How to Choose the Right Remedial Massage Therapist: A RMT's Perspective
At times we can be unaware of the options that are out there when it comes to choosing someone who is a massage therapist, Massage in the last 10 years has been very popular option to get soft tissue relief. This is my personal opinion on things to consider when choosing a RMT or any other health professional.
Introduction
Once again, advice that you did’t ask for. I have had a lot of experience in the field of massage. I feel I have some hot tips to finding the best massage therapist for you that will help with your needs. Massage is more than a rub. With the right therapist they can assist in reliving musculoskeletal dysfunctions and have a deeper understanding of your body and how it moves. Why would this be important? Age expectancy is on the rise thanks to modern medicine. Now if you are not looking after your physical health, while you age it will impact on your quality of life in the future. So invest in a great massage therapist.
What makes a massage therapist a massage therapist.
To appreciate this blog you need to understand what training a massage therapist needs to complete. Massage therapy is a unregulated profession so you don't need any formal training to start a massage business. Now to call yourself a remedial therapist you need to:
Completed a diploma that can be anywhere between 6-18mths either in person or online.
Join an association, pay for insurance and follow guidelines and continue with ongoing training.
This is why you can get a massage that ranges from $60-$300 for the hour. So this might be insightful for all those who what to get more out of their treatment.
What are my top 3 things I look for in a Therapist
Their qualifications and continued education:
Can I highlight that this is optional. You can literally complete a diploma and that is it. Now if I am going to get naked and allow someone to touch me for therapeutical reason and to pay them, I want to know if they are qualified. When picking a RMT in Australia I would look for continued education outside of the diploma they have. Ask for their qualifications and certifications. Therapist should be able to provide you with evidence.
I look for is their understanding of anatomy. Literal the bread and butter of all therapist. Having a good understanding of anatomy means you have a better understanding of what’s happening to the tissue in your hand. I like to have someone who is familiar with physiology and pathology. I personally like someone who is thinking out of the box when it comes to me and my body but it’s not necessary.
Remember, these massage therapist are great and amazing. They are the ones that are strengthening the profession but with all that education they are likely to be moving onto other fields or will be more expensive. I choose these massage therapist because I get better results and it supports me in what I want to achieve.
Price and Location
Price and location is key. The more expensive the price will determine the persons continued education, their overheads in running the business and their experience. Your senior RMT will charge anywhere between 120 to 160 an hour. Considering that you can be charged 200 plus for a spa massage by someone while a 6 month or less training is beyond me. With RMT you can get a health rebate, but for the RMT to maintain that status for their clients they need to pay for a membership with their association and keep updated with evidence base training and practices.
Locations - I will travel far and wide for an excellent services, food and entertainment. However if the travel is adding to the stress and discomfort to the pain in my body, what is the point of getting a treatment from someone when the journey towards them has added to the tension and stress to my body? So please consider the cost of travel. If it isa therapist who is worth it, they in all means stay with them.
Communication
The final thing is communication and making sure it’s someone that is going to advocate for you and give you an understanding of what’s happening in your body. I feel this comes down to passion and drive. What to look for is how their communicate and what happens next when you leave the clinic. I am guilty for this but if they are doing what they say they will this is a great thing and if they are doing the recommendations they give you it’s a bonus. How will you know? Watch what they do, not what they say,
Conclusion
And on that note I am going to post this up and get back to the work I have with the clients I am looking after. If there is anything else you want to point out, please reach out. I love interacting with new people and also give them my POV when it comes to this profession. In conclusion, I feel that we need to be more active with what happens with our bodies and seeking out the best practitioners is so important.
Have a great day x
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