Massage Therapy is a well-recognized, specialized, health modality. In South Carolina, a massage practitioner must complete a minimum of 500 hours of professional training from an accredited school of massage, successfully pass
a national examination, and apply for and be awarded a state license to practice massage and body work. Licensed therapists must then complete continuing education courses in order to maintain their licenses.
Massage therapy and body work benefits almost every aspect of the body at every stage of life. Massage therapists can specialize in relaxing Swedish Massage, Pre-Natal or Infant Massage, Sports Massage, Orthopaedic Massage,
Craniosacral Therapy, Myofascial Release, Somatic Therapy, Geriatric Massage, or may choose among many other specialties. The many benefits of massage are being scientifically researched and documented in both medical and industry-specific journals.
If you have: tight muscles, limited range of motion in any joint, numbness or tingling of the hands, feet, or skin, muscular tension, stress, headaches, or back pain. These symptoms can be caused by medical conditions requiring
attention by your physician, but most often they are caused simply by tight muscles and connective tissues – those tissues holding muscles to skin, muscles to muscles, and muscles to bones. Most of these symptoms can be resolved completely or in part with Massage
Therapy. Massage can also help reduce the symptoms or severity of many medical conditions such as high blood pressure, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, lymphedema and back or neck pain. Many clients of massage also reduce their needs for medications. Consult your
physician. Ask for massage.
As with any medical condition, the frequency of treatment with massage depends both on the complexity of the condition and how long you have had it. Acute conditions may completely resolve with one treatment, while chronic conditions may take several visits a week
for several weeks. Self – care and education are the major factors in resolving a condition without it coming back. The more highly skilled your therapist is the more self-care information you will likely receive.
Massage Therapy is typically performed on a massage table in a private treatment room. You, the client, complete a medical intake form similar to one completed at a physician’s office. After greeting you, your
therapist will accompany you to the treatment room, review your intake form, ask questions, give you opportunity to ask questions, and explain her or his techniques. The therapist will then leave the room while you dress down to your comfort level or the level
appropriate for the treatment agreed upon (ie, from the waist up to treat back pain.). Table massage can also be performed thru the clothes but is generally more limited in its effects.
Your therapist will knock before entering the room. She/he will then perform the treatment using oils, or lotions. Most therapists play soft music during the session and many burn lightly
scented candles to help create a relaxed atmosphere.
Licensed therapeutic massage is non-sexual. A therapist cannot legally touch the breast tissues or the genitals. Therapists can massage the chest muscles surrounding the breasts if agreed
to by the client. This treatment is beneficial to problems involving the shoulder girdle and breathing restrictions and is non-sexual. Therapists often treat the gluteus muscles of the buttocks and the upper thigh muscles around the front and sides of the hips.
These treatments can be performed thru the drapes or directly on the skin.
At all times you, the client, will remain appropriately draped with a sheet, blanket, and/or large towel. Your privacy and respect is maintained at all times. A massage therapist will never
perform a chiropractic maneuver on your back or neck. She/he cannot diagnose medical conditions and may refer you to your physician for follow-up of any suspicious findings or symptoms reported by you.
At the end of the session, the therapist will notify you of the session’s end and leave the room. You will get dressed and usually meet the therapist outside of the room. Payment for the
session may be handled either before or after the session. Tips may be given but are not required.
Chair massage is a popular massage modality which is performed with the client completely clothed. You may sit in a massage chair for a 10-15 minute massage at a sidewalk café, golf course, mall, or office. Chair massage lowers blood
pressure, lowers stress levels, and improves mood and worker productivity. Chair massage is convenient, mobile, quick and rejuvenating.
