How to find an appropriate Massage Therapist - a primer

Sometimes I see blog posts or hear comments on training injuries or general body soreness so I want to share some tips on how to find a massage therapist. If you are in the Philly region obviously you should come to me! Since that isn't always feasible, here is my advice:

What should you know before you start looking for a massage therapist?

1. Determine what kind of massage or bodywork you would like to receive. There are many different forms, including relaxation, sports, rolfing, etc. If you really want to get a deep tissue massage but you go to a person who does relaxation only neither of you will be happy with the results. From a triathlon training perspective I recommend you search for sports massage, deep tissue massage, and anything involving stretching or rehabilitation.
   
2. Determine how much money you are willing to spend. Check out your local massage school if your budget is very tight - frequently massage schools have student clinics so that the students can gain real world experience but still be under the guidance of the school, and the fees are quite reasonable. Spas tend to be more expensive than other options as generally people go to spas for the ambiance as much as for the services. From a sports injury perspective, plan several visits into your budget because usually one visit alone is not enough unless you are already getting massage on a regular basis. Sometimes insurance companies will cover massage, especially if through chiropractic or maybe phyical therapy treatments. This varies widely, so don't count on it. If you have a Flexible Spending Account massage therapy should come under a legitimate health expense, ask for a receipt for service in order to submit for reimbursement.
   
3. Determine what minimum skill level/training you will accept. Only some States have licensing/certification requirements. Here in Pennsylvania we are not "required" to have a certain level of training. Feel free to ask a prospective massage therapist where they went to school and how much experience they have. (Please keep in mind that even though a person might be new to the field does not mean they aren't capable.)
4. Determine if the gender of your therapist matters. For some this is a huge issue. Others may be more ambivalent.

How can you find a massage therapist?
I'm going to point you first in the direction of the two national professional organizations because it's easy to find a therapist from their databases. This is by no means the only way to search, but it's an easy way to start.

AMTA - The American Massage Therapy Association. This one is first because I am an AMTA member. Click on the handy Find A Massage Therapist link to get started. You can select particular modalities, which is why I suggested you determine what kind of bodywork you want to receive.

ABMP - Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. Hidden at the bottom is a link to Find A Massage Therapist. I personally think this website is not as user friendly, but you will get different results as I don't think many therapists are affiliated with both groups.

If you just don't like anyone through these searches, widen your search. Places you might find massage: spas, salons, gyms, chiropractor office, massage clinic, wellness centers, college/university athletic or health departments, private homes, corporate campuses, etc.

Note: Please disregard those "massage" ads in the back of the local newspaper. If the ad specifies hair color, ethnicity, or body shape it's probably not a legitimate massage endeavor.

What should you do if you are disappointed with your massage?
I suggest you get a few massages from different people if you are a massage newbie, because every therapist has a unique style. Massage is such a subjective experience, and you will not have the same experience twice even if it's with the same therapist! Also, you may find you really like deep tissue even if you thought you wanted relaxation, or you may find you want more stretching and less massaging, or you may find you don't really mesh with a particular therapist.

Suggestions for remedying a bad experience:

• If you really hated the style and weren't keen on the therapist, please find someone else.
• If you liked the style but not the therapist, please find someone else.
• If you really like the therapist but not the style, please ask the therapist to make some changes to suit what you'd really like. If the person can't accommodate you, please find someone else.

One last thing: Massage Therapists are NOT mind readers. We can gauge quite a bit from your reactions but sometimes you fool us. Speak Up if the massage is not to your liking. We can alter speed/tempo, depth of pressure, lighting, conversation, etc but only if you ask. If I am getting a massage from a new to me therapist I will ask up to three times for alteration (usually for pressure). If they can't comply I know I won't bother to see them again, but at least I have given them the opportunity to cater to me.