Massage Professionals Update

The latest news, articles and information related to massage therapy and techniques.

Herpes Mandates Universal Precautions

May 20th, 2010

A large percentage of adults have genital herpes. While genital herpes is classified as a sexually transmitted disease, there is considerable confusion regarding its impact on a massage therapy practice.

Massage Stroke Review Part 2: Petrissage

May 19th, 2010

Rediscover the massage stroke techniques of petrissage and what they all have in common, the benefits and precautions associated with petrissage – and how this massage stroke differs from effleurage. This is the second installment of the Institute’s four-part series of informative articles about massage stroke review.

Massage Stroke Review Part 1: Effleurage

May 3rd, 2010

A well-executed effleurage technique can be a massage therapist’s bread and butter. If done skillfully, a full body Swedish massage session can be performed using only this stroke, and your client will come away feeling stress-free and eager to make another appointment. This is the first installment of the Institute’s four-part series of informative articles about massage stroke review.

Bodywork for Quitting Cocaine

April 29th, 2010

More and more bodyworkers are being recruited to work in a variety of health-inspired settings, including drug treatment programs. By being familiar with the plight of cocaine addiction and withdrawal, massage therapists are more qualified for the surprisingly rewarding job of helping people quit cocaine.

Crossing Over from Symptom Relief Into Holistic Healing

April 27th, 2010

By asking about physical woes and attempting to deliver symptom relief, many massage therapists practice just like allopathic doctors do. However, bodyworkers are in an ideal position to go beyond mere symptom relief by adding a holistic healing dimension to their work.

Pathology Review: Can You Identify That Rash?

April 2nd, 2010

If a client came in with a rash, would you know what to do? Would you recognize it as contagious or infectious? Do you know the difference between hives and poison ivy? Read on to learn about identifying the most common rashes and when massage therapy is contraindicated.

Arthritis Alert for Bodyworkers: Caution With Avascular Necrosis

March 31st, 2010

Although the pain and inflammation of arthritis can generally be helped with massage therapy, various types of bodywork can actually hurt someone with avascular necrosis, a serious condition that can lead to arthritis.

Four Tips to Help Prevent Back Injury Reoccurrence

March 30th, 2010

On top of being able to help relieve a client’s back pain, find out some suggestions that massage therapists can offer on how to prevent it from happening again.

Educating Clients About the Perils of High Heels

March 29th, 2010

Despite defining the fashion industry for decades, high heels can be problematic for people who wear them. Learn why high heels are the cause of many chronic pain ailments.

Oxytocin: The Hormone of Peace and Trust

March 1st, 2010

We live in a stressful world. In our culture, high levels of stress tend to be the norm and even thought beneficial by some. In other parts of the world, inner peace and calm have been valued for centuries, and only recently have the practices of tai chi, yoga and meditation been explored in Western culture. As massage therapists, one of our objectives could be seen as the promotion of increasing calm and reducing stress in our clients. Read on to find out how massage, the hormone oxytocin and the reduction of stress are intertwined.