Therapeutic massage therapists use their hands to manipulate the body's soft tissues and muscles, especially for those with chronic complaints or injuries. Therapeutic massage therapists work with clients to relieve pain, rehabilitate a sports injury, or reduce stress. They also interview clients to evaluate and determine a set course of massage treatment including beneficial techniques and desired results.
Common work settings include hospitals, chiropractic offices, rehabilitation centers, gyms, and sports medicine centers. A therapeutic massage therapist may have a private office, work from home, or meet his or her clients at their homes or offices. Massage is a physically demanding job, which often requires the therapist to stand for long periods. Because it can be tiring, many massage therapists work less than forty hours a week.

Tasks:

1. Apply finger and hand pressure to specific points of the body.
2. Assess clients' soft tissue condition, joint quality and function, muscle strength, and range of motion.
3. Confer with clients about their medical histories and any problems with stress and/or pain in order to determine whether massage would be helpful.
4. Develop and propose client treatment plans that specify which types of massage are to be used.
5. Massage and knead the muscles and soft tissues of the human body in order to provide courses of treatment for medical conditions and injuries or wellness maintenance.
6. Prepare and blend oils, and apply the blends to clients' skin.
7. Consult with other health care professionals such as physiotherapists, chiropractors, physicians and psychologists in order to develop treatment plans for clients.
8. Maintain treatment records.
9. Provide clients with guidance and information about techniques for postural improvement, and stretching, strengthening, relaxation and rehabilitative exercises.

Key skills for massage therapist:

• Confidence to work closely with clients
• Practical skills and good manual skills
• Good communication and listening skills
• Ability to develop empathy with clients
• Physical stamina for carrying out a number of treatments a day
• Smart appearance and good personal hygiene
• Ability to recognise when a client needs to be referred to a qualified medical doctor
• Commercial skills to run a business
• Ability to keep accurate and up-to-date client records.

Average salary (2013):

The United Kingdom: £20,000 and £40,000 per year
The United States of America: $22,000 per year
Australia: AU$31,157 per year

Qualifications and training required:

Each country has its own requirements and licensure mandates for massage therapists. First, a high school diploma or its equivalent is needed to enroll in a massage therapy program.
Some colleges and universities also offer associate's degree programs in sports and rehabilitation therapy. In these programs, the student learns to assess and treat a variety of sports-related injuries. Most programs require students to take core courses in human anatomy and physiology, and programs may require students to complete first aid.