About This Career

Performs therapeutic massages of soft tissues and joints. May assist in the assessment of range of motion and muscle strength, or propose client therapy plans.

This career is part of the Human Services cluster Personal Care Services pathway.

A person in this career:

• Confers with clients about their medical histories and problems with stress or pain to determine how massage will be most helpful.
• Massages and kneads muscles and soft tissues of the body to provide treatment for medical conditions, injuries, or wellness maintenance.
• Maintains massage areas by restocking supplies or sanitizing equipment.
• Applies finger and hand pressure to specific points of the body.
• Develops and proposes client treatment plans that specify which types of massage are to be used.
• Maintains treatment records.
• Assesses clients' soft tissue condition, joint quality and function, muscle strength, and range of motion.
• Provides clients with guidance and information about techniques for postural improvement and stretching, strengthening, relaxation, and rehabilitative exercises.
• Treats clients in professional settings or travels to clients' offices and homes.
• Refers clients to other types of therapists when necessary.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 20 lbs., sometimes up to 50 lbs. You might do a lot of lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling.
• Work in this occupation involves bending or twisting your body more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Using muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring
• Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
• Exerting oneself physically over long periods of time without getting out of breath
• Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying objects
• Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring

Work Hours and Travel

• Irregular hours