study, schools of professional massage therapy and state requirements vary significantly in the number of necessary hours of study and curriculum. Some schools provide substantial training in specialized procedures, such as lymphatic-drainage techniques or hydrotherapy, while others may only touch upon these subjects, if they are discussed at all (Calvert, 2002). Massage therapists who choose to provide services they are not appropriately trained or competent in make a dangerous personal decision that undermines the profession and may carry weighty legal implications. Personal levels of discretion and ethical standards will largely determine the manner in which massage therapists advertise their services, describe their education and professional experience, and list credentials. Therapists must decide if they can rightfully claim substantive experience in a discipline for which they’ve attended a three-hour workshop or watched a series of instructional videos, or when they can properly call themselves an expert in one modality or another (DiSilvio, 2023). Misrepresenting one’s educational achievements, credentials, or abilities is a serious breach of responsibility that endangers client safety and reflects poorly on the massage profession as a whole. If a subject is outside a massage therapist’s area of expertise, they should not hesitate to say so. The therapist should then direct the client to the appropriate informational resources or professional services. Massage therapists should make sure any information or suggestions they pass along are supported by the professional community and recent research findings and are appropriate and safe for the client (DiSilvio, 2023). Consult the state of licensure including rules, restrictions and regulations concerning massage and bodywork for definitions and limits to the scope of practice. Many states that regulate massage therapy align the functions of diagnosing, prescribing and treating with the practice of medicine, and prohibit massage therapists from using these terms to describe what they do (Lee, 2016). For example, advertising that massage therapy can treat stress may be in violation of some states’ laws (Armstrong, 2012). Questions to consider about scope of practice include the following : ● Does the state regulate or prohibit certain spinal manipulation, cupping, intraoral massage or Gua Sha, which is a Chinese method that involves scraping the skin with a flat tool to relieve pain, aid circulation, and remove toxins? ● Does the scope of practice involve teaching exercises to practice at home without supervision? ● What are the parameters of evaluation and assessment vs. diagnosis? ● What type of muscle testing is permitted? ● If the practice is multidisciplinary, how do chiropractic assistants, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFTs), PT, OT, and Certified Athletic trainers (ATC) interface to deliver safe and legal services to clients? (Lee, 2016) Healthcare Consideration: Information on universal precautions relating to communicable diseases can be found on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s website under “Disinfection & Sterilization Guidelines.” The Occupational Safety and Health Administration also provides guidelines on their website under the regulation header “Sanitation” in regard to worker safety (CDC, 2024).
this sense: (1) do not harm and (2) maximize possible benefits and minimize possible harms (beneficence and nonmaleficence) (Shmerling, 2020). The principle of beneficence requires massage therapists to do good or what will further the patient’s interest. The principle of nonmaleficence requires massage therapists to avoid harm to the patient, or what would be against the patient’s interests. Both principles rest on the fundamental importance of what is in the patient’s interest. The first is the positive requirement to further the patient’s interest. The second is the requirement to refrain from doing what damages the patient’s interest. Different claims covered by the principle of beneficence may come into conflict and force difficult choices (Sohnen-Moe & Benjamin, 2013). Ideally, therapists’ relationship and interactions with clients is a partnership that promotes healthy behaviors; leads to sound, informed, healthcare decisions; and ensures the client’s voice is heard. The client’s best interests should always be the therapist’s primary goal and the guide for all actions and decisions. If therapists ever suspect they are acting out of an unhealthy need or motive, or feel the interactions or relationships with the client are impeding rather than facilitating the therapeutic process, they should seek assistance and/or supervision. Massage therapists can consult a professional massage therapy organization for guidance, supervision, and other professional resources (Allen, 2019). The following sections discuss key points of ethical massage therapy practice in more detail. Accountability Professional organizations protect public safety by certifying the competence of their members through licensing and continuing education requirements. Accreditation and professional affiliations maintain quality control and show accountability to clients, colleagues, and the profession as a whole. They confirm that massage therapists abide by prevailing health and safety standards, conduct themselves in accordance with relevant legislation and/or professional regulations, and possess the specialized knowledge and skills in their field (Sohnen-Moe & Benjamin, 2013). Once massage therapists successfully complete an approved training course, written examination (state and/or national), and, in some cases, a practical evaluation, they are deemed competent in the subject area of massage therapy despite the fact that specific skills, training, and knowledge base may be very different from that of other practitioners. Licensing agencies and professional societies establish standards of quality and professional expertise in the field and ensure that licensed individuals keep pace with recent developments through continuing education requirements (Sohnen-Moe & Benjamin, 2013). Scope of practice Scope of practice refers to massage therapists’ area of competence, usually obtained through formal study, training, and/or professional experience, and one for which they’ve received certification or other proof of qualification. Unlike other standardized training programs or fields of Health and safety Practitioners must abide by industry standards of safety and hygiene. Client draping, towels, the massage table surface, and other relevant items or materials must be cleaned according to accepted standards of sanitation and meet all legal health and safety requirements (including universal precautions relating to communicable diseases). Practitioners should know how to cover cuts and use sanitizing supplies, such as disinfectant hand wipes, effectively (Fritz & Fritz, 2020).
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Book Code: MFL1227
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