The Evolution Of Medical Massage

By Mary Wilkerson, CMT

Vienna Massage Therapy

. https://www.viennamassagetherapy.com/

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The Evolution Of Medical Massage

Massage therapy in the U.S. has evolved over decades as intuitive practitioners in a previously unregulated profession increasingly moved toward greater self-education and self-regulation.  The result is that most states have now passed legislation governing the practice of massage therapy throughout the country.

In addition, the discoveries of innovators, such as John F. Kennedy’s personal physician Dr. Janet Travell (who acquired the ability to define trigger points and apply deep pressure techniques to a specific point), revolutionized the world of injury-rehab and pain management and brought greater medical attention to the benefits of hands-on therapy.

As the effectiveness of massage and other specific soft-tissue manipulations were proven to improve patient outcomes, the medical community began to see that such specific treatments not only felt good, but also helped to restore the health of medical patients.

The practice of massage therapy seemed to further evolve into two basic choices:  Wellness massage (such as relaxation, aromatherapy, etc.) to maintain health and wellness, and medical massage (clinical work viewed as a specific medical treatment for a specific complaint).

While some therapists were comfortable remaining in the wellness realm, others were drawn to the clinical, rehabilitative aspect of massage therapy and to the difference they could make in their clients’ recovery.  Some therapists practiced both kinds.

Many found, however, that basic massage school training, even with an assortment of continuing education courses, did not adequately prepare them for the more challenging injury-rehab and chronic pain issues their clients would present.  That growing need led to post (massage school) graduate medical massage classes offered in a structured cohesive manner by a number of continuing education providers.

Entire educational programs of study now exist to fill that need.  Finding an experienced massage therapist trained in such programs may provide relief by tackling the tough problems to help you improve your quality of life.