Massage is split into two very different, but equally important divisions: medical massage and spa massage. Massage is a highly popular industry that individuals flock to release tension.
What most don’t know is that massage also offers many benefits on a medical level as well. While spa massage aims to reduce stress and tension, medical massage is applied to a certain area with the aim of achieving a certain result.
There are three main distinctions between medical and spa massage.
Table of Contents
The Difference Between Medical Massage and Spa Massage
here are three main distinctions between medical massage and spa massage:
Experience and Training
Standard massage education consists of about 500 hours of training, which is sufficient experience to begin practicing massage at a spa location. New massage therapists gain more practice, enhance their skills, and start making money while doing it. It is fairly simple to get a job in the spa industry after completing the required training hours. Those that choose to expand their range to the medical massage branch are required to take part in further training to gain knowledge in a range of motion, lifestyle, functional pain, pathology, and kinesiology. Assessments are required in order to ensure that the medical massage therapist has the knowledge required to work and excel in the field.
Ethics
There are many different aspects of ethics that have to be acknowledged as a medical massage therapist. It is important to know your individual scope as a massage therapist, and the visions and education of the health professionals that you are working with. Medical massage is usually practiced in a team-based setting in order to ensure that the client gets the best result.
Physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, acupuncturists, and orthopedics are just some of the professionals that the medical massage therapist will engage with during a course of treatment. In this sense, referrals are important to ensure that the right type of medical professional is enlisted to achieve the best outcome for the patient. Information regarding the medical massage technician and the therapies offered becomes part of the client’s medical record. Spa massage therapists also follow rules of ethics (public trust/safety), but the only recording is of an appointment record. It does not reflect on the patient’s history outside of the spa facility.
“Why”
Medical massage therapists and spa massage therapists both administer massages, but for different purposes. Medical massage therapists aim to achieve better function for the client. They apply one form of massage over another to ensure that the best outcome is achieved. Results from the massage treatment are measurable, and multiple sessions are set up in order to achieve better overall function for the client. Spa massage therapists focus on client satisfaction. They want the client to feel relaxed, carefree and catered to. They aim to make their massage session a luxurious experience and often use aromatherapy, music, and soft linens to ensure this is the case.
While there are other differences between medical massage and spa massage, the three above are the most prominent. A medical massage is a form of medical treatment, and a spa massage is a form of indulgence and stress relief. Both are important and offer different benefits for the client.
If you or someone is in need of a medical massage service, then contact Complete Therapies today.
