- Massage therapy can be relaxing and increase a sense of well-being.massage therapy at the spa image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com
Massage therapy takes many forms, some of which are acupressure, reflexology and Swedish. There are more than 150 recognized forms of massage. A treatment involves the practitioner applying pressure to her patient's body, manipulating the skin and muscle tissue to increase relaxation and circulation or to treat injuries and conditions. There are many resources available for massage therapy professionals. - Touch U is an online university for massage therapy professionals at massagetherapypractice.com. It offers several free courses to teach an owner how to run a practice. It contains articles to help owners stay up to date on developments in the field and the latest medical theories. Touch U also contains a free encyclopedia of medical terms and detailed disease research reports.
- Online databases provide information, contact details and up-to-date announcements on the latest developments. There are many databases available, for example: Massagetherapy101.com, Electrahealthfloor.com and Massagetherapy.com. Some charge a small fee for site memberships. Some provide detailed search information and newsletters.
- There are professional journals and magazines dedicated to the massage therapy profession. Choose a journal that relates to your specific needs. Common focus areas include medical developments, improving your practice and legal issues. If you belong to a professional organization, a journal subscription is often included in the dues. Journals can be accessed from libraries and online. "The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine," the "Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies" and "Massage Therapy Journal - MTJ" are journals for this field.
- A professional association comprises professionals who adopt standard practices and offer support to members. One membership advantage is to use it as a resource. Associations often produce a free journal for members. They often give you access to large databases for professionals, where you can research legal issues and current medical theories. There are three major U.S. associations for massage professionals: The American Massage Therapy Association, Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals and the International Massage Association.
American Massage Therapy Association
500 Davis St.
Evanston, IL 60201
877-905-2700
amtamassage.org
Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals
25188 Genesee Trail Road, Suite 200
Golden, CO 80401
800-458-2267
abmp.com
International Massage Association
25 S. 4th St.
Warrenton, VA 20186
540-351-0800
imagroup.com
Touch U
Online Databases
Professional Journals
Professional Associations
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