How Can Massage Therapists Help Patients & Protect Themselves?

Massage therapy is a medical treatment designed to be performed by trained and licensed professionals. They know how to manipulate the soft tissue of a body using the necessary amount of movement and pressure. It has been a successful part of treating many different medical conditions. There have been scientific studies illustrating the benefits of massage therapy for treating stress, muscle tension, pain and more. It is often recommended for treating such medical conditions as fibromyalgia, cancer, stomach problems, heart disease and more.

Massage Therapist Requirements

Most states have regulations in place covering those who want to work as massage therapists. In these states, a massage therapist must obtain certification or a license before they can work as a massage therapist. It is common for state regulations to require someone to complete an approved massage therapy course and then pass an examination prior to treating clients. Massage Magazine Insurance Plus offers courses, liability coverage, certificates, and more. Anyone who wants to pursue a career as a massage therapist should contact their state for specific requirements.

Different Types of Massage Therapy

There are different forms of massage therapy. In Western nations, the most commonly performed massage therapy is known as Swedish massage, or also known as classical massage. Most massage training programs have this as one of the core techniques offered. However, there are other types of massage therapy available. Their use is often based on the need to achieve certain goals. For example, clinical massage is often used to relieve muscle spasms, while sports massage can help those participating in athletic events. Alternatively, there are other types of massage traditions from Eastern cultures including Tuina, Shiatsu and more.

Different Ways Massage Therapy Can Help

Pain

Many studies have shown the perceived pain relief benefits of massage therapy. Benefits include relief from headaches, lower-back pain, as well as neck and shoulder pain, osteoarthritis, and more.

Cancer

When massage therapy is used with the proper precautions, it can be an important part of supportive care for cancer patients. When working with cancer patients, a trained massage therapist will know how to use less pressure in certain areas of the body and where to apply more. Aromatherapy has also been used in conjunction with massage therapy to relieve anxiety, pain, in addition to other symptoms commonly experienced by those battling cancer. A review of over 18 studies provided evidence of a perceived reduction in anxiety in cancer patients being treated with massage therapy. Massage therapy has shown to help cancer patients with their fatigue, depression, and help improve their quality of life.

Premature Infants

Research regarding the use of massage therapy for premature infants was done in 2017. It analyzed over 33 studies in which over 19 of the studies showed positive results. Massage therapy was shown to help premature infants develop and gain weight.

HIV/AIDS

There is research showing massage therapy is an effective way to help people with HIV/AIDS battle depression and anxiety. Reviewing studies involving more than 177 people who had HIV/AIDS showed massage therapy contributed to a perceived improvement in their overall quality of life.

Conclusion

Massage therapy is like other medical professions. Those who practice it will need to protect themselves against lawsuits. Massage Magazine Insurance Plus provides massage therapists with an insurance policy that is preferred within the industry. Having this protection helps massage therapists have peace of mind. This will make it possible for a massage therapist to focus on providing the best possible care.