Massage therapist what is

The employment, or size, of this occupation in , which is the base year of the employment projections. The projected percent change in employment from to The average growth rate for all occupations is 8 percent. Menu Search button Search:. Summary Please enable javascript to play this video.

What Massage Therapists Do About this section Massage therapists knead muscles and other soft tissues of the body to provide treatment for injuries and to promote general wellness. Work Environment About this section Massage therapists create an environment intended to make clients feel relaxed.

How to Become a Massage Therapist About this section Massage therapists typically complete a postsecondary education program of or more hours of study and experience.

CareerOneStop CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. Similar Occupations About this section This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of massage therapists. Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U. What They Do The What They Do tab describes the typical duties and responsibilities of workers in the occupation, including what tools and equipment they use and how closely they are supervised.

Work Environment The Work Environment tab includes the number of jobs held in the occupation and describes the workplace, the level of physical activity expected, and typical hours worked.

Pay The Pay tab describes typical earnings and how workers in the occupation are compensated—annual salaries, hourly wages, commissions, tips, or bonuses. Job Outlook The Job Outlook tab describes the factors that affect employment growth or decline in the occupation, and in some instances, describes the relationship between the number of job seekers and the number of job openings. Similar Occupations The Similar Occupations tab describes occupations that share similar duties, skills, interests, education, or training with the occupation covered in the profile.

Contacts for More Information The More Information tab provides the Internet addresses of associations, government agencies, unions, and other organizations that can provide additional information on the occupation. On-the-job Training Additional training needed postemployment to attain competency in the skills needed in this occupation.

Entry-level Education Typical level of education that most workers need to enter this occupation. Work experience in a related occupation Work experience that is commonly considered necessary by employers, or is a commonly accepted substitute for more formal types of training or education. Number of Jobs, The employment, or size, of this occupation in , which is the base year of the employment projections. Job Outlook, The projected percent change in employment from to Employment Change, The projected numeric change in employment from to Employment Change, projected The projected numeric change in employment from to Growth Rate Projected The percent change of employment for each occupation from to Projected Number of New Jobs The projected numeric change in employment from to Projected Growth Rate The projected percent change in employment from to Get data.

Athletic Trainers. Bachelor's degree. Exercise Physiologists. Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides. See How to Become One. Physical Therapists. Physical therapists help injured or ill people improve movement and manage pain.

In terms of accreditation and program excellence, massage therapy programs are not equal. The massage therapy program at NWHSU, for example, actually adheres to a higher standard of education with its dual accreditation status—from both COMTA and the Higher Learning Commission, which is the same governing body that accredits institutions such as the University of Minnesota.

Watch Dr. Dale Healey, Dean of the College of Health and Wellness, explain the significance of this unique distinction.

The best way to find out what a massage therapy program is like is by visiting the school. You may also want to speak with current students to see how accessible and responsive faculty are to answer questions and provide extra support to help you succeed. Massage therapy has hundreds of possible modalities, or types of massage specializations. For instance, at NWHSU, we empower students to personalize their program by offering a wide range of electives.

Sport massage, energy medicine, reflexology, trauma-informed healthcare, craniosacral therapy—these are just some examples. Massage therapy programs have obvious similarities with one another. After all, their goal is to ultimately prepare people for the massage therapy profession. On the other hand, they can also differ in profound ways.

How grounded in the sciences is the program? How important are evidence-based methods? But just as important, you should pay attention to how rigorous the curriculum and training are. These factors are what will ultimately help you become a well-prepared massage therapist. Massage programs typically require extensive lab work and hands-on practice. And that means a lot of time on campus. Does the school provide options that can fit with your schedule?

Can you see yourself living there? But when giving a massage to help clients relax, massage therapists generally work in dimly lit settings and use candles, incense, and calm, soothing music. Because massage is physically demanding, massage therapists can injure themselves if they do not use the proper techniques. Repetitive-motion problems and fatigue from standing for extended periods are most common.

Therapists can limit these risks by using good techniques, spacing sessions properly, exercising, and receiving a massage themselves regularly. The road to becoming a massage therapist includes formal training, a licensure process, optional certifications, and a commitment to career-long continuing education.

In the U. S, legal minimum hours for obtaining a massage therapy license differ from state to state and range from to 1, hours. Because the structure of education programs varies, students can fulfill requirements and obtain their license in a matter of weeks or may need up to two years to do so. Based on our pool of users, massage therapists tend to be predominately investigative people.

This finding is consistent with the demands of the work, as an investigative mindset is vital to succeed in the massage therapy field. It ensures that clients receive correct treatment based on careful observation and thorough assessment and evaluation. Massage is generally considered part of integrative medicine. Medical centers are offering it more and more as a treatment along with standard treatment.

It may be used for a wide range of medical conditions. At Mayo Clinic, medical professionals may recommend massage therapy to help people cope with the pain and stress of various conditions, such as cancer, heart disease, stomach problems or fibromyalgia.

Explore Mayo Clinic studies of tests and procedures to help prevent, detect, treat or manage conditions. Massage therapy care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version.