Massage Therapy

One of the more rapidly growing professions in the healing arts is proving to be massage therapy, a specific type of treatment that helps patients suffering from medical conditions such as sciatica, whiplash, migraines, and chronic pain. Headaches, stress and muscle reconditioning are among the common types of ailments massage therapists encounter on the job. The treatment works so well, in fact, that Massage therapists are being sought out at an ever-growing rate. As a result, massage therapy programs throughout the country have been filling up annually. In the US alone there are more than a thousand massage therapy schools and training courses. Prospective students training as massage practitioners for both therapeutic and relaxation techniques can expect to learn up to 200 different types of massage, which helps them secure employment in the health care field as well as the flourishing healing arts movements.

Massage Therapy is an alternative approach to medicine that is being used more and more frequently by patients seeking alternative forms of physical therapy. Unlike relaxation massage, therapeutic massage works on specific ailments over time, utilizing over 200 different types of treatment. Massage therapy has been known to alleviate lower back pain and arthritis, and can even help with heart disease, head injury and cerebral palsy. Studies have revealed that the nurturing human touch alone not only reduces stress and depression but can alleviate pain while strengthening the immune system. Employment in the massage therapy field is projected to double over the next year as more and more healthy-minded individuals turn to therapeutic body massage services.

The first step in choosing a massage therapy program that’s right for you is figuring out what kind of practice you envision for yourself and what kind of training it requires. There are a variety of types of massage to suit every potential massage therapist. Do you want to focus on medical massage? Sports-specific muscle or injury therapy? Pregnancy massage, energy work, rehabilitation, pain relief or relaxation? What kind of person you are and what kinds of patients you want to work with will also influence what kind of training you should seek. Begin by thinking about which state you might want to practice massage therapy. The internet is the best place to start, as most programs in massage therapy now have their own informative website. Find out what your state requires to become a certified massage practitioner. Once you find the program that best suits you ask yourself some basic questions. Is this massage therapy school accredited and recognized by the Federal Department of Education? How soon do graduates begin working as massage therapists? How large are the classes? Look at their course curriculum and decide if their massage therapy program suits your own schedule. Do you prefer an accelerated program or one that allow you more time to complete the necessary hours? Most of these questions can be answered on the school’s website and if not, there are always informative counselors ready to answer any additional questions you might have.