For massage therapists, from experts to novices, it’s sometimes easy to forget some very basic massage procedures and techniques to keep yourself healthy, your business profitable, and your clients happy. By avoiding these common massage mistakes and remembering to maintain posture, focus, and a high level of respect and customer service, your practice can thrive.
Massage mistakes made by beginners and professionals
Body mechanics: While in school, beginning massage therapists tend to use inappropriate body mechanics because they haven’t acclimated to how they should use their bodies to build strength and balance. Using the correct flow, you can relieve early fatigue in your arms by combining full-body movements during a massage. Techniques such as learning proper body mechanics and posture can help you avoid any undue stress on your body while still giving your client the best possible massage.
During a massage session, massage therapists must be aware of how their client reacts to pressure. Massage errors include errors in pressure or not checking with the client about their comfort. If you are applying more pressure than is comfortable for the client, you will tense their muscles, restrict their breathing, and feel uncomfortable. When your client’s body is tense, you are only creating more stress, not relieving it. If your pressure is too light, the massage may be relaxing, but it probably won’t have a positive impact on the muscles the client wants to treat. It is important to consult with the client about the pressure to ensure that your massage techniques are effective.
Personal care: Common massage therapists make mistakes that they don’t take as much care of themselves as they should. Like any prolonged physical activity, it’s important to stretch before beginning a session. Keep in mind that while you’ll primarily be using your arms, your entire body will be working out, relying on your legs for counterbalance, your back for strength, and your torso for core balance and posture. Of course, the main complaint from massage therapists is that their arms, wrists, and fingers hurt. Again, while this is normal, it can be avoided by stretching and using proper flow and massage techniques. It is important to maintain proper routines of stretching and strength exercises to avoid any symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, which can cause fatigue and early exhaustion.
One very important thing for therapists to remember is to routinely get massages. Mistakes therapists often make include forgetting the “self-care” part of their profession, which is attributed to a high level of burnout in the industry. Another important factor for massage therapists to consider is keeping up with the client’s experience: how does it feel to be at the table? Which massage techniques work and which are not so effective? By receiving regular massages, you can maintain a focus on the client’s perspective of the massage experience.
Customer service: First impressions count in every industry, and this consideration applies to all massage therapists, even those with existing practices. At all times, you should strive to dress appropriately, appear professional, and be well-groomed when performing a massage. Techniques to check your appearance would be to simply think, “Do I look like a professional?” While you should feel comfortable in your clothes, you should not wear jeans, a logo t-shirt, old sweatpants, etc. during a massage. Mistakes in appearance can leave a negative impression or potentially make the customer uncomfortable. A good industry standard is to wear clean, loose-fitting yoga or exercise pants or baggy khakis. Scrubs, a solid polo shirt, or a high-necked cotton T-shirt are generally considered appropriate for the massage. Therapists who smoke in their spare time should avoid cigarettes and cigarette smoke at work. Many clients are sensitive, or even allergic, to specific dyes and scents, and can be incredibly uncomfortable with the smell of tobacco, perfume, or even some strong deodorants. Because of this, it is also very important to use a hypoallergenic cream or lotion that works the same as other lotions and does not adversely affect your massage techniques.
Whether your client is a regular or has a first-time appointment, it’s important to make sure you greet them as soon as possible, offer them a seat in the waiting room if they’re late, and don’t keep them waiting. an unreasonable amount of time after your scheduled appointment. It is critical that all massage therapists are professional, punctual, and courteous before, during, and after a massage. Mistakes can leave a bad first impression and prevent a repeat customer. From a business standpoint, it’s all about customer service.
Focus: While working with your client, it can be obvious when you are distracted and not paying attention to your client’s needs or requests. Before you walk into the room, take a moment to put your mental to-do list aside, don’t think about your next client or anything that might distract you from your current client. Massage techniques should include not only posture and flow, but also focus.
When you meet with your client before the massage, really take the time to listen to them as you review and record your SOAP notes. Look carefully at their intake form and be sure to ask them about any specific problem areas or points of concern before a massage. Common mistakes massage therapists make are falling into a rut where they provide the same massage over and over again, or ignoring the client’s pressure/focus requests and instead only focusing on what the therapist feels they are doing. It is important. At the end of the day, you should always provide a consistent level of service to all clients, and make sure to focus and listen during the massage. Focused client service techniques preserve your reputation as a therapist and build and maintain the business relationship with the client.
Ethical code: After novice massage therapists graduate from school, they may actually be well aware of the code of ethics and confidentiality that comes with a therapist-client relationship. But when an experienced massage therapist becomes more comfortable in their practice, they may tend to forget these rules (even with annual CEUs on the subject) and accidentally reveal client information, or begin an inappropriate personal relationship with a client receiving a massage. . Mistakes happen, but it’s important to routinely assess your ethics. While it is imperative to develop a good relationship with your clients, it is not appropriate to call them at home (unless it is to confirm an appointment), discuss your personal life, or accept personal gifts, whether directly or indirectly related to the massage. Techniques that involve consistent professionalism will ensure the success of your practice.
Additionally, working with a client means maintaining your right to confidentiality. During a session, massage therapists may learn about personal medical conditions or treatments; these must always be kept strictly confidential and private. It is not appropriate to go home and talk to friends or family about a client, even if their name remains anonymous.
Avoid common mistakes
These massage mistakes are among the most common for all massage therapists, whether you are just starting out or have years of experience. By enrolling in continuing education courses, massage therapists can update their knowledge of current massage ethics, body mechanics, and techniques to stay current in the field and also further their personal and professional development.