What is Massage?
Massage therapy is a hands-on manipulation of the soft tissue and joints of the body. The soft tissues include muscle, skin, tendons and associated fascia, ligaments and joint capsules.
Massage has many diverse physiological effects, which are primarily due to the therapist's hands moving over the body. The different movements can physically stretch muscles, ligaments, tendons and fascia, encourage the circulation through the tissue, inhibit muscular spasms and be either sedating or stimulating to the nervous system.
The therapeutic use of massage by a registered massage therapist affects all the systems of the body - in particular, the muscular, circulatory, lymphatic (immune) and nervous systems.
Therapeutic massage is indicated as a relevant choice of care in the following areas:
- Health maintenance and/or health promotion > promotes general tissue health and encourages lifestyle and general health awareness.
- Stress management > helps relieve associated muscular tension and encourages general relaxation.
- Post-operative care > helps reduce recovery period and speeds up elimination of anesthetic, as well as reducing pain and stiffness associated with bed rest.
- Emotional and/or psychological disorders > release endorphins that help to uplift and reduce depression.
- Terminal illness > helps reduce pain and discomfort associated with long-term bed rest, as well as providing support and reducing the effects of emotional stress for the patient, as well as their family.
- Chronic pain > helps break the "pain-spasm" cycle whilst reducing associated muscle tightness.
- Care of the disabled > provides emotional support, as well as assisting in the maintenance of general tissue health.
- Pre- and/or post-event sports participation > improves performance and recovery and reduces the likelihood of serious injury.
What is a Massage Therapist?
Massage therapy is a licensed and government regulated health care profession.
In the state of Texas, to use the professional term “Massage Therapist”;
A) First, one must complete:
1) 300 hours of in-classroom and hands-on educational training at an accredited school
2) And have extensive knowledge of anatomy and physiology, assessment, bodywork techniques, and pathology before they are allowed to apply for their state board.
B) In order to become a licensed or registered massage therapist, you are required to pass a specific government state board examination; which consist of a timed written exam and a practical demonstration exam.
Failure to pass either portion of the exam, results in failure to license as a qualified therapist.
C) After passing the board exams and obtaining liability insurance, you will be entitled to carry a valid massage therapy license. When you receive your license, you will be given a registration number.
Registered massage therapists and Massage Establishments must uphold specific standards of practice and codes of ethics in order to hold a valid license.
BEWARE
Anyone claiming to be a massage therapist, who does not have a valid registration number, is not a real therapist; a list of legitimate therapists is posted on the state health department's website.
Any legally licensed massage therapist found to be performing elicit acts of an adult nature can loose their license permanently.
Any establishment advertising or offering elicit acts of an adult nature is not a legitimate massage establishment. Legitimate massage establishments are also listed on the state health deptartment's website.
Additional Questions & Information
What parts of my body will be massaged?
First,you should always disrobe to YOUR level of comfort.
Generally, a typical full-body session will include work on your back, arms, gluts/buttocks, legs, feet, hands, head, neck, abs and shoulders.
You will not be touched on or near your genitals (male or female) or breasts (female).
"Happy Ending" massages are NOT administered, professional, ethical or legal.
People seeking this type of service are not my type of clientele.
What is your cancellation policy?
If you find it necessary to cancel your appointment, I ask that you give 24hrs notice.
This allows for another client to be scheduled for your appointment time.
Appointments made in a time frame of less than 24hrs are still subject to the same cancellation rules and policies.
Why do you charge a cancellation fee?
Out of respect for the therapist.
Time is money for a massage therapist.
A massage therapist makes a living from clients who keep and honor their appointments.
A wasted timeslot can cost a therapist part of their rightful income.
What if I am late?
If you think you are going to be late, I ask that you call and inform me of your delay and your estimated time of arrival.
All cancellations are to be made 24hrs before the scheduled appointment.
Why Do You Only Work Out of Your Home
To keep it affordable for my clients.
When a therapist does an out call it generally takes double the amount of time. One hour ends up being a two to three hours job. You have to account for travel time (to and from - including time sitting in traffic), set up/ tear down time and time waiting for the client to get on and off the table not to mention fuel costs. All of this causes the therapist to loose valuable time and money. To accommodate the therapist has to charge a higher price.
Plus, a want my clients to feel like they are a part of my family.
I want them to feel safe and protected at all times.
I want them to feel at home;what better place to do that than at my home and not some drab lifeless sterile setting. |
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Contraindications for Massage
(Times and reasons NOT to get a massage)
There are times when massage could be detrimental rather than beneficial to you. The contra indications to massage are:
- A body temperature over 100°F, or feeling unwell.
- (If your sick stay home; don’t contaminate others.)
- Acute Traumas - Open wounds, recent bruising, muscle tears, sprained ligaments, contusions, chilblains, burns.
- Tumors - Where there is swelling, which is inconsistent with recent bruising.
- Diseased blood vessels - Varicose veins, phlebitis, thrombosis
- Cancer
- Melanoma
- Hemophilia
- Infectious skin disease - Bacterial infection, Lymphangitis, Fungal infection, Viral infections, Herpes
- Diabetes - not strictly a contraindication but massage has the same effect as exercise on your blood sugar levels so you need to have appropriate medication available. Massage can lower your blood sugar levels.
- Where you react adversely to massage treatment
- Where your symptoms appear to make advice from a doctor advisable
If you have any of these conditions; it is best to have a letter of release from your doctor stating that it is OK for you to receive professional massage therapy. |
