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Massage therapists and physical therapists are associated with the healthcare industry. Both use touch to treat painful ailments, decompress tired and overworked muscles, reduce stress, rehabilitate sports injuries, and promote general health. By "touch" we mean manipulating the soft tissue muscles of the body in order to improve circulation and remove waste products from the muscles.
Massage Therapists
Massage therapists can specialize in over 80 different types of massage, called modalities. These include Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, reflexology, acupressure, sports massage, and neuromuscular massage. Most massage therapists specialize in several modalities, each of which requires specific techniques and training.
It is essential that the client feel comfortable during the massage, so therapists use dim lighting, candles or incense, and soothing music to create a tranquil environment. In some modalities of massage the client is undressed and covered in a sheet or blanket so that only the body part being massaged is exposed. In this case, the therapist uses massage oils, lotions, or creams to soothe the muscles being worked on. There are other types of massage where the client is fully clothed.
Work environment and schedule
Most massage therapists are self-employed, meaning they work as an independent contractor. This requires them to supply their own massage table or chair, sheets, pillows, and massage oils, lotions, or creams. They may contract with a variety of wellness-based businesses, including private offices, hospitals, nursing homes, fitness centers, sports medicine facilities, and spas. Some will travel to clients' homes or offices to provide a massage. There those, too, who practice massage therapy as a secondary source of income.
Massage is physically demanding, primarily because the therapist is standing for long periods of time and is using repetitive motions. Therapists, therefore, must be well trained in proper technique and give themselves adequate breaks between clients so they do not succumb to injury. For this reason, many massage therapists work on a variable schedule and about half give massage on a part-time basis – although when one adds in time for travel, equipment set-up, and administrative functions such as billing, the total hours per week may end up to be more than 40.
Massage Therapy Schools
Educational, training and licensing requirements for massage therapists vary greatly by state and locality, although most states require you to complete an approved formal education program and pass a national certification examination or a state exam in order to practice massage therapy. At a ,assage therapy school, you will need to study anatomy, physiology (the study of organs and tissues), kinesiology (the study of motion and body mechanics), business, ethics, and the hands-on practice of massage techniques. You may also take advantage of massage training programs that concentrate on certain modalities of massage.
Many states require therapists, after completing a training program, to take the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB). This is a nationally recognized credential that must be renewed every four years. In order to remain certified, a therapist must perform at least 200 hours of therapeutic massage and complete continuing education requirements during this time.
Job Outlook
Massage therapists held about 118,000 jobs in 2006. Healthcare providers and insurance companies are beginning to recognize massage therapy as a legitimate treatment and preventative measure for certain types of injuries and illnesses, meaning the demand for therapists will grow in the coming years. Female massage therapists, especially, will continue to have slightly better job prospects because some clients - both male and female - are uncomfortable with male physical contact. In 2006, 84% of all massage therapists were female.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly earnings of massage therapists, including gratuities, were $16.06 in May 2006. Massage therapists, except for those who work in a hospital or other clinical setting, earn 15-20% of their income as gratuities.
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Physical Therapists
As mentioned earlier, physical therapists provide services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. Their patients include accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions such as low-back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and cerebral palsy.
The goal of physical therapy is to improve how an individual functions at work and at home. To reach this goal, the therapist comes up with a treatment plan, which often includes exercise, especially for patients who have been immobilized or who need to improve their flexibility, strength, or endurance. Physical therapists sometimes use electrical stimulation, hot packs or cold compresses, and ultrasound to relieve pain and reduce swelling. They may use traction or deep-tissue massage to relieve pain and improve circulation and flexibility. Therapists also teach patients how to use assistive and adaptive devices, such as crutches, prostheses, and wheelchairs. Often, they show patients how to do exercises at home to expedite their recovery.
Some physical therapists treat a wide range of ailments; others specialize in areas such as pediatrics, geriatrics, orthopedics, sports medicine, neurology, and cardiopulmonary physical therapy.
Work environment & Schedule
Physical therapists generally work in hospitals, clinics, and private offices that have specially equipped facilities. They may even treat patients in homes or schools. In 2006, about 20% of physical therapists worked part-time. Therapists often need to work evenings and weekends in order to accommodate their patients' schedules.
Physical therapy is physically demanding, since you are often required to stoop, kneel, crouch, lift, and stand for long periods. Physical therapists move heavy equipment and also must lift patients or help them to turn, stand, or walk.
Physial Therapy schools and Colleges
Physical therapists need extensive education and training. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) many physical therapy education programs require volunteer experience in the physical therapy department of a hospital or clinic before granting admission into the degree program. For high school students, volunteering with the school athletic trainer is a good way to gain experience.
Education programs start with basic science courses such as biology, chemistry, and physics and then move into specialized courses, including biomechanics, neuroanatomy, human growth and development, manifestations of disease, examination techniques, and therapeutic procedures. Besides getting classroom and lab instruction, students receive supervised, hands-on clinical experience. Physical therapists must then go on to earn a master's degree from an accredited physical therapy program (the BLS predicts that in the future a doctoral degree might be the expected educational requirement. One must pass both a state and a national exam in order to be granted a license to practice physical therapy, and a number of states require continuing education as a condition of maintaining licensure.
Job Outlook
The long-term job outlook for physical therapists is excellent. According to the BLS, employment in this field is expected to grow at a higher-than-average rate of 27% from 2006 to 2016. Job opportunities should be particularly good in acute hospital, rehabilitation, and orthopedic settings, where the elderly are most often treated. Overall, new treatments and techniques will expand the scope of physical therapy practices. Physical therapists with specialized knowledge of particular types of treatment will have excellent job prospects. And the widespread interest in health promotion should increase the demand for physical therapy services, too. A growing number of employers are using physical therapists to evaluate worksites, develop exercise programs, and teach safe work habits to employees. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual earnings of physical therapists were $66,200 in May 2007.
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