Massages and Massage Therapists Locations Locator Map and Directory

Adapted from Wikipedia

Massage is a treatment and practice of manipulation of the soft body tissues with physical, functional, i.e. mechanical, medical/therapeutical, and in some cases emotional purposes and goals.

Effects

There are many beneficial effects of massage, including pain relief, stress reduction but also relief of many diseases.

Theories behind what massage might do include blocking pain signals to the brain (gate control theory), activating the parasympathetic nervous system, stimulating the release of endorphins and serotonin, preventing fibrosis or scar tissue, increasing the flow of lymph, and improving sleep.

Regulation

There are about 90,000 massage therapists in the U.S.. Training programs in the U.S. are typically 500-1000 hours in length, and can award a certificate, diploma, or degree depending on the particular school. There are around 1,3000 programs training massage therapists in the country and study will often include anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, massage techniques, first aid and CPR, business, ethical and legal issues, and hands on practice along with continuing education requirements if regulated. The Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA) is one of the organizations that works with massage schools in the U.S..

38 states and the District of Columbia require some type of licencing for massage therapists. In the US, 32 states use the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork's certification program as a basis for granting licenses either by rule or statue. The National Board grants the designation Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCTMB). There are two tests available and you can become certified through a porfolio process if you have equivalent training and experience. Between 10-20% of towns or counties regulate the profession. These local regulations can range from prohibition on opposite sex massage, fingerprinting and venereal checks from a doctor, to prohibition on house calls because of concern reguarding sale of sexual services.

In the U.S.Licensure is the highest level of regulation and this restricts anyone without a license from practicing massage therapy or by calling themselves that protected title. Certification allows only those who meet certain educational criteria to use the protected title and registration only requires a listing of therapists who apply and meet an educational requirement.