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A Growing Career: Massage Therapy!
from: John GrothMassage therapy careers are increasing along with an ever-growing acceptance of massage therapy. This increased demand of massage therapy as part of a health management and treatment option has opened many career opportunities for both recent graduates of massage therapy programs and experienced massage therapists.
The forecast for massage therapy careers is quite encouraging. According to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment within the various careers of massage therapy is expected to grow faster than the average for other careers. Better than average career growth is expected over the next five years.
Employment in the field of massage therapy includes both full-time and part time opportunities, and approximately two-thirds of massage therapists are self employed (either running their own businesses or working as independent contractors for a larger organization).
It can be difficult to find two massage therapy careers that look the same; that is because massage therapists enjoy a range of job opportunities housed within a variety of physical settings. Employment is in both public and private settings. The positions can be self-employed, salaried, hourly and contractual arrangement.
Message therapists can be found working in health clinics, spas, salons, resorts, chiropractic practices, medical practices, rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, nursing homes, corporate health centers, health studios and yoga centers, airports, and colleges and universities.
Job titles for massage therapy careers may include physical therapist, sports massage therapist, masseuse, massage therapist, and massage therapy instructor.
Massage therapy careers are quite demanding; demands on massage therapists are both physical and personal. Physically speaking, massage therapy can take a toll on the body of a therapist. Maintaining a career in massage therapy requires spending long hours of standing and physical exertion. Repetitive stress injuries are common among those with improper physical care and technique. Fatigue from long hours on-foot is also a common problem.
Maintaining a good technique and proper scheduling of appointments lessens the physical demands on therapists. Because massage therapy is so physically demanding, few therapists actually deliver massages for more than 30 hours per week; in fact, according to the US Department of Labor, many positions are considered full-time if the therapists treats clients between 15 and 30 hours per week. Additional time is normally required for administrative tasks, and marketing their services.
Personally, massage therapy careers can be demanding because many times services are most in demand during off-work hours; this means evenings and weekends may be prime-time for client appointments, although many successful therapists are able to maintain a more "normal" work schedule.
A career in massage therapy can be very rewarding indeed; it can also be very demanding, but for those who are up to the challenge, the outlook is very good for massage therapy careers.
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