Massage Therapist Salary

Unlike other career jobs, a massage therapist job involves physically manipulating the client’s body. In the process, it not only gives the client a sense of well being, but also relieves stress, alleviates pain and does internal healing too, all because of the earnest efforts of the therapist. It is therefore, a natural corollary that without absolute dedication, no massage therapist job will be successful.

However, for all practical purposes, these jobs can be divided into two distinctive groups or categories – location or setting, and the massage administered for individuals. As for the former, it includes salons, spas, retreats, resorts and cruise ships. Qualified massage therapists can also find employment in health clubs, fitness centers, sports clinics as well as nursing homes and elder care facilities. Over and above, vacancy for efficient massage therapists exists in physician’s and Chiropractor’s offices, as also in clinics where they administer acupressure or follow similar oriental therapeutic protocols.

In regard to the second issue, the list is a mile long, and so only the most popular lines of massages are discussed below.

Massage therapist job when the client is male includes giving general body massage with special emphasis on muscles that are extensively used during walking, jogging and running through crowded areas. Relaxing body massage eases the stress and strain. In a study conducted in Sweden in 2010, it was found that an 80-minute hand-and-foot massage could significantly lower the heart rate, cortisol and insulin levels. According to paper published in the Clinical Journal of Pain in 2010, men with chronic neck pain had affirmed that they had felt 55% improvement after receiving neck massage.

Massage therapist job when the client is female consist of giving them light body massage to improve flexibility, while strengthening the immune system. Researchers at the Touch Institute in Miami have observed that massage therapy can reduce headache, sleep disorder, and distress symptoms. It also improves the serotonin level in adult females. In yet another study conducted, it was found that massage therapy during pregnancy can lower the level of anxiety, reduce back and leg pain, and cut the levels of the stress hormone Norepinephrine.

It is good in pain management too. Deep tissue massage, sports massage and trigger point therapy are all useful, because they can provide relief from pain. Studies have revealed that massage can trigger endorphin release, which raises the threshold for pain. For chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia, arthritis or migraine, a therapeutic massage can work wonders.

A study was conducted in Los Angeles recently. 53 average adults were assigned to receive deep tissue, Swedish and light touch massage. It was found that a single massage session induced certain biological changes in most of them. The volunteers demonstrated a marked decrease in stress. They had a higher number of white blood cells. In short, the study brings into light a remarkable fact that a massage can readily activate the body, and correct some of the physical imbalances. You can make this happen with your massage therapist job.