What Should You Expect during a massage?

• The massage therapist will ask questions about what prompted you to get a massage.
• The massage therapist will want background information about your physical condition, medical history, lifestyle, stress levels and any painful areas.
• The massage therapist will ask what your health goals are and will discuss how massage may help you achieve those goals.
• During a one-on-one massage, you will be asked to remove clothing to your level of comfort. Clothing is not removed during “chair” massages.
• Trained massage therapists are happy to share their credentials with clients. AMTA professional members have demonstrated a level of skill and knowledge through education and/or testing and are required to meet continuing education requirements to retain membership.

Definition of Massage Therapy

MASSAGE THERAPY is a profession in which the practitioner applies manual techniques, and may apply adjunctive therapies, with the intention of positively affecting the health and well-being of the client.

MASSAGE is manual soft tissue manipulation, and includes holding, causing movement, and/or applying pressure to the body.

THERAPY is a series of actions aimed at achieving or increasing health and wellness.

MANUAL means by use of hand or body.

Benefits of Massage

Most people enjoy human touch. A touch can convey comfort, love, awareness and many other sensations. It can also help alleviate aches and pains. Massage therapy is beneficial for almost everyone. There are a variety of techniques that are used depending on what is going on in your life, your age and your health status. Massage therapy is also beneficial for those recovering from illness and surgery. Benefits include:

• Tranquil relaxation and reduced stress
• Relief from muscle cramps, spasms, and myofascial pain, especially in the lower back, neck, hips, and legs
• Increase in blood and lymph circulation, which can reduce swelling
• Reduces stress on weight-bearing joints
• Enhances the pliability of skin and underlying tissues.

Code of Ethics

A Code of Ethics is a summary statement of the standards by which massage therapists agree to conduct their practices and is a declaration of the general principles of acceptable, ethical, professional behavior. Massage therapists shall:

1. Demonstrate commitment to provide the highest quality massage therapy/bodywork to those who seek their professional service.
2. Acknowledge the inherent worth and individuality of each person by not discriminating or behaving in any prejudicial manner with clients and/or colleagues.
3. Demonstrate professional excellence through regular self-assessment of strengths, limitations, and effectiveness by continued education and training.
4. Acknowledge the confidential nature of the professional relationship with clients and respect each client's right to privacy.
5. Conduct all business and professional activities within their scope of practice, the law of the land, and project a professional image.
6. Refrain from engaging in any sexual conduct or sexual activities involving their clients.
7. Accept responsibility to do no harm to the physical, mental and emotional well-being of self, clients, and associates.

What is Licensure?
Licensure is a government regulation that makes it illegal for people to practice in a profession unless they receive official permission -a license- to do so. In the United States, professions that affect the health and safety of the public are regulated by individual states, not by the federal government. Currently, not all states have licensure laws that apply to massage therapists.
To get a massage therapy license in a state that does regulate the profession, a therapist usually must complete a minimum number of hours of training with a state-approved education provider, pay a fee and pass a test. Many states also require a certain amount of continuing education each year in order to maintain the license.

How Does Licensure Help the Profession?
Licensing massage therapy protects both the public and practitioners.
For the public, a license shows that a therapist meets the state's definition of professional competency and ensures public safety by requiring certain standards from the profession. For practitioners, license regulations distinguish those who meet the licensure requirements from those who are not qualified to practice legally.
AMTA supports consistent massage therapy licensure regulations, because in time this should achieve overall portability of massage therapy credentials. Portability means that the education and training credentials of a licensed massage practitioner would be accepted when a practitioner moves to or practices in another state.
When AMTA surveyed its membership in November 2006, 88 percent said all massage therapists should be licensed to practice, and 92 percent said that all states should have identical or similar licensing laws. One-third of the therapists surveyed said they were dissatisfied with current licensing and regulation requirements.
AMTA is working to improve the current regulation of the profession through its centralized government relations strategy, which aims to achieve fair and consistent licensing in all states. This is AMTA's most important advocacy goal, and it will require a long-term commitment.