Exploratory Therapeutic Massage Therapy

Employment of massage therapists is projected to grow 20% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. Continued growth in the demand for massage services will lead to new openings for massage therapists.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics

What opportunities exist in therapeutic massage?
The possibilities for practicing therapeutic massage are limited only by your imagination. As a therapist, you may work in chiropractic offices, physical therapy clinics, health spas or beauty salons. To minimize overhead, you may prefer to work out of your home, do house calls with a portable massage table, or on-site massage at businesses with a massage chair. You may choose to work part time, using your practice to supplement income from a full time job, or to help yourself through college. It also is possible to open your own office.

Do I need to have strong hands to be a massage therapist?
No. Proper body mechanics are emphasized so that you will be using your body weight more than your hand strength. The body mechanics you learn will be helpful in many other activities. You will be able to work without tiring yourself.

What about licensing?
Most states require formal training and successful completion of a post-graduation certification examination for entry into the field. Since January 2005, all massage therapists in Illinois are required to be licensed. Moraine Valley's Therapeutic Massage Program exceeds the licensing requirements and will prepare graduates for the exam.

How much is the tuition for the 6-week exploratory massage therapy program?
The cost of this program is $119 and includes all supplies. 

What is it like working in the field?
Riding a general trend toward preventive health care and stress reduction, massage therapy has become one of the country's fastest-growing occupations. In fact, massage therapists work in a variety of settings, including chiropractic offices to health clubs and luxury spas, to corporations and stand-alone private offices. Many massage therapists work in conjunction with doctors and other health care professionals in hospitals and clinical settings to help the ill and injured recuperate. Others work in airports, malls, and cruise ships. Massage therapists also work with professional athletes, with the disabled, or even with animals. The possibilities are endless!

While massage treatments are not covered under most health care plans, a growing number of health maintenance organizations are beginning to cover such services as the benefits of massage in managing conditions such as lower back pain, bursitis and arthritis have become clearer. Research has proven that massage therapy can be an effective treatment for easing migraines, carpal tunnel syndrome, reducing anxiety, and alleviating the side effects of cancer treatments. To help regulate this boom in the massage world, at least 38 states and the District of Columbia now regulate and license massage therapists who demonstrate competency by challenging a national certification exam.

This occupation requires a complex set of skills-among them, superior technical skills, a soothing and reassuring manner with clients, and the ability to adhere to a high standard of confidentiality and professional ethics. Massage therapists must have a lot of business sense since those who are self-employed must attract and maintain a client base. In addition, massage therapy is strenuous, requiring long hours of standing as well as the physical strength to perform one massage after another. If they aren't careful, it can be all too easy for massage therapists themselves to become injured and in need of a massage.

What are some areas of specialization?
A therapist may specialize in a certain type of therapeutic massage or in treating certain types of problems. In general, the profession seems to break down into two broad categories: "medical" massages which include sports, orthopedic, isolated stretching and neuromuscular massages and "energy" massages, which include techniques such as Reiki, therapeutic touch and polarity.
The American Massage Therapy Association Fact Sheet reports that massage therapists provide the following types of massages and the frequency of each:

• 84% of massage therapists provide Swedish massage
• 77% of massage therapists provide deep-tissue massage
• 49% of massage therapists provide trigger point massage
• 45% of massage therapists provide sports massage

Therapists receive advanced training to work with special population groups, including, pregnant women, geriatric, chronically ill, trauma survivors, and physically challenged.

How does one advance their career in the field?
The first step in advancing in the therapeutic massage field is to obtain state licensure. Illinois requires massage graduates to successfully challenge the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEX). Illinois law requires 24 hours of continuing education every 2 years.

What essential functions are needed for massage therapy?

• Manual dexterity and coordination
• Physical strength and stamina
• Ability to work standing for at least two hours at a time
• Working well with clients
• Listening carefully to what someone else is saying
• Business sense
• Ethical behavior
• Maintaining confidentiality
• Interacting appropriately with clients, peers, instructors, and physicians
• A calm, reassuring and professional manner