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Massage Therapists Occupation Detailed Description

Massage Therapists career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Massage Therapists

The main tasks and work activities of Massage Therapists are to interview patients to gather medical information, administer therapy treatments to patients using hands or physical treatment aids, maintain medical records, teach medical procedures or medical equipment use to patients. In general, for the Massage Therapists, active Listening, speaking, social Perceptiveness, service Orientation and other 6 skills are required.
Massage Therapists Job Description
EducationMost occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Related ExperiencePrevious work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
ExampleThese occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, travel guides, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters, and medical assistants.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Massage Therapists jobs. 20.00% of Massage Therapists have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 56.67% of Massage Therapists have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
3.33%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
20.00%
Post-Secondary Certificate
56.67%
Some College Courses
10.00%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
6.67%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
3.33%

Tasks and Work Activities of Massage Therapists

  • Confer with clients about their medical histories and problems with stress or pain to determine how massage will be most helpful.
  • Apply finger and hand pressure to specific points of the body.
  • Massage and knead muscles and soft tissues of the body to provide treatment for medical conditions, injuries, or wellness maintenance.
  • Maintain treatment records.
  • Provide clients with guidance and information about techniques for postural improvement and stretching, strengthening, relaxation, and rehabilitative exercises.
  • Assess clients' soft tissue condition, joint quality and function, muscle strength, and range of motion.
  • Develop and propose client treatment plans that specify which types of massage are to be used.
  • Refer clients to other types of therapists when necessary.
  • Use complementary aids, such as infrared lamps, wet compresses, ice, and whirlpool baths to promote clients' recovery, relaxation, and well-being.
  • Treat clients in professional settings or travel to clients' offices and homes.
  • Consult with other health care professionals, such as physiotherapists, chiropractors, physicians, and psychologists, to develop treatment plans for clients.
  • Prepare and blend oils and apply the blends to clients' skin.
  • Perform other adjunctive therapies or treatment techniques in addition to massage.
  • Performing General Physical ActivitiesPerforming physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the PublicPerforming for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Assisting and Caring for OthersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDeveloping constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Documenting/Recording InformationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Thinking CreativelyDeveloping, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  • Handling and Moving ObjectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Interview patients to gather medical information.
  • Administer therapy treatments to patients using hands or physical treatment aids.
  • Maintain medical records.
  • Teach medical procedures or medical equipment use to patients.
  • Assess physical conditions of patients to aid in diagnosis or treatment.
  • Develop patient therapy programs.
  • Confer with other professionals to plan patient care.

Skills and Abilities for Massage Therapists

  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Service OrientationActively looking for ways to help people.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Dynamic StrengthThe ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue.
  • Trunk StrengthThe ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
  • Multilimb CoordinationThe ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Static StrengthThe ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • StaminaThe ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
  • Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Extent FlexibilityThe ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  • Bath robese.g. Bath robes
  • Hand or body lotion or oile.g. Body lotions
  • Balance beams or boards or bolsters or rockers for rehabilitation or therapye.g. Bolsters
  • Therapeutic heating or cooling pads or compresses or packse.g. Cold packs
  • Therapeutic heating or cooling pads or compresses or packse.g. Cupping sets
  • Desktop computerse.g. Desktop computers
  • Medical heat lamps or accessoriese.g. Heat lamps
  • Therapeutic heating or cooling pads or compresses or packse.g. Hot packs
  • Full body immersion hydrotherapy baths or tankse.g. Hydrotherapy equipment
  • Mats or platforms for rehabilitation or therapye.g. Massage chairs
  • Therapeutic heating or cooling pads or compresses or packse.g. Massage stone sets
  • Mats or platforms for rehabilitation or therapye.g. Massage stools
  • Electric vibrators for rehabilitation or therapye.g. Mechanical vibrating massage devices
  • Notebook computerse.g. Notebook computers
  • Personal computerse.g. Personal computers
  • Mats or platforms for rehabilitation or therapye.g. Portable massage tables
  • Therapeutic heating or cooling units or systemse.g. Steam cabinets
  • Mats or platforms for rehabilitation or therapye.g. Treatment tables
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • BiologyKnowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.