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WInTer 2011 Issue
ConTenTs
Features
Keeping Great Associates 6
p20
RMT Tech Talk 13
Massage Therapy 14
Education
p14
departments
p11 Editorial 5
News 8
Resource Directory 28
The Therapeutic Quality 16
of Music Contributor to the 30
Profession
Understanding Stress 20
Part 1
Fall 11/Spring 12
Unit 1 September 9-10-11, 2011
Upper Extremity Problems Acute Pain
Unit 2 September 30 - October 1-2, 2011
Axial Skeletal Problems Visceral Regulation
Unit 3 October 21-22-23, 2011 McMaster University
Head & Face Problems Chronic Pain Syndromes
Unit 4 November 11-12-13, 2011
Lower Extremity Problems Integrated Mgmt.
Unit 5 December 2-3-4, 2011
Spring 2012 Program
Introduction to Contemporary Acupuncture
Unit 1 February 17-18-19, 2012 Comprehensive
Upper Extremity Problems Acute Pain Accelerated Training
Unit 2 March 16-17-18, 2012
Axial Skeletal Problems Visceral Regulation
in Contemporary
Unit 3 April 13-14-15, 2012 Acupuncture
Head & Face Problems Chronic Pain Syndromes
Unit 4 May 11-12-13, 2012
Lower Extremity Problems Integrated Mgmt. Registration is limited
Unit 5 June 1-2-3, 2012 Contact Valerie Cannon
905.521.2100 x75175
The original McMaster Medical Acupuncture
ContemporaryAcupuncture@McMaster.ca
Program, since 1998
The program is skill-based and clinically oriented, with over 80 hours devoted to
practical workshops on surface anatomy palpation, needle insertion skills,
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ment of real patients. Since 1998, more than 1200 professionals have gradu-
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13 Fa M
Editor
Winter 2011 - Volume 10, issue 1
from the editor
Jill Rogers, RMT jrogers@annexweb.com
T
(905) 516-8793
his winter issue welcomes us all to a new year as your editor, I
Managing Editor
Maria DiDanieli mdidanieli@annexweb.com would like to extend my wishes for good health, happiness and pros-
(289) 259-1408 (888) 599-2228 ext. 247
perity in 2011.
Sales Manager In the remainder of this note, however, you will find me wearing my mas-
Christine Livingstone clivingstone@annexweb.com
(519) 429-5173 (888) 599-2228 ext. 239 sage therapist hat. I underwent a peer review / assessment this past year and I
Sales Assistant wanted to share my thoughts about the process, having recently experienced it.
Sandra Mels smels@annexweb.com Although it is described as a review process carried out by ones peers, all
(519) 429-5183 (888) 599-2228 ext. 219
therapists and I can safely speak for the Ontario group who have gone
Production Artist
Emily Sun through this procedure would agree that it can be anything from unnerving to
Group Publisher downright intimidating. Prior to the experience, I felt as though I were scheduled
Martin McAnulty mmcanulty@annexweb.com
to undergo something much like a job performance review, carrying with it all
President
the impact of receiving a positive evaluation or not.
Mike Fredericks mfredericks@annexweb.com
Now that it is done, though, I must admit that, overall, I thoroughly
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 530, 105 Donly Drive South, enjoyed and appreciated the whole experience. My evaluator was both pro-
Simcoe, ON N3Y 4N5
fessional and respectful of my business, as well as of me, a fellow therapist.
PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT #40065710
RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN During the checklist-type inventory and professional questions, I quite
ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT., enjoyed engaging in discussion regarding changes within the profession, both
P.O. BOX 530, SIMCOE, ON N3Y 4N5
e-mail: cnowe@annexweb.com positive and negative, with my evaluator. This experience was a reinforcement
Massage Therapy is published four times a year: of the importance of the quality assurance mandate we exercise as a profession;
January, April, July, November. Published and printed by
Annex Publishing & Printing Inc., 105 Donly Drive South,
the connection we maintain with our governing body; and the open commu-
Simcoe, ON N3Y 4N5 nication and discussion we engage in with fellow therapists.
Printed in Canada Upon completion of the peer review, I am feeling both renewed as a massage
ISSN 1499-8084
therapist and proud to be a part of our profession.
Circulation
e-mail: cnowe@annexweb.com Massage therapy as a profession and especially in Ontario, British
Tel: (866) 790-6070 ext. 207 Columbia and Newfoundland where it is recognized as such strives to be
Fax: (877) 624-1940
Mail: P.O. Box 530, Simcoe, ON N3Y 4N5 respected as one of several regulated health-care fields. Our regulatory bodies
Subscription Rates provide the structure and ongoing effort to accomplish that mandate. I would
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3 Years $64.95 ment with the regulatory bodies and (especially) in a volunteer capacity,
For USA and Foreign rates please contact Cheryl Nowe
toward this continued goal.
Occasionally, Massage Therapy Canada will mail informa-
tion on behalf of industry-related groups whose products Massage Therapy Canada magazine continues to support our profession
and services we believe may be of interest to you. If you
prefer not to receive this information, please contact our through the presentation of relevant and educational materials. Please continue
circulation department in any of the four ways listed above.
to use MTC as a method of communication, and service, to our profession
No part of the editorial content of this publication may be through your suggestions and submissions.
reprinted without the publishers written permission. 2011
Annex Publishing & Printing Inc. All rights reserved. Opinions Send your ideas and comments to jrogers@annexweb.com.
expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the editor
or the publisher. No liability is assumed for errors or omissions.
All advertising is subject to the publishers approval. Such
approval does not imply any endorsement of the products or
services advertised. Publisher reserves the right to refuse
advertising that does not meet the standards of the publication.
www.massagetherapycanada.com
Keeping
Great Associates
Foundations for building a committed team
T
his profession does make a difference
in peoples lives. And if you are a clinic
owner/manager who would like to con-
tribute to this difference as well as leave a
legacy, then you need to have reliable associates
working with you. To leave something for future
generations, and be able to sell what you have
built when the time comes, will require the best
possible team.
T
filling that spot on your team. Great associates can be found
by using a number of methods: begin a word-of-mouth he Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF) is
campaign in your local community, connect with the local pleased to announce the winners of the 2010
massage therapy association, engage your existing associates Practitioner Case Report Contest. This years
in the process, make contact with your competitors, visit the Grand Prize Gold Award has been awarded to
closest massage college where you might speak with the Rosemary Chunco, LMT, BA, MSc, of Plano,
professors, post openings on the job board and touch bases Texas. Her winning case report was titled The Effects of
with other health-care professionals. Massage on Pain, Stiffness and Fatigue Levels Associated
Any one of these resources could be invaluable to your cur- with Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Case Study. As the first
rent search and could also be useful for future requirements. place winner, Chunco will receive a $2,500 cash award
Different people will provide varied levels of assistance. contingent upon undergoing the peer review process
However, it is important to note that anyone in business will with a scientific publication, an invitation to present her
be encountering a similar set of the problems that you may paper and poster at the 2011 AMTA National conven-
also encounter in operating your clinic. tion and a $1,000 stipend to be used toward travel to
As a final point, you should keep your eyes open and your the Convention.
ears to the ground at all times, for any possibility that may Chunco said of the process of creating a case report,
present itself. An accidental meeting, or someone moving to Planning, implementing and completing a case study
town, could very well provide the opportunity for you to fill in my own practice had an unforeseen positive impact in
that vacancy now or at some time in the future. My advice is many ways, including a noticeable increase in my level of
to use every resource at your disposal. analytical thinking, increased confidence in an ability to
The following criteria covers the attributes that I explore in find pertinent information on a problem, and a signifi-
a promising colleague: cant increase in my knowledge on a specific condition.
dedication to his or her craft Moreover, being able to contribute to the profession by
exceptional client care the provision of information also gave me a feeling of sat-
good communication skills isfaction that I have not encountered before... I hope that
excellent documentation skills others will decide to complete case reports and experience
dedication to continuous learning the benefits that can result from such a venture.
commitment to the welfare of their clients Chuncos report focused on a 47-year old female
commitment to the welfare of the clinic patient with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a disease that
ability to be a team player causes inflammation of the joints between the spinal
I must point out that finding someone with all of these bones, and the joints between the spine and pelvis. With
proficiencies is a difficult assignment. Each of us has some of massage, the patient reported a reduction in the intensity
these qualities, but almost everyone will need to improve in of her stiffness, pain and fatigue, and Chunco observed
one or more of these competencies. As a bottom line, when increases in forward and lateral flexion. Chunco con-
you are able find a person committed to continuous learning cluded that massage shows promise as a treatment for
and dedicated to their craft, then you have a candidate who symptoms associated with AS. The full abstract can be
should prove to be a valuable asset in your clinic. found on the MTF website (see below).
Taking the time to clearly define your requirements, and An honorable mention was awarded to Rosalyn A.
outlining the needs of the clinic and the desires of the staff, Smarr, LMT, of Dayville, Oregon, for her case report
will allow you to develop an outline that will assist you and titled The Effects of Specific Injury Treatment and
your new crew member in making the right decision. Building Facilitated Stretching on Acromial Clavicular Joint Pain
the proper foundation will also help you to develop a motivat- with a Possible Separated Shoulder. This report focused
ing culture that will keep your associates interested and com- on the effect of massage at aiding in full recovery after a
mitted to the long-term benefit of the clinic, the clientele and shoulder joint injury with positive results.
themselves. This is only a first step in developing a long-term Information about all previous MTF Case Report
associate, but it is a very valuable first step that will allow you, Contest winners, as well as details regarding how to
the clinic, the clientele and the associate to garner numerous enter the 2011 contest can be found on the website at
benefits over the time period you choose to work together. www.massagetherapyfoundation.org.
The Massage Therapy Foundation has chosen to
Jim Smyth owns and operates a clinic in encourage the writing of case reports to provide an
Peterborough, Ontario, with seven massage opportunity for massage therapists and bodyworkers to
therapists and a fitness facility on site. Smyths develop research skills and enhance their ability to pro-
e-Book Find and Keep Great Associates is avail- vide knowledge-based massage to the public.
able at www.MTCoach.com.
NO MENTHOL
There is no need for LivRelief to add menthol or other heating or
cooling agents to trick you into believing its working. It works faster,
longer and more effectively than all the others.
GUILLAIN-BARRE
SYNDROME
Is there a role for massage therapy? Part 2
I
n part 1 of this article, the author reviewed the first to come back. Over the next week, she became able
Guillain-Barre Syndrome and presented the to close her eyes, then swallow, which allowed the feeding
case of one woman who was struck with this tubes to be removed.
disease. The author then introduced paul In a few days, Cindy was moved out of ICU to a regular
Lewis, an RMT who has developed an approach to room where she began to receive massage therapy treatments
treating patients who suffer from the disease that from Paul Lewis, who had successfully executed a three-way
is very individualized, and takes into account its consultation between Cindy, her doctor and himself.
dynamic progression and the ever-changing needs It is wise, notes Lewis, to receive the doctors acknowl-
of the patient. part 2 will describe how Lewis edgment before beginning massage therapy treatments in
dealt with the womans case, and how massage hospital.
therapy enhanced her recovery period. Physiotherapy was introduced shortly thereafter, as well.
Lewis notes that he also incorporated a little reflexology
massage treatment in hospital along with the massage treatments from which Cindy reported
It all happened so fast. The pain was unbearable and I considerable pain relief.
required a wheelchair from the point of admission because Each in-hospital massage therapy treatment session took
I was too weak to even hold myself up, says Cindy from two to three hours. The length of time reflects the very
Cartwright, who found herself with Guillain-Barre Syndrome slow pace necessary, as the patient is in unbearable pain and
(GBS) in April 2010. is still experiencing all the other aformentioned symptoms of
Within the next 24 hours, various medical tests were per- GBS. The patient cannot move, but can certainly feel, and
formed on Cindy, including an MRI, CT scan, bloodwork, the sensation primarily registered is pain.
X-rays, ultrasound, nerve conduction velocity studies (NCV)
and a spinal tap (showing increased spinal fluid protein with
a cell count exclusive to GBS) before the GBS diagnosis was The main premise behind incorporating
made. Medical treatment for GBS began on April 28. This
included plasmaphoresis, the most crucial function of which
massage therapy for this disease is that
is to keep the patients body functioning during the initial massage can influence the afferent
recovery of the nervous system. Cindy was admitted into the neural pathways.
intensive care unit (ICU) to monitor and assist as other GBS
symptoms occurred. At this point, she was fully paralyzed in
all her limbs and all organs up to the stomach area, and also hoW massage therapy helps
experiencing slight paralysis in her face, around the mouth The main premise behind incorporating massage therapy for
area, and loss of control of the swallowing reflex. In addition, this disease is that massage can influence the afferent neural
she was unable to close her eyelids and was hooked up to pathways. When the Schwann cells are reproducing myelin
feeding tubes and a urinary catheter. to repair the myelin sheath, signals are either slow, absent or
To illustrate the dynamic progression of this disease, by misdirected and registered as pain. In this instance, we can
May 12 Cindys body began to turn around and caregivers use what we know about dermatomes, move the muscles and
were immediately instructed to manually move her limbs. joints and hope the body registers the signals as touch. It is
She notes that the last areas affected with the paralysis were almost, but not quite, as though the RMT manually sends the
W
elcome to the first in a series of a traditional telephone voice call and the resulting voice mail
articles that will discuss various tag. You will want to keep in mind that this is really about
technologies and how they can be what is best for your clients, and not what your preferences
beneficial in the massage therapy might be.
workplace. Each article will examine certain The reality is that your practice is likely made up of a
aspects of massage therapy practice management diverse group of clients ranging from children to senior citi-
and explore how technology can be applied to zens. As a result, you may consider the adoption of multiple
simplify and / or enhance the process. methods of communicating with your clients. However, this
doesnt mean you need to add to your daily workload, as
In this first edition of RMT Tech Talk, the subject of utiliz- many technologies available to massage therapists will actu-
ing technology to optimize external communications with ally save you time, effort and money.
your clients will be considered.
The intent of this article is to get you to think about your smart tech multi-tasKing
methods of communicating with your clients and also to pro- Lets consider what the communication technologies might
vide some options on how you might rethink your approach look like in a massage therapy practice that has been opti-
to client communications. The intended result is to improve mized to support a clientele with a diverse age demographic.
the experience for your clients when they are interacting A home or office personal computer (PC) is a requirement.
with your services as well as for you as the care provider E-mail accounts that work handin-hand with the
and, where applicable, business owner. The final goal is to home or office PC, allowing clients to communicate
optimize your patient care while improving the bottom line with the practice electronically.
for your business. A website to communicate information about your
With any business, as Im sure everyone will agree, timely practice such as hours of operation and directions,
communication by the business owner with clients is crucial treatment modalities offered, service rates, your no-
for establishing a positive professional relationship between show policy, etc. Since the website is often a potential
the two parties. This could not be more evident than in clients first glimpse at your practice, it should be pro-
todays connected society, where customers are looking for fessionally designed and convey relevant content in an
immediate feedback from those they choose to do business easy-to-navigate structure. First impressions are often
with. Massage therapy clients are no different. lasting impressions.
Online appointment tools on the website that offer
What is Best for your clients? clients convenient access to your availability and allow
There are many communication technologies for streamlin- them to request appointments at their leisure. This
ing your client communications available for you to incor- also saves the massage therapists valuable time.
porate into your practice. These technologies include the Telephone service with supporting voice mail. Yes, this
traditional telephone / answering machine, the postal service, may sound like it is old school, but it is still a require-
electronic mail (e-mail), online websites and text messaging, ment in any business setting. It will provide service to
to name a few. The question is, what combination of these those clients who may be less tech-savvy and to anyone
technologies is best suited to you and your clients? else who may only have access to a telephone.
To answer this question, you need to examine the demo- Keep in mind the voice mail greeting should direct
graphics of your clientele. For example, if your clientele is your clients to the other methods of contacting your
made up entirely or almost entirely of senior citizens, practice, and offer the option to request an appoint-
it is unlikely that your primary method of communica- ment with you from your website, as this is the most
tions should be text messaging over the cellphone network. common reason they are calling.
Conversely, if your clientele is made up of mostly younger E-mail messaging services that will automatically com-
people, say in their 20s and 30s, they would likely prefer, municate appointment confirmations and reminders.
and expect, a form of electronic communication rather than Continued on page 15
Massage Therapy
Education
Best practices for textbook selection
A
s educators, we are all committed to we know that the author knows his or her stuff?
providing our students with a quality This typical tester question revolves around yet
educational experience. Instruction is another question; does he or she possess the appro-
central to the delivery of this type of priate level of knowledge or training required
experience and textbooks serve as the founda- to be considered a subject expert in the field?
tions of classroom instruction. Massage therapy Keep in mind that subject expertise is most
educators, however, rarely receive any sup- often judged by credentials, unless we are talk-
port or guidance in this regard. This article will ing about a subject where there is no relevant
attempt to propose objective criteria for text- distinguishing credential. We also need to keep in mind,
book selection that we can utilize to assist us in here, that the subject expert must be a subject expert in the
choosing texts that will best support and pro- field in question.
mote our curriculum objectives. Are there any other tests that help us ascertain subject
expertise? Yes there are. Subject experts are often recognized
suBject eXpertise as subject experts by independent industry bodies and orga-
Does the book in question contain the relevant knowledge nizations and often have published extensively over a number
base for the subject area? The first and most important of years.
criterion that we can utilize to assess the quality of a given
text in supporting delivery of curriculum content is subject competence in delivery
knowledge expertise. In other words does the book in ques- A text that is competent in delivering subject knowledge is
tion contain the relevant knowledge base for the subject clearly written, coherent and linear in the development and
area? How do we determine what is the relevant knowledge presentation of ideas and concepts. It is written at a read-
base for the subject area? We are guided in this regard by the ing level that is appropriate for the reading audience. It will,
professions (Registered Massage Therapy) competency docu- where possible, include review questions and chapter exer-
ments and in their absence (non-registered provinces) the cises to support the subject content and, very importantly
professional associations curriculum standard or guidelines for us in an applied science health-care field, integrate theory
for curriculum content. The professions competency docu- and practice.
ments articulate learning competencies for each subject area
that define, in broad, general terms, the appropriate subject support resources
knowledge for these areas. A competent text will cover at Finally, how easy and convenient will the book be for the
least 60 per cent of the subject base articulated in these teacher to use and adapt to his or her classroom instruc-
competencies. tion? Support resources are often taken for granted but are
Subject expertise also requires that a quality text cover very important to us as educators and instructors. Our time
subject knowledge competently. A good text should pro- is always limited and we need to find texts that are not
vide accurate knowledge in the subject area and contain the unduly burdensome in terms of implementation, or better
appropriate concepts and ideas in sufficient detail. How still, find texts that provide us with support for implemen-
can we ensure this? Typically by looking at who wrote the tation in the form of a resource coach, training workshop
text and asking ourselves, is the author a subject expert? or online support, etc.
Anyone can write a book about anything; however, how do
cost effectiveness
Lets face it, cost matters and it makes
a difference. If a textbook is over-
priced, and our students cant afford
to buy it, then it isnt a good option
for us. A good quality textbook should
be reasonably priced and this means it
should reflect a price that is commen-
surate with other books in the subject
field on the market. How do you know
if this is the case? You must research
the market, look for other books in the
subject area and determine what the
average price is for a text on this topic.
The Therapeutic
Qualities of Music
Choosing the right sounds for a perfect massage
J
ust as the supple hands of a seasoned body worker caress and ease away stress and strain from
the physical body, the right kind of music clears the mind and opens the emotions. Music
absorbs the thoughts and emotions of its creator and takes on the properties of those very
thoughts and emotions, whether positive or negative. This is what makes music such a powerful
medium in all our lives our spiritual natures resonate with the deeper underlying emotions that
connect us as humans and that the music embodies. Therefore, in effect, by working on the clients
emotional body, music can partner with the practitioner, combining to create the perfect mind/body
reconnection and optimized treatments.
Although this sounds obvious, the fact is, this is a challeng- between healing touch and music. The following are some com-
ing and sometimes complicated subject given the many vari- mon elements found in relaxation music, and their effect traits.
ables in the field. Make no mistake: the right kind of music
will vary from client to client, and even for repeat recipients. teXture
How do you know where to begin when choosing the right First, we must define the word texture with regards to
music for a treatment session? How do you know which CD music. Texture has to do with how thick or thin the lead
to play when each client walks through your door? instrument comes across as in how many notes are played,
My aim is to help you discover how to do just that, by giv- how busy or sparse they are, etc. It also refers to the quality
ing you some tools you can use. After performing a quick of backing instruments and ambient sounds (for example,
assessment of your clients condition, you will feel more nature sounds).
confident about choosing which type of music can best bring The busier the music is both lead and backing instru-
him/her back to a place of balance and calm. ments and/or the heavier the quality of the ambient
Within the absolutely never-ending genre of relaxation or sounds, the heavier the texture of the piece will be. Read
new age music, there are many elements, each with unique on, to find some examples of lighter and heavier textures in
effects upon the listener. It pays well to have some knowledge music and how they might be harnessed to balance your cli-
about these elements, as they can profoundly impact clients ents energies in a way that will complement your massage
overall massage experience, resulting in a positive and benefi- treatement.
cial treatment or not.
For example, a relaxing drumbeat is going to have a certain string instruments
effect on the listeners heart rate, mental function and overall Light acoustic guitar, sparsely played, light in texture
ability to relax. A solo flute playing long notes will have an The vibrations of the strings of a guitar have a unique qual-
entirely different influence. And, so forth. ity of entering the mid-level frequency range in the listener
Lets take a beginners look at the inseparable relationship at an average frequency of 82 Hz. This results in a soothing
I wanted to grow my
massage practice, help
more people, and do it
without burning out.
- Christine
Chill-electro
Perfect for the client who just wants to unwind. This type of
music will carry a familiar pop vibe, yet be chilled enough make
them say aaaahhhh. (But not in the dentist kind of way!!)
conclusion
Clearly, it is becoming more important to offer a greater variety
of music for an optimally effective and satisfying massage
treatment. Clients are becoming more and more discerning
with regards to the interaction between their treatment and
the role music has to play. Just as we crave different foods
without necessarily knowing why, our emotional and cell
bodies crave certain types of music, and having different
styles on hand and an understanding of the various elements
in music and their unique effects, makes a huge difference.
Knowing just which tracks to play for each client is a combination of using
the tips youve learned here and harnessing your instinct and experience.
Understanding
Stress Part 1
Triggers, responses and long-term consequences
When we know better, we do better. Maya Angelou
Sale ends March 31st, 2011 Use DEPOT123 to see pricing online
B
ack pain, while among the most common wards to your point of comfort. Repeat 15 times. (Figure 1)
complaints of our society, and the reason Another way to perform a similar exercise is to do a push-up,
for much expenditure of resources within arching your back while pushing your upper body away from
our health-care system, remains elusive the floor.
to efforts at characterization, both in terms of
etiology and treatment. It is the cause for a 2. lift properly
variety of lifestyle issues ranging from reduction Improper lifting will increase the pressure on the disc in the
of daily function and/or participation in favoured lumbar spine by up to 400 per cent. In other words, lifting
recreational activities to missing work, both in 50 pounds incorrectly can add 200 pounds of compression
the short and the long term. prevention has onto the discs this may be enough to rupture the disc if the
demonstrated a degree of effectiveness as a disc is already compromised. Disc ruptures and bulges are a
strategy to counter back pain, whether it be injury major source of back pain and disability.
prevention or vigilance to daily habits that may Always bend your knees and keep your back straight when
cause or promote musculoskeletal issues that can attempting to lift a heavy object (Figure 2). Never attempt to
lead to back pain. The following article explains lift weight beyond your ability.
ways of preventing, reducing or eliminating back
pain that I have found to be very useful for my 3. fight gravity do daily posture
patients as well as for me. correction eXercises
Gravity tends to lead us to having poor posture over time.
1. perform daily BacK eXtension eXercises Poor posture includes head-forward carriage, rounding of the
A lot of back pain is generated from bulging discs. Discs shoulders, forward rounding of the upper and mid back (tho-
typically bulge posteriorly, or backwards (no pun intended). racic spine) and flattening of our low back (lumbar spine).
Back extension exercises help to move the bulge forward These positions put a lot of force onto the musculoskeletal
again. This reduces the pressure on the annulus (outer fibres) systems, which eventually leads to back pain.
of the disc and allows the nucleus (inner gel-like substance) To perform posture correction exercises, find a wall, place
to move forward. your heels against the baseboard and bend your knees slight-
You can improve disc health and reduce back pain by per- ly. You should feel the base of your spine and your shoulder
forming 15 back extensions twice a day, every day, or after blades touching the wall. Think tall and straighten up. Now
prolonged sitting at a desk or in a car. tuck your chin in and try to touch the wall with the back of
To perform back extensions, stand up straight with your your head without extending your neck (lifting your chin).
feet shoulder-width apart. If you cant, put a small pillow or towel in the space between
Place your hands on your low back, and then bend back- the wall and the back of your head. Most people have slight
head-forward posture. Do these exercises regularly and you
can remarkably reduce and prevent back pain.
4. Keep active
Your back needs oxygenated blood flowing to the muscles and
surrounding tissues in order to eliminated toxins. Toxins in
the tissues can cause muscles to tighten and even spasm. Tight
muscles not only use up more energy because they are work-
ing too hard, they produce toxins that generate back pain.
You can eliminate excessive toxins with aerobic exercise,
which in turn improves circulation. Improve muscle health
and reduce pain by going for a brisk walk or swim every day.
Figure 1 Figure 2 Save your back and heart. Get moving!
Massage Therapists
at Work
What now? Whats next?
C
limate is changing, culture is changing, the economy is changing, and with it, the massage
therapists workplace is changing! Varying considerably from the previous era, the current era
is tinged with economic and job insecurity, an aging population and rising health-care costs,
and increased reliance on government, technology and credit. Home-based or small facility self-
employed practitioners are subject to increasing competition by well-financed and sophisticated rehab
centres and spas, family medical practices (with in-house physiotherapy assistants) and various low-cost
modalities purporting the reduction of stress, strain and pain.
Given this environment, massage therapists need to a lead therapist, which moves the practitioner into a man-
observe, respect and respond to the following trends: agement position hence, less physical wear and tear on her/
his body.
shift from self-employed practitioners Despite this shift, there is still room for the self-employed
to employees in large, commercially specialist who provides sophisticated massage/manual therapy
viaBle enterprises and has built a loyal following. New massage practitioners,
Through social networks and collective conversations, a pri- however, face greater competition to grow alongside stream-
mary problem is apparent therapists worldwide struggle lined and sophisticated rehab and spa facilities.
to maintain their practices. Most practitioners lack business
experience or time, energy and the required capital. They massage therapists as assistive/
prefer someone else handle marketing, maintenance and adjunctive care
business operations while the practitioner focuses on his or Massage therapy may approach mainstream health care in public
her first love providing care. perception, but it remains adjunctive in health-care policy and
Rehab centres, spas and massage franchises offer solutions funding. In Ontario, massage therapists are regulated health
to the common problems of self-employed practitioners: professionals, yet face barriers to funding from provincial
highly visible commercial real estate, rigorous marketing health care, auto insurance and workers compensation.
campaigns, equipment, supplies, financed leasehold improve- The reasons stated by the powers that be are i) lack of
ments, the opportunity to work as a team/staff within degree-level education, and ii) insufficient research. A third
available hours, time-tested operation and administration reason, I suspect, is a largely unsupported professional asso-
procedures, and a cost-point and service convenience that is ciation. Its the job of the professional association in your
hard to beat. Michael Gerber, author of The E Myth, reports province to advocate and lobby on behalf of the massage
franchises have a 75 per cent success rate compared to small profession to government, the insurance industry, other
businesses where four in five fail within five years of startup. health-care providers, the media and public. Massage therapy
Many self-employed practitioners recognize the clear time- is viewed as mostly harmless, but hardly curative, and thus it
and money-saving advantages of working in an established lacks credibility to receive full health-care funding. RMTs are
business and will jump their own ship to join one. reliant on gatekeeper health professions to access to health-
Employed practitioners have opportunity for workplace care dollars.
benefits such as pension plan, employment insurance and Government policy continues to download duties and
maternity/paternity leave, extended health-care and dental responsibilities to lesser-trained, lower-salaried health-care
plans, and holiday/vacation pay. Some companies offer profit positions. Physicians defer to nurse practitioners or physician
sharing or the opportunity to buy into the business as a assistants, dentists to dental hygienists, nurses to practical
partner/investor. There is room for organizational growth as nurses, and so forth. In 2009, physiotherapy and pharmacy
interdisciplinary
With the advent of the Internet and
a me culture focused on consump-
only
$
2995 Plus GST
US $44.95 (USD) Foreign $59.95 (USD)
collaBoration tion and choice, boomers and their For even better pricing go to
At the Highlighting Massage Therapy children and grandchildren will be www.massagetherapycanada.com!
in CIM Research conference of May looking for sophisticated, effective Name: ________________________
2010, William Meeker, DC, MPH, bodywork. Boomers and generations
asked the salient question Why are X and Y are information-savvy and Clinic Name: ___________________
we trying to do this by ourselves? will look far and wide for solutions Address: ______________________
Moderating the panel Role of to their somatic problems. Many
Massage Therapy in Public Health, boomers suffer the body-breaking City: _________________________
Meeker described that complementary effects of the second industrial then Prov: _________________________
and alternative medicine (CAM) pro- information era, while generations
P.Code:________________________
fessions are pursuing the same goals: X and Y require care for extreme sport
generating research and evidence-based pursuits and chronic stress syndromes. Tel: __________________________
practice, lobbying government for Boomers exercise their buying power Fax: __________________________
policy change and inclusion in health and demand exclusive, sophisticated
care, negotiating with the insurance results-oriented care. e-mail: ________________________
industry, and raising the standards of Like all things popular, massage
education and training in their respec- therapy has attracted profiteers that
TO ALLOW uS TO SerVe YOu beTTer,
tive practitioners. Working alone, commoditize product or service to PLeASe iNDicATe YOur TiTLe beLOW:
each profession is limited by resources yield higher profits. Beyond the con-
and is ultimately slow and ineffective. cern of diffusing the original potential Massage Therapist
Meeker suggested CAM professions of bodywork, there is definite value Massage Student
collaborate on resources, share knowl- in making it available to the masses. Other ______________________
edge and co-ordinate lobbying and I suspect people will continue to seek Please Specify
education initiatives. ever-sophisticated forms of its heal-
There is also opportunity to align ing properties. The human potential
with the fitness and wellness indus- movement began with the boomers PAYMeNT:
tries. Dr. Jayne Alleyne, MD, wrote, in the 1960s, and I believe well see a cheque - Payable to Annex Publishing
Perhaps the time has come to con- renaissance. More people seek embodi- & Printing inc.
nect the fitness and health care indus- ment in a culture that continuously Visa Mc Amex
try together in a joint action plan disembodies. In a technology-saturated Account #: ____________________________
of education, service delivery and world, massage therapy will become
expiry: ___________________________
preventative medicine. I would like to more important than ever.
Signature: ____________________________
see a Wellness Package that includes
a monthly fee for health services that Don Dillon, RMT, is Date: ________________________________
would be used over the year for pre- the author of Better
vention, performance or treatment. Business Agreements:
TO SubScribe:
Tel: 866-790-6070 Fax: 877-624-1940
A wellness coordinator would meet A Guide for Massage
Mail: Massage Therapy canada
with all clients and set out a plan for Therapists and the
c/o Annex Publishing & Printing inc.
achieving an improved state of health self-study workbook Charting Skills for P.O. box 530
and wellness over the year. Services Massage Therapists. Don has lectured in Simcoe, Ontario N3Y 4N5
such as massage therapy, dietary con- seven provinces and many of his articles e-mail: cnowe@annexweb.com
sultations, injury prevention assess- have appeared in industry publications. www.massagetherapycanada.ca
ments, stress management strategies Visit his website, www.MTCoach.com. GST#867172652RT0001 0111MT
Body Structure
Body Movements
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Body Functioning
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Discover clinical massage therapy education at MacEwan.
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ZLWKFDIHWHULDIDFLOLWLHVDSRROOLEUDU\ FRPSXWHUODE MacEwans Massage Therapy program is offered on a
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$WUDQVIHUFUHGLWDIIOLDWLRQDOORZV07&0VWXGHQWVWRSXUVXHDGLWLRQDO theory and clinical practice, you will become a
GHJUHHVDIWHUJUDGXDWLRQ well-rounded therapist prepared to practice in a range
of medical and therapeutic environments or even start
6WXGHQWPDVVDJHWKHUDS\FOLQLFDYDLODEOHDIWHUQRRQV HYHQLQJV your own practice!
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Contact 780-497-4129, massage@macewan.ca or
ZZZPDVVDJHWKHUDS\FROOHJHFRP
www.MacEwan.ca/massage
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