Common Misconceptions of Massage Therapy Pt. 1

According to Clinic Sense, massage therapy grew 8.6% as an industry from 2022-2023.  As much as this should be celebrated for massage therapists and clients alike, there are still many cautions, concerns, and plain misbeliefs when it comes to the modern massage industry.  

While it is not expected for current and prospective clients to understand many of the details and nuances within the massage world, it is imperative to understand some of the fundamental facts that help support the professional image that those in the industry have worked so hard to achieve and maintain.  

1. We are not to be referred to as masseuse’s/masseur’s.   

While it is still taking a long time to repeal these labels, the stigma that they have historically carried has kept many massage therapists attached to sex work and sex workers.  While it is not necessarily the word itself being a slur, rather the context of the connotation that has diminished the professionalism that the term contains. While on the surface it may appear as one splitting hairs, the blending of these phrases can socially lead to negative experiences and expectations on the massage therapist and the client’s end.  Massage therapy is a legitimate occupation that often requires several hundreds of hours of education, please show individuals who have dedicated their body and time to become a massage therapist the proper respect of their professional career title.   

1. We are not Physical Therapists

This one is a bit tricky because in recent years more massage therapists are becoming part-time physical therapists and vice-versa.  And as much as that makes one more versatile within their body work knowledge and skills, it unfortunately muddies clear communication and occupational boundary scopes for the client.  It is not necessarily the rule, but Physical Therapists are often healthcare workers who serve patients, while Massage therapists are health educators who serve patients.  It is however not uncommon for some physical therapists to have clients and some massage therapists see patients.  Many clients have a difficult time discerning questions and discussions they have with a massage therapist that are better suited for their health care team.  This is not to fault the client for not understanding the scope of practices, rather to educate those who don’t fully understand how different the careers are.

1. No, you do not have to take all of your clothes off

It is completely acceptable for one with a preference to be fully disrobed.  However, in my own practice and the businesses I have worked for, I have noticed a trend of anxiety around one being able to keep some or all of one’s clothes on for a treatment.  This concerns me because one of two things is likely happening.  One guess is that clients simply assume they have to disrobe to the level that the massage therapist is demanding and there is no room for appropriate accommodation.  Another belief is that there are unfortunately massage therapists in the industry who are very demanding that a client firmly commands the client to disrobe into nudity for a treatment.  Because any additional layer of clothing is a palpable obstacle, it is encouraged for one to take off as much clothing as comfortable, but strongly discouraged to disrobe more than the client is comfortable.  Removing all additional layers of clothing is certainly making the massage therapist's job easier, however  it is not the client’s job to make the life of the massage therapist as easy as possible.  It is the massage therapist's job to make the client’s life as easy as possible, at least for the duration in bodywork.

This is part one of an ongoing series of Ajani Wright’s (Common Misconceptions of Massage Therapy.  Stay tuned for the upcoming sections of the blog as we discuss the controversial history of massage therapy and how it has brought us to the state we are in today.