Massage Therapists Would You Recommend Massage Therapy As a Career, Yes or No?

[ddti]

I am wondering what the Pros & Cons to the field are?
Thanks

 

[massage therapist]

I've been a LMT for over 24 years and I am asked this question often. With the right type of training, massage therapy can be a very rewarding career. I haven't given a massage though in over 20 years. I learned early on,most people gravitate towards LMTs because they are in pain,at least that has been my experience. Basic massage training really doesn't teach much in the way of treating myofascial pain, http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/myofascial-pain-syndrome so you have to get advanced training on your own. One of the best is myofascial release by John Barnes PT(also a LMT) http://www.myofascialrelease.com/fascia_massage/public/default.asp I live in a very small town that has 7 chiropractors. As insurance companies are reducing payments to chiropractors,because their treatments are long drawn out,and basically ineffective, a well trained therapist can flourish. Most of my referrals come from an osteopath and a PT. And as far as "massage" therapy being so destructive to a therapist,maybe it's because you were doing massages?

 

[Kathy Miller]

What they will not tell you when they take your money to go to school it that it is only a matter of time before your hands swell up, and if you do it long enough you can be crippled for life. I quit after my hands swelled up over a few months, and I still have difficulty doing some things, as the use of my hands are compromised. It is okay part time, or for a while, when your hands swell up time to do something else. `