiotherapists to assist in delivering optimum tailored treatment to the client. If you are looking for something specific – such as to rehabilitate a sports injury or to treat chronic pain – collaboration is necessary to ensure risk is minimized, that therapy is successful, and that all parties are fully informed of what’s being accomplished. Massage therapy is an essential healthcare service to thousands of Canadians who use this treatment regularly. Massage therapy has a positive impact on health, safety, and well-being. Responsibilities of a massage therapist towards the client are crystal clear.
HR Specialist by day. Online blogger by night. I specialize in giving out career advice. My job is to make sure you do the best possible job in your line of work.
In my day-to-day job, I'm a HR Specialist. My job is to help other people excel in their jobs. Whether you're an employee, a manager, or a prospective job candidate, I can provide expert guidance and advice on how to navigate your career.
Career Advice
People often ask me for a book recommendation when it comes to employee management. It took me a while to find it, but The Carrot Principle (by Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton) is a well-written New York Times bestseller that covers all the management basics in a clever and succinct manner.
One more book recommendation for the road. Love 'Em Or Lose 'Em (by Beverly Kaye and Sharon Jordan-Evans) provides an honest, no-nonsense approach to employee retention. I highly recommend the audiobook version.
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