This page expands on the paper: Clarifying Definitions for the Massage Therapy Profession: the Results of the Best Practices Symposium
Framework for massage therapy practice
- Apply definition from Process for massage therapy practice and essential assessment. Ann Blair Kennedy, LMT, BCTMB, DrPH , Jerrilyn A. Cambron, LMT, DC, MPH, Ph, Patricia A. Sharpe, PhD, MPH, LMBT, Ravensara S. Travillian, PhD, NA-C, LMP, Ruth P. Saunders, PhD Open AccessPublished:February 01, 2016 DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2016.01.007PlumX Metrics
“Massage therapy practice is a client-centered framework for providing massage therapy through a process of assessment and evaluation, plan of care, treatment, reassessment and reevaluation, health messages, document, and closure in an effort to improve health and/or well-being. Massage therapy practice is influenced by scope of practice and professional standards and ethics.” - Assessment – Assessment is defined here as information and knowledge gathering to assist in evaluation (Alkin, 2011, Bonwich and Reid, 1991, Mather and Jaffe, 2011).
Evaluation is different than assessment. Some scope of practice laws allow for evaluation and some for assessment.
Evaluation is defined as the use of information from assessment to guide clinical decision-making and the development of plans of care (Bonwich and Reid, 1991, Mather and Jaffe, 2011, Patton, 2011). - Referring to other healthcare practitioners
- Critical thinking
- Palpation
- Biomedical testing (BP/Pulse/etc.)
- Discussion
- Improving assessment skills
- “Meeting client where they are at”
- Mastery of assessment
- Intuitive in nature
- Learned skill
- Tracking change
- Re-assessment
- Able to identify contraindication/red flags
- Safety
- Treatment
- Health education
- Coping with stress
- Problem-focused
- Body awareness
- Lifestyle education
- Client engagement
- Self-care
- Movement education
- •Breathing exercises
- Exercise
- Nutrition essential elements
- Create a healing environment
- Caring
- •Listening