| 1. | 10/7/2007 3:47:00 AM | lots more fibromyalgia in the last few years |
| 2. | 10/8/2007 6:13:00 PM | EVERYONE WANTS DEEP WORK FOR LITTLE MONEY. WITH PAYING ANNUAL LICENSE FEES AND INS FEES AND NOT ONLY STATE LISCENSING BUT NCBTMB IS SEPARATE. HOW IS THE LITTLE GUY SUPPOSE TO MAKE ANY MONEY, AROUND MY AREA WE ONLY GET 40-50.00 AN HOUR MASSAGE BEFORE YOU DEDUCT COST. AND WITH THE COST OF CEU'S IT IS VAST. I WORK WITH PT'S AND PTA'S WHO PAY FAR LESS FOR ANNUAL FEES/LISCENSING ETC, WHEN IS THE MT PROFESSION GOING TO CATCH UP TO WHAT OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONALS DO? |
| 3. | 10/8/2007 7:31:00 PM | Clients continue to become more aware of the health benefits of massage as well as the mind/body/spirit connection. |
| 4. | 10/8/2007 7:55:00 PM | In the eight years that I have lived in Savannah Georgia I am amazed at the number of massage therapists who practice massage without the appropriate credentials. |
| 5. | 10/8/2007 8:59:00 PM | Have increased number of clients (housecalls) |
| 6. | 10/8/2007 9:09:00 PM | Those seeking massage as alternative therapy are often dismayed that Medicare and private health insurance will not pay for these services. If so many can benefit physically, why should they be constrained financially? |
| 7. | 10/8/2007 10:08:00 PM | The trend that upsets me the most is the advertising to reach potential new therapists, suggesting such a luckrative income. The income comes when the true love of massage is present and lots of hard dedicated work. Too many enter the field w/o a real love of the business |
| 8. | 10/8/2007 10:57:00 PM | More clients are asking for advice regarding other complementary care options, especially acupuncture for pain relief. |
| 9. | 10/8/2007 11:26:00 PM | The medical community, MD's in particular, are reluctant to refer out to LMTs, but refer to PT's. All of my clients that have gone to PT sessions hated it as it was impersonal and didn't provide the personal un-divided attention that a massage seesion can give. |
| 10. | 10/8/2007 11:38:00 PM | More educational requirements has made the industry into a PUSH MILL.. get as many students in and OUT of school as possible and in a hurry. No time for them to truly 1. Know anatomy and 2. practice w/ different instructors the many different modalities that are available. they get a mish mash of several and never get to hone in on a speciality that matches their strengths.
I am afraid of the majority of students I see getting certified by 7 - 9 month "Institutes"
and I wont let them work on me!
Clients on other hand are WAY MORE SAVEY on their bodies needs and injuries and do the research before they chose a therapist these days. |
| 11. | 10/8/2007 11:52:00 PM | I like the ability to discuss a variety of services based on the goal outcome with private clients to expand their experiences. My clients that prefer Deep Tissue injury or pain management massage become open to receiving whole body work in addition to specific site work and my clients that prefer relaxation massage become open to pain reduction methods once they have become educated from our conversations. This becomes more availabe with clients that I see on a regular basis. My clients in the Resort/Hotel industry are both Deep Tissue and relaxation such as: Swedish, Hot Stone, etc. I find that alot of my collegues in the Resort industry do not have what I would call an excellent education and do not provide excellent services nor do they provide excellent education and/or information when the guest asks questions. They do not care so much about being excellent bodyworkers, so many of them just touch the bodies to get paid. I hear from so many clients/guests about how many bad massages they have received and seem to be so delighted when they receive a quality service. I too have received way too many unskilled massages that I am at the point that I do not want to go spend my hard earned money to get another crappy massage that does not reduce my muscular tension without feeling like a Mac Truck has hit me for the next week. This is a sad state of being and gives my profession a bad name. I am so glad that I got my education in Seattle were I am from and not in Nevada were I now live and work. I have such a better background and more skills than most people that I have worked with directly or than most people that I have received services from. I think schools should be focused on teaching skills, professionalism, self care, etc and not put the focus on specific industries such as, tourism! |
| 12. | 10/9/2007 12:09:00 AM | Need more ROM |
| 13. | 10/9/2007 12:10:00 AM | Michigan is a terrible state for therapists-too many schools, market is saturated, no regulations, hard to get ahead with a therapist at every corner literally. The economy is poor here and people are losing their jobs and moving. |
| 14. | 10/9/2007 12:19:00 AM | Clients are becoming more knowlegable about their bodies, how they function, modalities available, etc. |
| 15. | 10/9/2007 12:25:00 AM | Clients REALLY want me to offer insurance billing. I cannot unless I expand and hire help. |
| 16. | 10/9/2007 12:41:00 AM | 1. Clients calling me saying they are exercising and think they would be healthier & feel better if they get a massage. |
| 17. | 10/9/2007 1:10:00 AM | more mainstream conservative people accepting the idea of massage |
| 18. | 10/9/2007 1:20:00 AM | more couples and mother/daughters come in for appoiintments |
| 19. | 10/9/2007 1:29:00 AM | Clients are more aware of the power of a massage as therapy. In my case I would say 80% of calls are for medical reasons and the rest for relaxation purposes. |
| 20. | 10/9/2007 1:36:00 AM | Weight and size of the clients -- many do not fit on the table and extenders for arms need to be used -- Due to lack of nutrition and exercise many clients are on bp meds..., etc. They want us to stretch them -- taking no responsibility for themselves... |
| 21. | 10/9/2007 2:22:00 AM | Poor nationwide acceptance of massage therapist from state to state |
| 22. | 10/9/2007 2:35:00 AM | Massage is becoming much more accepted as a valid therapy for a variety of health problems. I am also a nurse practitioner in an Internal Medicine practice so I see can see first hand how attitudes are changing towards massage. |
| 23. | 10/9/2007 2:42:00 AM | I notice that more and more of my clients keep regular massage as part of their preventative health program and 50% of my clientele have standing appointments. |
| 24. | 10/9/2007 3:13:00 AM | As far as a trend, Hot stone massage is a somewhat popular modality people ask about a few times a year.
Changes in the industry, so many different modalities, in which I see instructers making lots of money off of LMTs for CEUs or Certification. Some are nonsense or out of our scope of practice in my opinion which brings down our profession I feel for "voo doo" medicine etc.
My business keeps on getting better every year with the nicest people I have ever met. Most of them professional people, or retired wealthy people, with a few clients that are not very wealthy at all and whom accept massage as a necessary priority. |
| 25. | 10/9/2007 3:15:00 AM | I BELIEVE THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS BECOMING MORE AWARE THAT MASSAGE AND BODYWORK BRING GREAT HELTH BENIFITS TO THEIR HEALTH AND WELL BEING AND HELPS CREATE A BALANCE IN LIFE. |
| 26. | 10/9/2007 3:45:00 AM | When I started massaging, i didn't see referals from health care practitioners which I now see and not many people were pursuing pre-natal massages because ob/gny's weren't suggesting it which I now get alot of pre-natal referals. More people are now interested in alternative therapies such as reflexology |
| 27. | 10/9/2007 7:22:00 AM | Big push in the spa industry
portraying that is where big money can be made |
| 28. | 10/9/2007 10:14:00 AM | An increase in the youth seeking therapy - 10 -17 year olds. |
| 29. | 10/9/2007 10:26:00 AM | Aside from being very busy, I have noticed people realize that we can help them heal themselves through technique and touch. Clients take massage therapy more serious now, than they did 5 or 10 years ago, but I also know that as a therapist I need to continue to expand my knowledge and education for my clients and to stay on top of all the changes in our bodies and our industry. |
| 30. | 10/9/2007 10:43:00 AM | We, as a profession, are slowly becoming OVER-regulated. |
| 31. | 10/9/2007 11:14:00 AM | I work on client needs, whether relaxing or therapeutic. My offerings aren't an issue - but I have spent the last 2 1/2 years fighting the government to stay in business. Maybe we can have a survey on that. My AMTA couldn't offer any assistance, maybe the National Board has ideas to help other therapists. |
| 32. | 10/9/2007 11:24:00 AM | More MD's are seeing massage as supplement to their patient's health instead of "just a way to relax."
I have also noticed in the last two years, more people coming to massage for pain managment before going to their doctor. |
| 33. | 10/9/2007 11:29:00 AM | More people are looking for healthy aleternatives to care for themselves and are incorporating massage as part of a preventive maintenence program. |
| 34. | 10/9/2007 11:41:00 AM | I've seen several clients who think you should 'fix' them - they've exhausted other options and put all hopes on you... |
| 35. | 10/9/2007 11:54:00 AM | Number of people teaching continuing ed.has grown a lot. |
| 36. | 10/9/2007 12:00:00 PM | More people are looking for an alternative to taking a pill. |
| 37. | 10/9/2007 12:04:00 PM | I have been in practice for 25 years. I am grateful for the spa industry which helped to "normalize" massage. I find I must be educated about that industry so I may talk intelligently with clients who use services from that arena too. |
| 38. | 10/9/2007 12:15:00 PM | Clients wanting their insurance to cover without all the existing hassle. Also more trust in the massage modalities. |
| 39. | 10/9/2007 12:21:00 PM | Public needs education on the values of receiving bodywork therapy. It is NOT all about going to a spa. |
| 40. | 10/9/2007 12:53:00 PM | Clients are in the mindset that we as MT's are able to cause immediate and permenant change. I am not sure if this is because of the pop a pill and get immediate relief mentality or if there is another reason for this way of thinking. Also there is the idea that if, as an MT, the body isn't left bruised and feeling like clients have been ran over by a steamroller then nothing has been done. I have had to educate the majority of my clients that I am not in the business of inflicting pain or abuse on the body and that leaving the body bruised is not the best thing to do. They do not realize that bruising is sometimes damaging the underlying tissue and organs. There has been a lot accomplished through educating the public but there is a lot more to do, both for the general public and MT's.
The one thing I do not like to see when I have a client on my table is one to two week old brusing from an MT that my client has seen, especially the elderly. That, in my opinion, is moving massage from being helpful right into abuse. |
| 41. | 10/9/2007 1:15:00 PM | More specific injury ( mostly sports injury) related work. Less of the relaxation only work. My clients seem to seek me out for very specific work. Which I appreciate and enjoy |
| 42. | 10/9/2007 1:21:00 PM | Mostly the change has been in me. |
| 43. | 10/9/2007 1:25:00 PM | decrease in business |
| 44. | 10/9/2007 1:28:00 PM | Clients are becoming more exposed to massage and more accepting of the monthly maintenance model. |
| 45. | 10/9/2007 1:52:00 PM | Clients have a better awareness of massage and its benefits. |
| 46. | 10/9/2007 1:53:00 PM | Changing perspectives of whole body wellness and natural health. Clients who are patients of chiropractic, naturopathy and homeopathy. |
| 47. | 10/9/2007 2:10:00 PM | The market has become flooded, the number of therapist has grown too quickly. |
| 48. | 10/9/2007 2:19:00 PM | Too many spas! |
| 49. | 10/9/2007 2:49:00 PM | Cheaper massage "factories" have reduced my relaxation massages, but have increased my outcome based massages significantly as the factories are ill equipped to deal with the complex issues. |
| 50. | 10/9/2007 3:05:00 PM | Students want to take massage to a more medical/clinical practice. They are not interested in the way of practicing that was predominant when I finished school ten years ago - private wellness-oriented practice. They want to work for others, and they want to work in healthcare settings with other professionals. |
| 51. | 10/9/2007 3:14:00 PM | I have transitioned into teaching movement and postural re-education, since that is the root cause of most of my client's pain, sometimes exacerbated by injuries to compromised posture. I am using massage techniques mostly to facilitate the movement work. |
| 52. | 10/9/2007 3:26:00 PM | Continued growth in working with Physical Therapists and Athletic Trainers. |
| 53. | 10/9/2007 3:31:00 PM | I have a good relationship with the medical community. I have had more referrals from physicians and physical therapists and the public in general seem to know more about massage. |
| 54. | 10/9/2007 3:35:00 PM | Definately would like to incorporate other modalities, as yoga, pilates, ect. I love PNF, isolated stretching, and alot of these other modalities have great tech. to incorp. |
| 55. | 10/9/2007 3:37:00 PM | Previous Clients are getting request from Doctors and also have stated they which the insurance would pay for it. |
| 56. | 10/9/2007 3:52:00 PM | My primary practice is in Hospice Care - not only for patients at end-of-life, but also for family caregivers who frequently find stress in accepting end-of-life as a normal transition. |
| 57. | 10/9/2007 4:06:00 PM | Massage has gotten too expensive. In the 14 years I have been practicing, I've noticed that the spa industry and the increased amount of required CEU's have driven up rates for individuals in private practice.
I would like to see less policing and more support of therapists through educating the communities about the benefits of massage. Unlike some people, I do not think there are too many therapists. The demand would be far greater if information of the benefits of regular massage were readily available. Organizations like NCBTMB and our local state boards should be more involved in bringing awareness to the general public. That's where I'd like my dues to go. |
| 58. | 10/9/2007 4:10:00 PM | I have noticed in Michigan, that many massage therapists are pricing themselves out of the market of many that really need it. Being in an automotive blue collar town, if you keep the prices lower or have avenues they can afford, you will have a lot of clients. I also have noticed, that men don't make it in this field because of prejudice, my son who started the same time as me quit due to it, and went into computers. |
| 59. | 10/9/2007 5:18:00 PM | I think all massage therapists should take a course in Advanced Anatomy and a course in Kinesiology. It is very important to know what muscles you massage and how they work. |
| 60. | 10/9/2007 5:39:00 PM | Clients more interested in energy work (including reflexology) and gaining greater understanding of the effects emotional and spiritual pain can have on the body and in creating illness. Clients also interested in essential oil applications. |
| 61. | 10/9/2007 5:47:00 PM | It is my personal belief that being certified by NCBTMB, not only lends credability to my massage practice but says to both Dr.'s that I work with and clients who come to the office, that I hold my practice to a high standard. I am also a Nationally Certified Medical Massage Therapist. I will be pursuing further education in lymphedema management and will then become nationally certified by LANA for the same reason that I am certified by NCBTMB and NCBMMT. I believe that people take me more seriously with those certifications. |
| 62. | 10/9/2007 5:49:00 PM | Many folks are just plain fed up with alapathic
medician. Impersonal rushed office visits. More times then not, my clients are using CAM treatments in combination with alapathic medician. |
| 63. | 10/9/2007 6:42:00 PM | I have noticed increasing numbers of under-educated practitioners and decreasing ethical standards. I live in a state with no licensure, PA, and find it extremely detrimental and dangerous to the profession. |
| 64. | 10/9/2007 8:23:00 PM | I've noticed that many of the newer therapists seem to want to step into a ready made business. Gone are the days when you would come in early to catch last minute clients wanting a massage or those who are willing to get out and give some business away to get some. Many seem unable to market their skills, relying on the spa or private practice to do this for them. |
| 65. | 10/9/2007 8:52:00 PM | Aging population. |
| 66. | 10/9/2007 9:01:00 PM | More people seeking alternative therapies instead of traditional medical services because they 'I know what the doctor will offer and I don't want that'. Example - pain killers and muscle relaxers offered for muscle strains. |
| 67. | 10/9/2007 10:38:00 PM | seeing more clients on multiple drug therapies.the increase in fibromyalgia ,diabetes cases.More mini-spas openining up |
| 68. | 10/9/2007 10:58:00 PM | My business has been very slow over the last year or so due to the fact that I relocated to New Mexico from Maryland where I had practiced for nearly 10 years and had a good client base. I have had to completely start over and it has been a slow go. I now have a new job at a newly opened Salon here in town. I am hoping it will help me make a place for myself in the "massage world" in Las Cruces, NM. I do love it here!! |
| 69. | 10/9/2007 11:09:00 PM | My clients have change a lot, they are much more "body /health aware". They have change old nutritional habits and they see now massage as a source of information to get healthier.
Seven years ago , in this town were I work,massage was not very welcome, today a days even Doctors goes to massages and the town is loaded with therapists. |
| 70. | 10/9/2007 11:19:00 PM | More educated clients about bodywork & anatomy.
Growing interest in natural health in the general population. |
| 71. | 10/10/2007 1:07:00 AM | Thai Herbal ball therapy, Ayruveda spa therapies |
| 72. | 10/10/2007 1:55:00 AM | As the "true" benifits of Massage Therapy happens from one client to the next, it passes the message that everyone to some degree can benifit from this profession. I have seen this in my clients that came into my practice unsure and have found that they sleep more peacefully to a reduction in daily pain they have had for years and a all around better quality of life. |
| 73. | 10/10/2007 2:12:00 AM | people just get sicker each year
so I believe that food is the true medicine and only that will heal the world.
Animal protein is not what humans need to put in their bodies. |
| 74. | 10/10/2007 2:33:00 AM | I maintain a part time practice. A continuous client base continues to be difficult to maintain. The majority of my clients come as referrals from my affiliated affinity programs, ie: Axia WholeHealth Networks (lots of 30 min. medicare), American Specialty Health Networks, ACN Group. |
| 75. | 10/10/2007 2:39:00 AM | Folks in my state tend to try and find the most "inexpensive route" in getting massage. The only newer trend that may occur, is getting more massages, more frequently, primarily due to fibromylasia, and arthritic needs developing in the "baby boomers". |
| 76. | 10/10/2007 2:47:00 AM | Deep Tissue and Kurashova Technique usage is the
most commonly used modality in my practice.
I work on physically active professionals that
include some golfers with low back and range
of motion complaints and a small portion of clients are pre and/or post surgical tissue improvement for knee replacements or shoulder surgeries. |
| 77. | 10/10/2007 2:55:00 AM | More and more cut-rate massage offices are opening in my area. They are like massage clubs - low fees if you sign up for monthly massage. |
| 78. | 10/10/2007 3:11:00 AM | clients are becoming more proactive and educated and want to do someting to be preventive |
| 79. | 10/10/2007 3:28:00 AM | The public's willingness to settle for inferior massage therapy as offered in a day spa because of the other amenities offered in those facilities, such as hot tubs, relaxation rooms, showers. |
| 80. | 10/10/2007 7:05:00 AM | I have noticed bodywork has become more healthcare oriented and more socially accepted for all instead of only being at a retreat or spa. People are coming to destress from their lives but also come on a regular basis for tight shoulders from using computers or stress from a job or as an alternative to using medications issued by MD's. I am excited about the future of bodywork!
I currently work in a hospital setting as part of my practice. Recently I had the opportunity to work on a Dr. who is one of the directors of a prominent San Francisco, CA hospital. He was one of the people who was not supporting the program for us to work on patients in the hospital but here he was asking for our services while he was a patient himself in the hospital. I worked on him with 2 interns in our massage program. Afterwards he reported how wonderful he felt and what a wonderful thing massage was to receive. It was just another great day of work for me. I thank those who stand up to make massage a part of everyone's daily lives. What a difference we are making!
Mindy Zimmerman, NCTMB
San Rafael, CA |
| 81. | 10/10/2007 11:16:00 AM | A lot of clients come in wanting deep tissue and they are defining it as pushing into the muscle with as much force as you can generate. It really takes a lot to reeducate them, to get them to understand that pain makes the muscles contract a resist letting go. |
| 82. | 10/10/2007 11:36:00 AM | Clients tend to call when they are hurting rather than trying to come on a regular basis. I think this is because massage therapy is not covered by insurance and slos because of the economic region that I live in. |
| 83. | 10/10/2007 12:18:00 PM | More people are looking to massage for pain management. They realize massage can get to the source of pain,and not just mask it. |
| 84. | 10/10/2007 1:30:00 PM | I beleive that therapeutic massage should be heading towards a bachelor degree program. There needs to be stronger guidelines differientiating between spa massage and therapeutic/medical massage therapy......the latter requiring deeper and more focused training. |
| 85. | 10/10/2007 1:40:00 PM | I have noticed that organizations and schools are trying to shift the focus of services away from the current demand. I assume that this is being done in an effort to expand the market but it feels like this will result in an un-necessary increase in regulation and education requirements. The majority of practicing therapists focus on relaxation, stress reduction, and reduction of minor aches and pains. This survey is not capturing this. Instead it seems to focus on looking at why the industry is changing as opposed to the industry possibly adding another level. I have a concern that a surevy like this will be used to justify increasing standards as opposed to creating another level in addition to the many therapists whose primary focus is and will remain relaxation services. |
| 86. | 10/10/2007 1:48:00 PM | Our local economy has struggled over the past few years with large employers outsourcing or closing down altogether. Trying to strike a balance between what I need to charge to make a living and what people are willing to pay is challenging, especially when people don't see massage therapy as an absolute necessity in their lives. If they have to choose between groceries or massage, you know what will fall to the wayside. |
| 87. | 10/10/2007 2:22:00 PM | The prices of massage of gone up greatly and I have seen a decline of people or groups that could benefit from massage. There is still the connection of massage being related to prostitution and the local governments have not changed their attitude of this topic. |
| 88. | 10/10/2007 4:28:00 PM | I have noticed that an increasing number of my clients have been educated incorrectly on the injury process and how an acute condition should be treated. Further investigation has revealed a marked lack of knowledge among massage therapists, and in some cases patent mis-knowledge. |
| 89. | 10/10/2007 5:10:00 PM | I am blessed with strong committed clients and professional referrals. Changes are that more and more docs receive, and see the positive effects that educated, informed touch has with their patients |
| 90. | 10/10/2007 9:32:00 PM | The chiropractors hiring newly trained practitioners for their clinics for low pay. This is a risk for the profession. The practitioners are not experienced and trained well enough to deal with the level of accident care needed and there is a high chance of injury to the patient.
There is a higher expectation for the therapist, as an ancillary provider to the MD, DC, etc. There is a need for more education and skill to provide the injury care that is evident in the patients that are being referred.
There is a need for more clarification about the massage therapist scope of practice and the state laws that regulate the profession. In WA we are only allowed to use hands, elbows, arms and feet. No tools, no whatever... This is not well known until there is a problem and then there is shock from the practitioner because they are not within scope of practice and face large legal issues. |
| 91. | 10/11/2007 12:42:00 AM | More clients are seeking massage first for muscle/body discomfort and requesting prescriptions from their doctors. More clients are asking if massage could help other conditions that their friends, coworkers and family have and they actually buy a gift certificate for them. |
| 92. | 10/11/2007 12:43:00 AM | Structural Energetic Therapy and more focused on elimination of pain |
| 93. | 10/11/2007 2:14:00 AM | Increase in number of massage therapists
Increase in higher levels of specialization by MTs
Increase in types of therapies offered
Expansion of animal care |
| 94. | 10/11/2007 10:48:00 AM | More schools offering bare-minimum training - especially in the areas of technique and self-care (i.e., body mechanics.....and very little focus on deep tissue technique) |
| 95. | 10/11/2007 10:56:00 AM | I transitioned 3 years ago from a large private practice to a very small (out of my home) private practice and being employed at a resort spa. The high volume of people who make massage part of their get-away is remarkable to me!It's also amazing how stressful a spa can be for its employees!! |
| 96. | 10/11/2007 10:44:00 PM | I have definately seen more people taking more responsibility for their own health and well being. They have been down the road of doctors, prescription meds and general prescription therapies that did not necessarily serve their situation. They have come to realize that bodywork and massage can do more for their well being on many more levels. |
| 97. | 10/12/2007 3:12:00 AM | A staggering number of massage schools in the greater Raleigh, NC area. There are at least 5 schools turning out new MTs! Plus, there are SO many new spas, medical spas, day spas, etc., opening in this area, like Massage Envy and its $39 massages. |
| 98. | 10/12/2007 11:26:00 AM | Therapists want easy acces to CE's. that is why we are working in this project. they want to educate their clients w/o alot of costly brochures. clicking on a website and finding everything they need in one place is the answer. both client & Therapist can download all the info. my compoany can make that happen for the NCB for a minimal cost. we will collect sll content, create all the video and house it. please contact us so that we may discuss this very exciting biz opportunity.
jane Irving |
| 99. | 10/12/2007 4:13:00 PM | Lymph Drainage Tecniques...more people enquiring and enjoying it but there is still very little understood and many therapists who should know and master the skills. For it seems to be needed more and more in our present day chaos. |
| 100. | 10/13/2007 5:02:00 PM | People seem more interested and open to energywork than they were 5 years ago. It seems as though massage is becoming an acceptable modality for good health and healing. |
| 101. | 10/13/2007 7:41:00 PM | Most people want a quick fix for their problems, however thats not always possiible because you can't fix the problem with one bodywork session. Education, on healthier living is key it's a collective effort in all areas of our life that needs attention. Bringing balance to body, mind and our spirit. |
| 102. | 10/13/2007 11:23:00 PM | clients more pro active, interested in self-care and alternatives to medication |
| 103. | 10/14/2007 4:10:00 AM | More injury related requests and pain management |
| 104. | 10/14/2007 4:34:00 PM | People not having a "fix me in one session" attitude.
Increased awareness of the body and how it works, and an interest in learning more.
A return to Massage as a healing tool, when injuries re-occur or new injuries happen.
I have always encouraged clients to speak about what they want in a massage, like "Please focus on my head and neck and do no lower body work." I have always listened, and I have folks come back to me after not seeing them for a few years saying, "I want to come back to you because you listen to me."
Same with deep tissue...I hear that too many LMT's do it too fast, too deep, and HURT people! I do deep tissue, but I go more slowly, in constant contact with the client. |
| 105. | 10/14/2007 5:34:00 PM | The "corporate" take over of several schools and the new Massage businesses that are franchies. This is impacting the field more than anything. |
| 106. | 10/14/2007 9:58:00 PM | Change in MV insurance in the state of Colorado has significantly decreased the # of insurance clients I see. Work Comp has gone up some and DC referrals remain strong along with an established client base has kept my treatment numbers rising. |
| 107. | 10/15/2007 12:48:00 AM | I have noticed that my level of training directly effects the type of clients I see. The more training, the more intense level of problems and conditions. I really enjoy the difficult cases. It keeps me sharp and it is so rewarding. I can never stress this enough to my students that continued training is vital to a sucessful practice. |
| 108. | 10/15/2007 12:59:00 AM | MT journals and schools seem to have a greater emphasis on spa section of the profession. Unfortunately this just reinforces the notion that massage therapy is for the well-off. |
| 109. | 10/15/2007 2:01:00 PM | Hip and Knee Replacements or problems leading up to these surgeries. |
| 110. | 10/15/2007 10:42:00 PM | More clients have medical related issues and medical massage seems to be the trend. |
| 111. | 10/16/2007 12:30:00 AM | Relaxation and immunity as in supplements that help stress and helps cells rejuvenate seem to be key to help people deal with the amount of change and demand going on in their lives on all levels - physical, emotional, mental, spiritual |
| 112. | 10/16/2007 12:31:00 AM | I have been in practice since 1993. I have noticed a bit more interest in the medical reasons for massage. However, in 2002, I moved my practice from CA to back to the east coast and Providence, RI where massage is still a hard sell. So many people here see it as a luxury rather than a legitimate alternative to traditional medical treatments. Plus, we are still fighting the stigma of the sex industry co-opting the term "massage," although I have noticed over the years that is less and less of an obstacle. |
| 113. | 10/16/2007 2:43:00 AM | I have personnally experienced that clients are using massage therapy as an answer to their pain and injuries more than in the past. They have come to know that massage therapists help where other practices fail. Especially with soft tissue pain and injury. |
| 114. | 10/16/2007 1:30:00 PM | massage a bit more accepted by medical community, but only for the touch benefit - medical community still thinks it's fluffy beyond the scope of relaxation and nurturance, which they at least now admit is important to the healing process. |
| 115. | 10/17/2007 2:42:00 PM | changes in the industry: the majority of massage therapists in my area with 5 years or less experience are not trained to address remedial care or pain relief. Most do not practice beyond Swedish massage. |
| 116. | 10/18/2007 10:25:00 AM | I think the trend is cottage industry for massage therapists. Meaning, providing alternataive care primarily for pain management. Most individuals regardless of age don't want to be overmedicated. Massage truely helps in this area. |
| 117. | 10/18/2007 10:31:00 PM | I see all kinds of cleints . children only if
their parents are in the treatment room. Most of the cleints are woman looking for relaxation. |
| 118. | 10/18/2007 10:50:00 PM | People seem inclined to pay extra for personal time accomodations, such as in-home visits or longer sessions. |
| 119. | 10/19/2007 2:15:00 AM | I have noticed more men being less squeamish about receiving massage from another man (myself) if it is seen as part of a health and fitness lifestyle. |
| 120. | 10/19/2007 6:29:00 AM | There is more interest and access to "medical massage" and medical spas although there are various definitions of those modalities and their therapies. |
| 121. | 10/19/2007 9:27:00 PM | Clients are more knowledgable about massage in general, how to find a practitioner and how massage can benefit them. |
| 122. | 10/23/2007 1:20:00 AM | I have noticed that dentists, eye doctors, DO's, etc. are taking over the massage and skin care business. What is this all about? Thanks. |
| 123. | 10/25/2007 12:36:00 AM | The trend in the industry is for state and national orginizations like the NCBTB and continuing education groups, to burden good massage therapists with expensive licensing fees and continuing education costs, therby making money off the backs of hard working therapists. These extra fees force me, the therapist to increase my rates, which some of my patients will not pay. I lose business to unlicensed therapists, who offer cheaper rates. The NCBTMB has done nothing to help my business grow, only take money that I worked hard to earn. This will be the last year I pratice massage therapy. After 10 years I can no longer afford state and national licensing fees, and continuing education fees for my state and the NCBTMB. Your excessive regulations are forcing me out of business. I think the practice of the NCBTMB endorsing continuing education companys, who offer only a rehash of what was already taught in massage schools, is a conflict of interest, and should be stopped. If you want to help support massage therapists, stop taking taking money out of our pockets with excessive regulations on continuing education. John Maggiore LMT NCBTMB |
| 124. | 10/30/2007 12:31:00 PM | Rehab and pain control/elimination are much more in demand from the public. |
| 125. | 11/2/2007 10:08:00 PM | Due to the fact I continue my education and my skills increase, I am able to help my clients with their different needs. Therefore, the clients feel the change, want to keep the change and added quaility of life, and continue to make additional appointments. |
| 126. | 11/3/2007 2:21:00 AM | While the AMTA seems to continue to inform its members of legislative progress with regard to its push for legislation for LMTs at the state level, little seems to be done advocating for LMTs who are also Lymphedema Therapists, i.e., working toward changing the law that prohibits Medicare/Medicaid from paying qualified LMTs. We are descriminated against by PTs and OTs, and not advocated for by the organizations we support. This not only affects us, but it also affects our patients... we often have to turn away patients because we can't affort to treat them... the problem is... no one else WILL treat them... we actually want to. |