Massage Therapists and Myotherapists
Perform therapeutic massage, myotherapy and remedial massage for relaxation, health, fitness and remedial purposes and to alleviate the symptoms of pain associated with musculoskeletal injury.
A Thursday at the clinic
You are a remedial massage therapist at a small clinic, with back-to-back appointments through a busy Thursday. It is 9am. Your first client is new. She has booked a deep tissue treatment for lower back pain and says she needs it fixed quickly because she is flying out on Saturday.
Choose what you would do. Then see what happens. There are often good reasons for each choice.
I've had this lower back pain for a week. It started after I fell off a ladder. It's gone down my leg a bit and my foot feels odd. I just want you to go really deep and loosen it up before my flight on Saturday.
Go ahead with a firm treatment, since she asked for it and her flight is in two days
The pain gets worse overnight, and her doctor later finds something that should have been checked first. You treated a problem you had not assessed. Pain after a fall with leg symptoms needs a doctor first.
Explain your concern, recommend she see a doctor before any treatment, and offer to help afterwards
Dina is disappointed but agrees. She sees a doctor that afternoon and gets the right care. A week later she rings to rebook, relieved that someone took it seriously.
Offer a very gentle treatment instead, avoiding the lower back, and tell her to see a doctor if it worsens
Dina enjoys the session, and nothing worsens. But you started treatment before understanding what the symptoms meant, and she feels there is no urgency about her doctor.
I know it's not what I booked, but could you have a look at this lump on my shoulder while I'm here? It's been there a few months. Can you tell me what it is? You've got good hands, you'd know.
Tell him it is likely just a muscle knot and nothing to worry about, since he is a fit man
Graham relaxes and does nothing. Months later, he sees a doctor about something that had grown. You are not trained to diagnose lumps, and reassurance was the wrong gift.
Say you cannot tell what it is, and urge him to have it checked by his doctor soon
Graham is a bit startled, then books an appointment. It turns out to be harmless, and he thanks you for pushing him to check. You stayed within your skills.
Avoid the area, finish the massage and say nothing, since it was not part of the booking
Graham leaves without a word about it. You did not diagnose anything, but you also missed the chance to point him toward someone who could. A short, honest sentence would have helped.
Bad news, I've double booked you. Your eleven o'clock is Mr Ahmed, who's already here, and a new client has just walked in who says she was booked for the same time. Both are waiting. What do you want me to do?
Tell Sue to let you see both, and shorten each session to fit them into the hour
Both clients are rushed and neither gets the care they paid for. Mr Ahmed notices the clock. Squeezing two people into one slot made the mistake yours.
Ask Sue to apologise to the new client and offer the first slot after lunch or another day
The new client is annoyed, but accepts after lunch. Mr Ahmed gets his full session. It is a reasonable fix, though the apology could have come from you in person.
See Mr Ahmed as booked, and speak to the new client yourself about the earliest time
You greet the new client, apologise and offer an early afternoon slot with a small gesture. She appreciates being spoken to directly and rebooks. Mr Ahmed gets his full time.
How it went
By the end of Thursday, Dina had seen a doctor, Graham had an appointment, and the double booking was fixed with a plain apology. Massage and myotherapy mean using your hands well and your judgement better, including knowing when the right answer is someone else. Would you be comfortable saying that?
This is a simplified, fictional situation to help you explore. It is not professional instruction or a test of your ability.
Case study: The runner who wanted it fixed in a week
A fictional case set in a small clinic with two treatment rooms, offering remedial massage and myotherapy.
The situation
Akira was a myotherapist at a small clinic. A keen runner named Sofia came in with a sore calf, two weeks before a half marathon she had been training for all year. She wanted deep treatment every day until the race. Akira's assessment suggested the calf needed rest and gradual loading, and that more treatment might not be what the muscle needed.
What they did
Akira explained her assessment plainly and showed Sofia what she was seeing. She told Sofia that daily deep treatment might aggravate the muscle, and offered a lighter plan with two sessions, exercises to do at home and advice about easing her running. She also said that if the pain did not improve she should see her doctor. She did not promise Sofia she would run the race.
How it turned out
Sofia was disappointed, but followed the plan and ran a shorter distance at the event. Her calf held up. A month later she returned to start a longer program, and told Akira she had trusted her because she had not promised anything.
What would you do?
- Why do you think Akira avoided promising Sofia she would run the race?
- How would you tell a client that more treatment is not what they need?
- When should a massage therapist suggest that someone sees a doctor?