Informed consent is an integral part of massage therapy because it represents a contract between you and your patient or client about what is about to happen when the massage begins. Consent is now generally recognized as the basis of the assumption of the risk. It may seem more relevant

In 2015, many physical therapists and massage therapists on social media were excited about a study that concluded disc herniation and other physical “abnormalities” of the spine are “part of normal aging and unassociated with low back pain.” Published in the American Journal of Neuroradiology, the researchers found that “thirty

You may not need to stretch to become more flexible when you hit the gym or before playing a sport. Emerging research in the last two decades found that strength training is just as effective as stretching to improve your flexibility, and stretching may not be as ‘great’ or a

Becoming an entrepreneur in massage therapy is somewhat different from other professions where you might see articles that advise you to become your own boss. While there are some overlaps in recommendations among different professions, this guide serves specifically for massage therapists. When starting on your entrepreneurial journey:  Ask yourself:

If you’re seeking a job, it’s important to prepare a resume. Many employers require one, and even if it’s not required, having one gives an employer the impression of professionalism. Put yourself in the employer’s shoes: would you be more apt to contact the applicant who submitted a resume, or

A cover letter serves to introduce yourself to prospective massage therapy employers. It mentions the high points of your resume and states the job you wish to apply for. While not every employer may expect a cover letter, including one with your resume makes you appear more professional. During the

There are many websites that tell massage therapists what to expect from a job interview from the employer’s perspective, but few massage schools teach the therapist how to interview the employer. There are questions that you are better off knowing the answer to before you agree to accept a job,

When seeking a job in massage therapy: 1. Make a wish list of what you’re looking for in a job, such as the pay you want, the hours and days you would like to work, benefits you’re hoping to receive, and opportunities for advancement. Narrow your job search to a

Many people would agree that pain is unpleasant and disrupts their quality of life, regardless of whether it is acute pain or chronic pain. But pain is a necessary survival mechanism that teaches us to avoid danger and behaviors that increase the risk of personal harm. Without pain, we probably

Like in Canada, the U.S., and parts of continental Europe, more manual therapists in the U.K. are moving toward a biopsychosocial model approach to their work rather than the biomechanical model that still dominates current massage and other manual therapy curriculum. Some practitioners have already updated their narrative about how

While different countries in Europe have different legalities and scope of practice in various manual therapies, many practitioners are bound by a common interest in science-based practice. Like in the U.S. and Canada, some manual therapy continuing education still leans heavily toward the biomechanical and biomedical models of pain, which

Finding reliable information relating to massage therapy is tough for both clinicians and the public, and finding continuing education courses (CECs) that are up-to-date on the latest understanding of pain, movement, and touch based on good science and humanities may be even tougher. This is a problem many massage and