Severe scoliosis and want to work as massage therapist

[Destiny]

Hi,

I visited a school in my area in the hopes of starting to learn to become a massage therapist, however, I have severe scoliosis with a 62 degree curvature. By looking at me you'd never know, and I'm very active and work out a lot. However - what is your opinion on whether you think this is a career I can pursue? The people at the school said that they work very strongly on implementing good body mechanics, and never massage a client bent over, only in the horse stance and moving side to side, or the lunge stance moving forward and backward, with always a motion and never standing still.

If someone who has worked in this field with lots of knowledge on how it feels on your back when working, could you please give me some advice. This is a career I truly feel would be perfect for me, but want to make sure and ask as many knowledgable people as I can before paying the expensive fees for this school.

Looking forward to hearing from someone about this.

Lynette.

 

[myfav1]

I'll be honest with you, that's a pretty wicked curve you have (although you didn't state where it is) but if you work out already and have an active life you've learned to deal with it and not let it slow you down. With good teachers, proper body mechanics and the passion you obviously possess I see no reason that you won't find a way to make this work for you. Plus consider the fact that in massage school you'll get lots of body work and this could most likely benefit your back as you learn how to negotiate your way around a massage table.

Best of luck to you!

 

[tray]

Maybe you can find a massage therapist who will walk you through a massage a few times to see if your body can handle it. I mean you do the work, you bring a friend for the "client." It may be worth the investment to find out one way or the other, even if you have to pay full price as if you were receiving the massage.

 

[kiwi mum to one and a bun]

I have scoliosis myself, but am not sure exactly what perceneforum.xxxe of curvature I have.
I did ask my chiropractor if he thought I could do the work, and he even wrote a letter of recommendation to the school asking them to accept me as a student. So I'm pretty sure he felt confident I could physically do the work.
You might do the same and ask your MD or DC if they feel it is a good career choice for you.
jdcan suggested you get a mentor to walk you through a massage or two... but I'd suggest you ask your school if there is a "please touch" type class for individuals who want to learn how to massage their spouse or other family members. That might give you an idea if you could do it with not a lot of expense.
There may be ways that you can adapt your work as well. Sure there is a lot of standing in massage, but you can do some massage while seated. Where there is a will... there is a way!

 

[moochie]

I started my career as an MT late, as I am 42 and have just opened up shop. Realistically, I know I won't be able to do this a long time as I had issues with my back before I started. Nothing diagnosed, but my lower back 'goes out' on me at times. I also play the piano and even though I am doing my best to take care of my hands, they hurt some already. I know my limit is 4 massages in a day or I'm in trouble.

But, my point is...I love this. And even should I not be able to massage another person tomorrow, nothing will be taken away from what I have given and has been given me since I've begun. This is the most rewarding job I have ever had and the one I am the most passionate about and that makes all the difference regardless of how long I will be able to do it.

Sandra

 

[Trixzter]

I had a good friend in massage school who had scoliosis. I dont know what her degree of curvature was, but she did have two metal rods put in her back as a teenager if that means anything. She was fine in school, but she was one of those who didnt pursue the career after we graduated.

 

[Beryl 0.2.1/Ubuntu 9.04]

One of my classmates also had scoliosis. She is starting her own practice now.

 

[maballer1]

Wow - thank you so very much all of you for all of your great positive vibes and encouragement.

You have all made me so happy, as I really feel this is a career I want to pursue more than anything else, so I will definitely go for it.

I am incorporated yoga and stretching into my daily routine, so hopefully this will also help me.

Thanks again everyone.

Lynette.

 

[so.moon]

I know another MT with visible scoliosis... next time I see him I'll try to ask what it's like for him. But, as far as I know he does quite well

 

[Courtney M.P.]

Thank you so much EgoMagickian - I'd appreciate you asking him very very much. Any information I can get from experienced MT - especially with the same condition would be fantastic.

Looking forward to hearing back from you.

Lynette.

 

[MrSelfDestruct]

I saw him yesterday... he has a 39 degree curvature and hasn't had any problems doing massage. He emphasized that proper body mechanics and doing some kind of yoga or tai chi every day are extra important for him.

His final word was a question for you: is this something you are passionate about and really want? Or is it just something you're "kind of interested in"? He was of the opinion that where there is a will, there's a way. YMMV :-D

 

[thehelper97]

Hi and thanks for finding out that information for me.

Actually yesterday my chiropractor referred me to a doctor who has just completed her finals for chiropractor, and before that had practiced as a massage therapist for 25 years. She has slight scoliosis, and told me that it has beaten up her body and strongly suggested to me not to go for it. I was very sad and disappointed but thought well she obviously knows.

She said she has never had a client with such a severe curvature as mine (62 degrees), and usually only reads about it in text books.

I am passionate about doing this as a career, however, I don't want to be in constant pain either.

It's weird because I only found out I had scoliosis at the age of 31, I'm now 41. It's in the lower back. I actually started doing yoga every single day about a month ago, and it's been fantastic.

Well Egomagickian, thanks so much for all the help, maybe I should look at something like aesthetician now.

Lynette.

 

[Kardinal]

Hi and thanks for finding out that information for me.

Actually yesterday my chiropractor referred me to a doctor who has just completed her finals for chiropractor, and before that had practiced as a massage therapist for 25 years. She has slight scoliosis, and told me that it has beaten up her body and strongly suggested to me not to go for it. I was very sad and disappointed but thought well she obviously knows.

She said she has never had a client with such a severe curvature as mine (62 degrees), and usually only reads about it in text books.

I am passionate about doing this as a career, however, I don't want to be in constant pain either.

It's weird because I only found out I had scoliosis at the age of 31, I'm now 41. It's in the lower back. I actually started doing yoga every single day about a month ago, and it's been fantastic.

Well Egomagickian, thanks so much for all the help, maybe I should look at something like aesthetician now.

Lynette.

Lynette,
I wouldn't let one person's opinion sway you away from becoming a massage therapist. I understand that she has the experience, but her situation may be very different from yours!

 

[DAVENANN A]

I am with moose_goose on this one. I'd at least look into it myself... take a couple's massage course or something where you are at least exposed to what a MT does all day, so that you have a better idea of what is required.
In addition, there are some modalities that would be easier on your body than others. Was that taken into consideration?
Just because you are trained to do Swedish in school doesn't mean that is the be all and end all of massage. If massage is truly your dream, I wouldn't give it up so quickly!

 

[Lee2332]

I agree with Maestra & Moose Goose. You mentioned your scoliosis is in your low back. Aestheticians spend a lot of time sitting, which can be pretty hard on people with low back issues. Massage on the other hand can feel a bit like yoga, with the body mechanics of movement as you work.

 

[jbethphoto]

I agree with Maestra and MooseGoose and Blisss.

A lot of people burn out or hurt themselves. I think for most (not all) of them that's the point. They do it to themselves. They don't take care of their tools; so, they wear out.

 

[Sloopie Mcguvna]

What is it about massage that excites your passion? Perhaps there are modalities that relate to your interests that would be easier on your body.

 

[WTFYW?LDG!]

I agree with Maestra and MooseGoose and Blisss.

A lot of people burn out or hurt themselves. I think for most (not all) of them that's the point. They do it to themselves. They don't take care of their tools; so, they wear out.

Chiming in here - I agree, too. This person practiced 25 YEARS before "burning out" - which in her case meant she went on to practice medicine, and is now going into chiropractic. What does she think being a chiropractor will do to her body?

Besides, when she became an MT.....evidently well over 25 years ago....schools were not so developed. It is pretty recent that massage schools focus on teaching body mechanics first. You have a very good chance now of being able to do this without hurting yourself.

 

[devilman bravo]

Wow - thank you all for your great responses and positive feedback.

I was divorced a year ago, and I was in a major car wreck a year prior to that - where my mother and I were cut out of the car and helicoptered to hospital, (luckily my sons weren't physically injured) so both these major events in my life turned around my way of thinking. I started doing a lot of self-help - listening to a lot of people such as Dr. Wayne Dyer, Esther and Jerry Hicks, etc., and trying to work on positive approaches and positive way of thinking etc.

Then I started getting into yoga, stretching, meditation, and felt so so much better.

I've thought about massage a lot through the years and realized that the only reason I never went for it was because I had been told I had scoliosis and thought it was impossible to do it. Then recently, I started trying to research more and more about it. My mother and brother have shown extreme concern by expressing to me they don't think I should pursue this career because of my back, and I tried to ignore that negative feedback and researched as much as I could from people like you guys. You have all been fantastic on this board and so full of positive energy which I love. But the rest of the people I talk to seem to have the opposite feedback.

So right now, I'm feeling a little confused.

Also my ex is causing me tremendous stress, and basically he only has the kids three times a week for three to four hours each time, never overnight - though I'm working on that right now. So finding time to study is probably going to be difficult for me.

I know it sounds like I'm putting obstacles in the way, and if I decide it's the right way to go and do it, then nothing will stop me. Just wish I knew what to do.

When I vacuum my floors in my house and then mop them - takes approx. 3 to 4 hours, my back feels like it's breaking for about two days afterwards. Does this tell you it might be hard for me massaging people?

Anyway - thanks again to all of you for encouraging me. I look forward to any more feedback or information you may find out about this.

God bless,

Lynette.

 

[Penn]

When I vacuum my floors in my house and then mop them - takes approx. 3 to 4 hours, my back feels like it's breaking for about two days afterwards. Does this tell you it might be hard for me massaging people?

I've never seen anyone, myself included, use decent body mechanics to vacuum and mop (Hey, if anyone has any advice on this, start a new thread on it!)

Point being, household chores and massage are not the same. Rather than continue to wonder, I hope you'll take some of the previous suggestions and find someone to walk you through doing a table massage. See how it feels!