The Responsibilities of a Massage Therapist

According to the American Massage Therapists Association (AMTA), massage is increasingly recognized as a way to improve overall health and manage chronic illness and pain. Massage therapy is offered in hospitals, doctors offices, health clubs and gyms. Massage therapists are trained health professionals who must adhere to strict guidelines to practice and in many states must be licensed or certified.

Setting

• A massage therapist needs to create an atmosphere that the client can easily feel relaxed in. The use of dim lighting, soft music and fragrance helps to create this atmosphere.

Intake Form

• Before the massage, it is the massage therapist's responsibility to have the client fill out a form which outlines any current health problems or areas of concern. The massage therapist should then review this form with the client before the massage.

Modesty

• It is the responsibility of the massage therapist to respect the client's privacy by supplying a robe or drape for them to change into before the massage begins. The massage therapist should show the client where to put their personal items.

Feedback

• The massage therapist should communicate with the client so as to not use too much pressure and to specifically work on areas of the body that the client requests. The massage therapist should explain what they are doing especially if the client has never had a massage before.

Professional Behavior

• The massage therapist should be clean and avoid the use of strong colognes. The massage therapist should be dressed in comfortable but professional clothing appropriate for the work setting whether it be scrubs when working in a hospital or a uniform when working in a gym or spa.

Records

• The massage therapist should follow the massage by leaving notes about what kind of massage was done and any specific areas of the body that needed attention. These notes and the client's intake forms should be kept confidential.