What Type of Hours Does a Massage Therapist Have to Work?
Massage therapists typically perform massages less than 40 hours per week because of the physically demanding nature of their work. However, after factoring in time spent traveling to clients, handling business--such as bookkeeping and setting up equipment, many massage therapists do work 40 hours a week, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).
Other People Are Reading
-
Hours and Settings for Massage Therapists
-
Massage therapists work in various settings. They could either be in a stationary location or travel to the homes or offices of their clients.
Overexertion is a common risk for a massage therapist. It can lead to errors in technique that can cause injuries such as repetitive motion problems and fatigue from standing for extended periods. Leaving time between sessions can remove some of these risks. As a result, most massage therapists who earn money from a total of 15 to 30 hours a week consider themselves full-time.
Function of Massage Therapy
-
The DOL defines massage therapy as the practice of using touch to manipulate the soft tissue muscles of the body. People often seek massage for purposes of relaxation or medical benefit.
Research on the effectiveness of massage on specific conditions is not conclusive. However, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, massage therapy may be valuable for relieving chronic pain and improving mood in some patients. Massage therapy is usually used to treat pain, sports injuries, anxiety and depression and promote general wellness.
-
Types of Massage Practiced by Massage Therapists
-
Many massage therapists specialize in multiple types of massage known as modalities. Different modalities are more effective for different conditions, so massage therapists use different modalities depending on the purpose of the massage. The length of the massage also depends on the needs of the client; it can last as little as five minutes or as long as two hours.
The DOL website states that there are at least 80 different types of modalities. Some examples of modalities are Swedish, deep tissue, reflexology, acupressure, sports, neuromuscular, Reiki and the Alexander technique.
Employment Opportunities for Massage Therapists
-
The DOL lists massage therapist as an occupation with a faster-than-average growth track. This means the DOL expects opportunities in that occupation to increase from 14 to 19 percent between 2008 and 2018.
In 2008, according to the DOL, 122,400 people were massage therapists. About 48 percent worked part-time and 19 percent had variable schedules. About 57 percent either owned their own business or were independent contractors.
Doctors, chiropractors, hotels, fitness centers or sports centers employed other massage therapists. The best locations to find work are in cities or vacation resorts, although it is possible to find work in other places as well.
The Roots of Massage Therapy
-
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) says massage therapy dates back thousands of years. Ancient writings that refer to massage appeared in many locations including Egypt, Greece, China, Japan, India, the Roman Empire and the Arab world. Hippocrates defined medicine as the “art of rubbing.”
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Thai massage shoulder stand as part of a full Thai body massage. image by Deborah Benbrook from Fotolia.com
