Application Process

You can apply to take the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Body Work (NCBTMB) through a printed form or electronically.  If you submit an application through mail, please include the signed application form, Background Check, Statement of Understanding, and Candidate Compliance.  Enclose a photocopy of your driver’s license or state I.D., and include a $225 payment.  Payments are accepted in check, money order, casher’s check, credit card, or voucher.  Make a copy of all documents to file in your records.  If you are submitting an online application, send a signed document of your Background Check, Candidate Compliance, and Statement of Understanding.  Include a photocopy of your diver’s license or state I.D. and keep record of all information being sent.  In 3-4 weeks you will receive an approval or denial letter.  If you receive an approval letter, it will provide you with information about reserving your test day.  If you receive a denial letter, the reason will be stated in the document.     

Exam Day

On the day of the exam bring a valid drivers license, state I.D., or passport.  You will be notified 2-3 business days after the exam if you passed or failed.  In order to get your score mailed to your state regulatory agency, you must indicate it on your examination.  For more information on the NCBTMB, you can order or download a handbook online.  The handbook includes information regarding eligibility requirements, fees, sample questions, and forms.  NCBTMB exams can be translated into Spanish, and Spanish handbooks are available.  Spanish-speaking individuals should contact the state board to verify if Spanish exams are approved in the state they reside.         

There are several different education opportunities available to a massage therapist student.  A student may want to specialize in sports therapy, while another may want to learn the art of Chinese massage.  Each massage therapy college will offer different approaches to teaching and learning massage therapy.  Students will learn about the anatomy and physiology of the body, along with how to approach different previous underlying medical conditions. 

First Step

The first step a new massage therapist student needs to take is to request information either online or on the phone.  This will help the future massage therapist ask questions about the curriculum, time frame, and cost and class availability.  You may also ask the school to send you an informational brochure or packet by mail.  This will also help you further investigate the schools accreditation, testing process and programs.  It’s always important to assess what areas you are interested in first.  If you want to focus on massaging using aromatherapy or sports massage you will want to ask the school if they offer specialized further training in these areas.  You want to always research up to four local massage schools and ask them about their accreditation, cost, programs, class availability and program specialization trainings. 

Schedule an appointment

The next step is to schedule an appointment with a counselor to sit down and asses any further questions and to get a tour of the school.  It’s important to ask about financing options.  Some schools do allow you to use financial aid while others don’t.   Another vital question that you want to ask during the admission process is what type of job assistance is offered to you?   Some schools do have job placement programs, while others offer you free career counseling, resume assistance and web based job postings.  It’s critical that you always get a second opinion and consult with a local massage therapist or massage therapy clinic on what schools are more preferred over others.

A massage in Shanghai is focused around two primary teachings in China.  You have a choice of either receiving a traditional Chinese massage or a Thai massage. 

Chinese Massage

A Chinese massage is focused around the pressure points in the body.  The Chinese believe that the pressure points are essential in releasing the toxins and increasing the energy flows within the entire body.  The massage is focused around stimulating the muscles and use pulling and rubbing motions to increase the flow to the meridians within the body.  The Chinese massage process can seem somewhat abrasive as it’s not a relaxing massage such as Swedish American massage.  This massage is solely there to release any of the toxins while increasing the energy flows. It’s also an option for the patient to receive acupuncture right after the massage.  Traditionally, they will use acupuncture but you can request that this is not to be used. 

Thai Massage

The Thai massage on the other hand is a little more calming and relaxing the client, they actually use stretching techniques to help alleviate the tension before they begin to massage the client.  They also use their knees as well as their arms and legs to massage the client.  This allows the massage therapist to put larger amounts of pressure to the areas where the client may need some extra assistance.  The Thai massage is not done on a massage table, as this won’t allow the massage therapist to use their knees and legs to help stretch and massage your back and neck.  You will lie flat on a floor mat similar to an exercise mat, you are also asked to bring comfortable clothing like the clothing you would wear during a yoga session.  You can request the massage to be completed within an hour or even two hours.  The pricing will vary at each location but you can generally get a good massage within an hour time frame.  If you are looking for complete relaxation, two hours will definitely allow you to totally relax.  This is not recommended for pregnant women or people with serious underlying conditions.  It’s important to always consult with your doctor before starting any massage regiment.

It’s essential that you do thorough research before pursuing your education in massage therapy.  You want to always research at least five to six schools before you choose where you want to attend massage therapy classes.  It’s also important to determine what type of massage therapist you want to become.  Some massage therapists may decide to practice massage therapy out of their home, while others want to go into the management or teaching side of massage therapy.

Massage Therapy License

It’s also imperative that you research whether the school will assist you in obtaining your board certified massage therapist license.  You have to be licensed within your state in order to practice massage therapy.  Unfortunately, some schools only teach you a few massage classes that don’t prep you for the actual testing or certification.  You want to ensure that the school you are attending is going to prepare you for the examinations and allow you to practice massage therapy after you are finished with the program.  It’s also very important that the school you are attending is actually accredited by the state you live in.  Schools that are not accredited may also prevent you from obtaining your massage therapy license or taking the certification test.  Most all massage therapy schools will have an externship program on top of the regular in house training by the instructor. This will vary by each state, and hours needed to obtain your internship may fluctuate by state.  This training will further assist the massage therapist in applying and learning different massage techniques and therapies to their actual client.  This is the best way for a massage therapist to learn different massage techniques.  Massage therapy schools may also offer career placement and financial aid options.  It’s important you meet with your school counselor to determine what will be available for you.

Panasonic massage chairs are a great way to receive a massage without having to make the extra trip to visit your massage therapist.  Panasonic massage chairs are ergonomically designed to fit the contours of your body, they allow you to sit in the natural position and enjoy a relaxing massage.  The Panasonic massage chair mimics an actual massage performed by a massage therapist.  You can choose from a variety of different massages and manipulations or even create your own combination.  The Panasonic massage chair covers the entire upper and lower back.  It actually covers over four hundred and ninety six inches of your back to ensure that all areas are being covered during you customized massage.  Panasonic massage chairs even massage your arms, feet and legs allowing the customer to truly get a total body massage.

Different Models

Each model will have different options available to their customers to suit their specific massage needs or qualifications.  The massage chair also allows for voice guidance complete control, the customer can voice what they are looking to receive and the massage will trigger that program to start or stop upon the customers commands.  The massage chair offers the customer a standard Swedish massage, shiatsu massage, reflexology massage, junetsu massage and more.  The manipulations can also be customized, a customer can choose to receive more of a tapping or kneading massage along with their Swedish massage, or they can choose to receive more of a grasping motion.  There are many different basic or upgraded models available to the client.  A client can choose to invest in a basic model which massages the entire back or they can choose to invest in a total body massage chair.  The total body massages chair massage the neck, back, arms, legs and feet; this is great for someone who wants the complete massage customized to their actual needs.

There are many different exciting and rewarding massage careers available to new and existing massage therapists.  A massage therapist can choose to work in any environment they want while making their own hours.  Massage therapy is one of the very few careers that allow someone to make their own hours.  A massage therapist can choose to work independently and out of their home.   A  massage therapist can also choose to work and travel to a client’s home or office. Many massage therapists have a large base from traveling to their clients, as many people don’t have the time to schedule a massage at their place of work. 

Career Opportunities

If working on your own isn’t for you, there are many different corporate opportunities available to you.  You can choose to work at a salon and spa, a massage therapy clinic, wellness clinic, chiropractic office or even a destination vacation spot.    Massage therapists can also be found in most all major hotel chains, cruise lines, movie sets or even sports therapy rehabilitation clinics.  A massage therapist can also choose to get into teaching or selling massage therapy equipment and products.  You can choose to become a certified massage therapist instructor and teach in-house at a college or school.  You may also choose to be an independent teacher and offer classes at promotional events or corporate gatherings.   A massage therapist can also choose to sell massage therapy equipment or products.  Many opportunities are available with the companies who produce the massage tables, lotions and equipment the massage therapist uses.  You can choose to be in outside sales rep for major producer of the massage therapy equipment or you can choose to manage the sales massage therapy reps.  There are many different options.  It’s always vital for the massage therapist to network and check with their local job massage career listings online or on site.  There are exclusive web based sites available just for massage therapists, it’s essential to post your resume out there to explore new local opportunities and promotions.   

Lower back pain can be caused by a variety of different factors.  Each patient’ treatment options will vary and will depend on the level of pain and diagnosis made by the Chiropractor or medical physician they see.  Some patients may experience persistent pain that is due to a muscle strain or sprain in the lower back region, while other patients may experience back pain due to poor posture.  Other activities such as improper lifting, exercising without stretching or having an underlying condition can all attribute to patients having lower back pain.  Each diagnosis is different and every patient’s recovery time will vary depending on the severity of the pain and initial diagnosis made by the doctor.  

Chiropractic care

Patients that experience acute pain can generally get relief by exercise and slight changes in their daily habits.  In most cases surgery is not needed for acute lower back pain.   Another lower back treatment for patients that are experiencing acute pain is chiropractic care.  Chiropractic care is a great option for patients because it doesn’t require the patient to take medication or on site injections.  It’s great for someone who isn’t looking for a long term medication plan, but wants a natural, safe treatment for their pain.  A chiropractor can assess your underlying issues and make necessary adjustments to realign the lower back into its natural position.  A patient may be seen once a week or more depending on the severity of the issue.  It’s also important that the patient take home the chiropractor’s at home care instructions to ensure the adjustments hold their positioning longer. 

Surgery

Patients that are experiencing more serious or chronic back pain may have to resort to surgery.  This is always the last resort when all other options have been exhausted for the patient.  If chiropractic treatments are not remedying your problem, the chiropractor will refer you to a medical doctor who will determine if you need surgery.

Lower back aches are  commonly felt by adults and the elderly.  They can be caused by a strain or sprain within the back, or even a previous underlying medical condition.  In some cases lower back pain can mean that a patient has arthritis or even spinal stenosis.  These conditions or other underlying conditions can become very serious if they are left untreated. It is important that you seek treatment before your lower back pain becomes debilitating.  In acute cases lower back pain can be very manageable and corrected within a short time. 

Treatments

Chiropractors offer a safe, natural approach to treating low back pain that does not involve medication. The chiropractic approach consists of gentle adjustments to affected vertebra, as well as associated therapies and at-home stretching activities.  This treatment works to correct the physical cause of the back pain, thereby correcting the root of the problem.  On the other hand, medical doctors will typically prescribe a lower dose pain killer to relieve the lower back pain.  Patients have a lot of different options available to them.  Depending on the severity of the low back ache/pain, chiropractors may recommended supplementing their treatment with massages, physical therapy, or an acupuncturist. 

Gonstead chiropractors will find the problem, determine proper medical care, fix the issue and then leave it alone.  They do not require patients to come back for further visits.  The theory of Gonstead Chiropractic states that the body is a foundation, and any change in the foundation can lead to a collapse.  The foundation in the body is formed by the pelvic girdle, and maximum stability and balance is located in the spinal column.  When the pelvic girdle becomes misaligned, negative changes occur throughout the body.  Misalignments can cause a large amount of pain in various parts of the back. 

Subluxation

 Chiropractors refer to a subluxation as a misalignment of the vertebrae that builds up pressure on a disc, causing it to swell.  Chiropractors are able to detect a misaligned vertebra in the spine, especially those in the upper part of the back.  Recognizing and correcting the misaligned spine is an important part of the Gonstead theory.  All parts of the spine should be adjusted to completely correct the subluxation.  If the top and bottom of the vertebra are misaligned, but only the top is corrected, the patient will only experience limited relief.  For complete and long lasting results, all parts of the vertebrae must be identified and adjusted to restore them back to normal.  The purpose of the Gonstead concept is to find the subluxation(s) and correct the problem.  

Do you suffer with chronic low back or neck pain that causes radiating numbness and tingling symptoms into your limbs?  You might be suffering from foraminal narrowing symptoms.  When pain is at its worst, foraminal stenosis can limit your activities of daily living and permit you from doing the things you love, like picking up your grandson or granddaughter, gardening, playing golf or tennis, riding a bike, and even walking short distances.  When the spinal canal narrows this creates less space for the essential nerves and vascular structures, applying pressure and causing nerve pain.  This condition can even cause loss of bladder and bowel function.  The most common cause of neural foraminal stenosis is due to disc degeneration.  Throughout our lifetime, the disc can herniated, causing a disc bulge and later causing stenosis. 

Treatment

Common treatment for this condition includes but is not limited to: Chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy, Cortisone injections, and anti-inflammatory medications.  Back surgery should be used only when all other treatments fail.  The surgery typically has to be repeated because it’s ineffective at decreasing the pain and root of the cause.  By cutting away the foramina, the body will further develop scar tissue/adhesions and cause more pain, inflammation, and decreased mobility.  A Chiropractic technique known as Cox Flexion/Distraction helps to decompress or “pump” the disc to bring blood into the damaged tissues, relieving pain and inflammation and therefore increasing range of motion.  This technique allows normal sensations to return to the arms and legs and eliminates the numbness and tingling.  One must take every consideration into effect when choosing an appropriate treatment for foraminal narrowing.