The Massage Therapist job function is to massage customers for hygienic or remedial purposes.
Tasks for Massage Therapists
- The Massage Therapist confers with clients about their medical histories and problems with stress or pain to determine how massage will be most helpful.
- The Massage Therapist applies finger and hand pressure to specific points of the body.
- The Massage Therapist massages and kneads muscles and soft tissues of the body to provide treatment for medical conditions, injuries, or wellness maintenance.
- The Massage Therapist maintains treatment records on each client.
- The Massage Therapist provides clients with guidance and information about techniques for postural improvement and stretching, strengthening, relaxation, and rehabilitative exercises.
- The Massage Therapist access clients’ soft tissue condition, joint quality and function, muscle strength, and range of motion.
- The Massage Therapist develops and proposes client treatment plans that specify which types of massages are to be used.
- The Massage Therapist refers clients to other types of therapists when necessary.
- The Massage Therapist uses complementary aids, such as infrared lamps, wet compresses, and ice and whirlpool baths to promote clients’ recovery, relaxation, and well-being.
- The Massage Therapist treats clients in professional settings or travel to clients’ offices and homes.
The Massage Therapist needs knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. The Massage Therapists needs knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance. The Massage Therapist needs knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. The Massage Therapist needs knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests, learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Work Activities for Massage Therapist
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public- The Massage Therapist performs for people or deals directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
- Assisting and Caring for Others- The Massage Therapist provides personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients,
- Performing General Physical Activities- The Massage Therapist performs physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving the whole body such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
- Handling and Moving Objects- The Massage Therapist uses hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships- The Massage Therapist develops constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Getting Information- The Massage Therapist observes, receives, and otherwise obtains information from all relevant sources.
- Training and Teaching others- The Massage Therapist identifies the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instruction of others.
- Documenting Information- The Massage Therapist enters, transcribes, records, stores, or maintains information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems- The Massage Therapist analyzes information and evaluates results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Thinking Creatively- The Massage Therapist develops, designs, or creates new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
The Massage Therapist needs the ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. The Massage Therapist needs the ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. The Massage Therapist needs the ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving the arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position. The Massage Therapist needs the ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue. The Massage Therapist needs the ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem. The Massage Therapist needs the ability to speak clearly so others can understand you when you are explaining the patient’s conditions.