• There is a risk of allergic reaction to body preparation products, including oils or aromatherapy materials. Any skin sensitivity, allergies or other conditions must be identified and discussed to identify any possibility of allergic reactions or sensitivities to products. • Though some soreness following deep tissue massage is common, pain during or after massage should not occur. Muscle weakness or pain after the massage should be reported by the client to their health provider. As the massage and bodywork professions continue to expand into integrated healthcare, they are gaining legitimacy for the therapeutic benefits they may provide to clients in areas of mental and physical health. Ethical practice goes beyond adherence to laws, standards, and guidelines and includes honesty with clients and colleagues, professional goals, continued education, and the obligation to always act in the client’s best interest. All state licensing authorities, certifying or accrediting agencies, and professional associations establish their own standards of conduct and ethical guidelines for their members. Massage and bodywork therapists need to refer directly to the organizations and academic or training institutions with which they are affiliated, as well as with state, local, and national associations to review ethical guidelines that apply specifically to their practice.
document all medical conditions and discuss the safety and effectiveness of massage and bodywork with colleagues or supervisors. • The procedures for informed consent must include any medical diagnosis, massage and bodywork modalities to be used, and documentation must reflect any discussions and explanations conducted with clients. The informed consent section of this course will outline the important, specific, and ongoing components of informed consent that must be included in client records. Beyond the NIH advisory, there are other health conditions to consider before proceeding with massage and bodywork. The practitioner must communicate concerns with the client and obtain approval from other health professionals prior to initiating massage or bodywork if the client has experienced the following conditions (NC Massage School, 2016): • Bone damage, such as severe osteoporosis, may mean that massage is not indicated for the client. • Conditions such as deep vein thrombosis or blood clots may put clients at risk. Blood clots may become dislodged and travel to the heart or brain, causing heart attack or stroke. • An injury, especially one that affects the blood or bones, could be negatively impacted by massage and bodywork.
NATIONAL CERTIFICATION BOARD FOR THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE & BODYWORK (NCBTMB)
soreness/stiffness/spasms, injury rehabilitation, or overall wellness. • 92% of consumers believed that massage was effective in reducing pain and 93% believed it to be beneficial to health and wellness. • 45% of massage consumers got a massage for relaxation and/or stress relief in 2020. • The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts an increase of 21% in Massage Therapist jobs between 2019 and 2029, with 34,400 jobs created during that time period (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019). Massage in health care More Americans are discussing massage with their doctors or health care providers (AMTA, 2021a): • In 2015, more than fifty-one million American adults, 16% of the population, had discussed massage therapy with their doctors or health care providers. • Of those who discussed massage with their doctor or health care provider, 69% of their doctors or health care providers referred them to a therapist, strongly recommended massage therapy, or encouraged them to get a massage. • While physicians in 2015 led the way in recommending massage, 49% of chiropractors and 43% of physical therapists also recommended massage therapy when their clients discussed it with them. • More referrals come from chiropractic offices than other sources, with 11% of survey respondents reporting receiving referrals at least once per week, and another 25% receiving referrals several times per month. • 55% of massage therapists received at least one referral every six months or less from a hospital or medical office in 2015. • Nearly two-thirds of adult Americans would like to see their insurance cover massage therapy. • The vast majority of massage therapists, 96 percent, believe massage therapy should be considered part of the health care field.
National board certification is voluntary and offered through NCBTMB to provide a credential beyond state licensure or certification for the massage therapy and bodywork profession (NCBTMB, 2020). It includes more education, hands-on experience, and a background check that conveys a higher level of mastery for the practitioner beyond state minimum requirements. The NCBTMB offers specialty certifications that align with the National Institute of Health 2016 Strategic Plan that addresses priorities for populations that may benefit from an integrated approach to health care. The objectives of the specialty certification programs are to: 1. Further elevate the standards of massage therapy. 2. Further include massage therapy’s role in integrative healthcare. 3. Provide therapists with access to high-quality, advanced programs for specific modalities and populations. 4. Ensure patients receive the best possible care. Statistics The following data, compiled by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) from U.S. government statistics, consumer surveys, massage therapists, and recent clinical studies on the efficacy of massage, provides an overview of the current state of the massage profession. Released in 2021, these statistics highlight the public and medical acceptance of massage therapy's value and the growing consumer usage of massage therapy in the U.S. (American Massage Therapy Association, 2021). Understanding these statistics is crucial for practitioners to stay updated with the evolving profession, which necessitates an increase in their knowledge of ethical practice and their role in integrative healthcare. The primary reason people received massage was for health and wellness reasons as follows: • 63% of adult Americans who had a massage in the 12 months leading up to June of 2020 received it for medical or health reasons, such as pain management,
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Book Code: MMD0926
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