Professional Terms for a Massage Therapist
The technical names for a massage therapist are a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) or a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT). These titles denote a massage therapist who has had additional training and holds an official license. Most states, countries, and provinces require massage therapists to be licensed to practice legally. In some areas, only RMTs and LMTs are referred to as massage therapists. So it is important to understand the difference if you want to visit a qualified and certified massage therapist.
Types of Massage Therapy
People employed by spas are massage therapists, aestheticians, nail technicians and assistants. The four main types of massage therapy are Swedish, deep tissue, sports, and trigger point. Effleurage, petrissage, friction, tapotement and vibration are five basic massage strokes.
Board Certification for Massage Therapists
Board certification for massage therapists is available from the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB). This indicates a therapist has surpassed basic licensure. Board certification is the highest voluntary credential for massage therapists.
Importance of Being Certified
Certified massage therapists generally get more clients than non-certified ones. Moreover, they may also get referrals from doctors and other customers. To be certified, a therapist needs to prove they meet or exceed the necessary standards of service in the field.
Medical Massage Therapy
You should only trust licensed massage therapists trained in medical massage therapy for pain relief. Make sure your therapist is certified in medical massage therapy with real clinical experience. Massage can effectively treat underlying conditions when done correctly, sometimes with chiropractic adjustments.
Training and Professional Standing
Despite having full training in pain relief techniques, a massage therapist stands lower than a masseuse today. This is because a therapist focuses on bringing relief from pain and revitalizing the body, not providing sexual pleasure. Becoming a massage therapist requires completing a 3-year program costing nearly $10,000 in tuition and passing a certification exam.