Physical Therapy Schools|Benefits Of Massage Therapy Schools

Physical therapist jobs and PTA jobs pay good salaries and provide job security as well as job satisfaction to those who like helping others. The physical therapy assistant performs tasks that are very similar to those tasks performed by physical therapists. Like therapists, assistants perform therapeutic exercises and provide massages to patients with injuries or other limiting conditions. Therapists and their assistants must have a caring attitude.

The assistant's main role is to help the physiotherapist by observing the patients and tracking patient progress and keeping accurate patient logs. The physiotherapist assistant performs clerical duties, orders supplies, and in some cases helps to manage the clinic. The assistant is an integral part of the clinic because he will be called on to help in almost every aspect of the clinic from patient care to administrative duties. The assistant must have a servant's attitude.

Therapists are responsible for developing therapeutic exercises that help patients recover from injuries, surgery, or other physically limiting situations. Therapists work with patients for weeks or even months depending on the patient's medical needs. An assistant can help the patient perform the therapeutic exercises but only under to supervision of a licensed therapist. An assistant has to be ready to help the therapist out in any given area of the clinic.

An aid helps prep the patient for his exercise work and cleans up before and after the exercise session. The aid reports to the physiotherapist the patient's progress and any comments the patient has about his medical condition. The physiotherapist relies heavily on the assistant to provide patient updates, keep the clinic running smoothly, and to facilitate patient exercise sessions.

Choose the right school for physiotherapist assistant training because the right program will open many doors for employment. In order to practice in most states a person who wants to work as a PTA has to complete an associate's degree that is accredited by the licensing board. The curriculum should include biology, medical science, and general education courses related to anatomy.

Most states allow people to work as assistants once they complete their associate's degree. But some states require students to serve an internship in addition to their completing their associate's degree before working as an assistant. Some states require associate degree graduates to pass a state board examination and complete a course in CPR before working as a PTA.

People who work in the medical health care industry earn good salaries but most people go into health care because they want to help others. Do not go into health care primarily to make a good income but instead enter this field for humanitarian reasons. The good income is a residual benefit but the primary satisfaction comes from being able to help people overcome their physical limitations.

Physical therapist jobs and PTA jobs offer job security because there is growing demand for all health care related positions due to the aging population. A career in health care offers job satisfaction to those who like helping others. The physiotherapist relies heavily on the PTA who performs tasks that are very similar to those tasks performed by physical therapists.

Lower back pain is the most common type of pain from which people can suffer from during their middle and young age, between the ages of 25 and 55. 80% of the population will experience lower back pain during their lifetime. So, it is very important to understand the activities, which may prolong or exacerbate an episode of lower back pain, and also what to expect when you seek physical therapy.

Physical therapy is one of the techniques that treat the pain causing conditions by means of the physical maneuvers. This will be useful in many situations and it is a very good choice, because it does not require any surgical or medical intervention and the patients can find much relief from their pain.

In general, the aim of this therapy is to decrease the level of back pain, improve the functionality, and also provide education on the maintenance program to stop further recurrences.

Passive Therapy:

There are several forms of Physical therapy. The therapist focuses on reducing the pain with passive therapy. These types of therapies are considered as the passive therapy because these are done to patient.

• Ice or heat packs
• Iontophoresis
• TENS units
• Ultrasound

Active Therapy:

In addition to the passive therapies, the active therapy is also required to rehabilitate spine. Usually, back exercise program of a patient should encompass the following combinations:

• Stretching
• Strengthening
• Low-impact aerobic exercises

There are many advantages of lower back pain physiotherapy. This will increase the healing speed and also provides relief from pain. To acquire best result, it is necessary to continue the treatment for some days.

Lower back physical therapy is the best way to handle the back pain without taking the risk of hazard of chemicals, which can happen due to the usage of medications, and without having surgical procedures and interventions.

Before getting the physiotherapy for lower back pain, it is better to consult the physician, who examines and determines the actual nature of the existed problem. He may give you some useful suggestion for getting relief from the pain. Usually the advice of physiotherapy is given by the health care provider or a doctor.

Physical therapy for the low back pain is also used to treat the people who are practically disabled due to the pain, i.e. they are unable to function normally. For these people, a combined program of exercise and physical therapy treats them at two levels. The exercise program can stretch the muscles and restore their normal functionality. To prevent the recurrence of further pain, you can continue this exercise even after you get relief from the pain.

Once I was traveling in Mexico, and I met a girl from Spain. Like me, she was backpacking around the country and we spent a few days hiking and sightseeing together. Then we both continued on our separate ways. When we said our good byes, she kissed me on the cheeks, and I hugged her. Both of us were a little surprised and uncomfortable.

In those days I did not know that kissing on the cheeks is a normal way of greeting in several European countries. And she did not know that hugging is quite a normal exchange among friends in the US. However in the US we do not kiss on the cheeks when we greet someone and in Spain people don't hug casual friends. So I was a little surprised by her kiss and she was surprised by my hug.

Now I live in Thailand, and touching is an interesting subject here. Girls often walk around hand in hand, and men sometimes put their arm around the shoulder of an another man in a casual way. In social gatherings Thais often have body contact, but only in a casual way.

In America it would be considered quite strange to see two women walking around holding hands, or a man with an arm around the shoulder of another. In social settings we generally avoid body contact. Two touches are ok: hand shakes and sometimes a hug. Hugs can be a quick little slap on the back or can be really heartfelt among friends or in a situation where we console someone who is sad or grieving.

But in Thailand the casual touching does not include hugs. Actually hugging is not done here and is considered very inappropriate. Thais don't hug each other at all and foreigners who hug in public draw disapproving looks. Men and women do not hold hands in public and kissing in public is seen as strange or even offensive. The casual touch is ok, more so than in the US, but any meaningful, heartfelt way of touching is not ok. Also touching of someone's head is seen as very inappropriate.

Until western habits gained a foothold in Thailand, kissing amongst lovers did not exist either. Instead Thais smelled each other's cheeks. Western-style handshakes are not appropriate either. Instead, Thais put the palms of their hands together and bow slightly, depending on their social status.

One way of touching is quite common in Thailand, and that is Thai massage. In the professional massage setting touch is enjoyed and appreciated. It is also quite common to see women give each other a little neck and shoulder massage during the work day. Men, however, don't do that.

Like in many countries, massage is sometimes used as a come-on for sexual services, but most massage shops are clean and legitimate.

Keep in mind that touching habits in Thailand are quite different from our western ways. Some Thais who have spent a lot of time in the west are more comfortable with hand shakes or even a hug, but in general the best advice is to avoid touching Thais in any way. If you want to be touched here, treat yourself to a Thai massage or oil massage which is available everywhere for just a few dollars per hour. This is one of the great luxuries of living in Thailand.

Are you looking for the best massage equipment on the market today? Whether you are a certified therapist or you want to practice the ancient art of massaging in the privacy of your home with a partner, you can benefit from learning how to buy equipment on the Internet.

Looking for essential oil? There are hundreds of companies on the Internet that sell massage oil. Seeking a foot massager? There are hundreds of companies that sell those as well. How do you know which one to choose?

One way to check out all of the companies selling equipments online is to do a search of the top rated massage therapy stones and accessories suppliers. This is your online directory to all online massage equipment. When seeking for Internet stores, it is important that you investigate the following:

• Does the store carry certified massaging equipments?


• Does the equipment relate to your type of massage?


• Does the online store offer discount shipping?


• How long has the store been in business?


• Does the site offer a wide variety of individual as well as pre-configured sets?


• Does the Internet massage equipment company have a secure site?


• What types of payment do they take? Will they take Paypal?

Obviously, if you are a licensed massage therapist, you want to purchase the best equipment that you can afford that relates to your special area of therapy. There are scores of different types of therapy available today and each offers different benefits for certain conditions.

Whether you are seeking for therapy equipment for your work in a luxury spa or in a medical facility, you can find the best product by shopping online. You are better to check out different stores offering devices by visiting as many sites as possible before you commit to purchase a machine from a particular vendor.

You may find that the more you shop online for massage instruments, the more options are open to you and the better deals you can get. Perhaps you will find new massaging tools undiscovered to you prior to your perusal of different sites. If it has been a while since you shopped for therapy machines, or if you have never before shopped on the Internet, you may be in for a pleasant surprise.

Internet therapy stores offer those who are interested in purchasing massage therapy machines online an opportunity to find the best type of massage equipment at the best price for their special area of therapy. Whether you are seeking to purchase a therapy bed, oil, therapeutic stones, a chair or even an electrical device, you can find the best deals by checking out the online stores that abound on the Internet today.

Therapists and those interested in practicing the ancient healing art of massaging have more choices than ever when it comes to buying massage devices on the Internet.

Tired of the same old, run-of-the-mill vendors at your annual community events? This summer, spice up your attendee list by inviting a local massage center to come and set up a booth.

From street festivals to county fairs, every area of America has its own schedule of not-to-be-missed summertime events. And while many annual visitors look forward to the familiar food stands and exhibitors from year to year, they also come to see what exciting new vendors will be added to the mix each summer. This year, give them a way to relax and enjoy the festivities as never before: bring in local massage therapists to tout the many health-related benefits of professional massage. If you're an activities planner or event organizer for any upcoming shows or venues, arranging to have a licensed massage therapist on hand is a great way to break out of the box and boost community interest. Not only will you underline the importance of reducing stress, but you could also inspire a number of visitors to try massage therapy as part of their overall health routine.

It's no secret that stress and obesity are at epidemic levels in this country, with seemingly no end in sight. By planting the seed of therapeutic massage into the minds of event goers, you can help to send a positive message of good health and overall well-being, and encourage more community members to partake in these restorative sessions. Providing on-site access to a local massage therapist can allow anyone, young or old, fit or not, to ask about the specifics of full-body Swedish massage and deep tissue massage, right in the comfort of a casual setting. They may even be able to sample a few of these healing techniques for themselves and get a real feel for just how therapeutic massage can be.

Unlike fancy spas and salons, which can come with a stunning price tag, many massage centers like to keep the decor and costs on the simple side and instead focus on the source of their customers' tensions. In addition to standard Swedish massage and the targeted treatment of deep tissue massage, you may also find a massage therapist who can answer questions and demonstrate methods regarding specialized types of body massage, such as sports massage, pregnancy massage, and couples massage. Learning about these beneficial options of stress and joint relief without actually having to make an appointment and travel to the massage center could be just the impetus some people need to make this refreshing practice a healthy habit for life.

So liven up the entertainment at your community event this summer, and promote a healthier, more relaxed lifestyle with the help of a local massage center.

The Ohio Massage Therapy Licensure Exam is a challenging exam. I talk with numerous people from outside of Ohio who have graduated from a diploma program in another state. Chances are, this exam is more in-depth and difficult than any exam you have taken for massage therapy. You'll need a good review in order to be successful since only about 30% of first time test-takers from out-of-state pass.

Many people desiring licensure to practice in Ohio have graduated from a massage therapy program and taken the National Certification Exam for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. This is a quality exam but nothing like that you will be required to pass in Ohio. The Ohio exam is usually viewed as being more difficult.

Why? The actual test is a two-part exam. Both parts are 110 questions. The first part of the exam is Basic Science and is more physiology than most people are expecting. The usual anatomy and physiology text used in Ohio schools is one by Tortora and a secondary author. Most recently this text has been Principles of Anatomy and Physiology, a 1000+ page text. The second part of the exam is Limited Branch. The emphasis on this test is the content from John Harvey Kellogg's The Art of Massage, now out-of-print but still used for exam questions. Most everyone I have talked with who is from out-of-Ohio has never heard of this text. This is usually the challenge!

My answer to you. Plan on studying like you never have before for a massage therapy exam. Get the study materials and a review class that can lead you in the right direction for how to be successful on this exam. Don't "fudge" on the preparation or you will be taking the exam a second time and currently, it is only offered twice per year in June and December.

Good luck!

In May 2006, the median massage therapist salary and hourly earnings, with tip, were $16.06. The middle 50 percent earned an hourly wage of $10.98 - $24.22. The lowest 10 percent earned an hourly wage of less than $7.48, and the highest 10 percent earned and hourly wage of more than $33.83.

They typically earn 15 to 20 percent of their massage therapist salary as tips. For those who work in a hospital or other clinical setting tips are not common. Of the 118,000 in the US, 64% were self-employed in 2006. In addition, there is a significant number of massage therapists who work part-time, which may bring the number of actual practitioners up to 200,000.

Most don't get a salary as we typically define it. Most are self-employed, owning their business and are independent contractors who bill hourly. Indeed, some are fully employed by hospitals, fitness centers, clinics, sporting facilities and the like. Even most of them are also paid on an hourly basis. So when we refer to their salary, we are talking an hourly wage.

Demand for jobs in massage therapy are rapidly increasing in demand. It is projected that the demand for these jobs will increase by 20% by 2016, but we don't know yet how that will affect the salaries because we're not sure what the market will be like. What we do know is that this will be a booming industry. Those with the right qualifications in various forms of massage therapy and those with good interpersonal skills will be able to compete the best for these jobs and do the best when it comes to making money.

Due to an increase in awareness of health issues, alternative medicines, and natural therapies, the massage therapy industry will boom with it, but again, we still don't know how it will affect salaries. In addition, the graying baby boomers who are increasingly retiring and entering into the elderly stage in life, will require massage therapy as a source of health and well being.

84% of massage therapists were women. We don't know the differences in income between the two sexes. This data comes from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Our digestive system is very complex and has many various functions. Digestion problems such as constipation, irritable bowel and indigestion are usually caused by stress, bad diet, lack of water intake or exercise. Massage therapy of the abdomen is a highly effective treatment for these ailments.

Stress can manifest itself as a physical condition in the tummy area. Gentle massage of the abdomen is a highly effective treatment for any disorders this causes, as it comforts and relaxes the abdominal area and relieves mild disorders and discomfort.

When we feel tense our abdominal muscles tighten in order to help alleviate the experience of painful and uncomfortable feelings, which in turn hamper regular breathing. If we are unable to control these emotions they result in physical problems including the digestive system. Massaging the abdomen restores regular breathing, by allowing the muscles to expand and relax which restores normality to the region.

Massage of the abdomen should be performed using light, soft, slow movements as this area is very sensitive and responds better to a gentle massage. The movements should be done in a clockwise direction to encourage digestion and bowel movements. If done regularly the chronic pain you feel from indigestion and constipation will gradually decrease and your bowel movements will become regular.

However if the problem persists you should consult the doctor as there may be an underlying problem.

The secret of a good abdominal massage is to use simple movements, use ample oil and repeat the movements until the person is relaxed. After a massage a hot water bottle helps to keep muscles relaxed. Always ensure you do not massage the area for at least an hour after they have eaten a meal.

There are various oils that are good to use for abdominal massage. Peppermint and Rosemary oil helps all digestive problems especially nausea and constipation. Chamomile and mandarin work well for conditions such as irritable bowel and diarrhoea.

Advice for improving your digestive system:
1. Regular abdominal massage
2. Healthy diet
3. Drink plenty of water and peppermint tea
4. Avoid stress if possible
5. Prolonged use of laxatives make a lazy bowel
6. Pushing your knees up towards the abdomen helps relieve tight muscles
7. Practice regular deep breathing to help relaxation

If you are able to follow the advice listed, together with having regular abdominal massages, your digestive system will improve and the digestion problems you experience will gradually be a thing of the past.Our digestive system is very complex and has many various functions. Digestion problems such as constipation, irritable bowel and indigestion are usually caused by stress, bad diet, lack of water intake or exercise. Massage therapy of the abdomen is a highly effective treatment for these ailments.

Chair massage professionals often like using predetermined chair massage routines when doing seated massage.

Why?

One reason is that chair massage was developed by David Palmer who was a strong proponent and educator of a ancient Japanese style of massage called Amma. Like many of the Eastern styles of massage, the techniques of Amma massage are applied in a systematic and sequential fashion. So as Palmer developed chair massage he carried that approach with him, referring to this approach as a massage kata rather than a massage routine.

This history aside, there are some good reasons to use a chair massage routine.

Chair massage routines:

1. Provide for a level of quality control. This is especially when chair massage practitioners are working together as a group which they often do.

2. Become automatic. When you are massaging dozens of people in a public space there are distractions. Having a chair massage routine ensures that you dont become distracted and leave out important parts of your massage.

3. It provides a framework on which you can build a longer massage. Its a solid foundation so to speak.

Students of Relax to the Max, the only massage school in North America specializing in chair massage, learn a researched and highly effective chair massage routine as part of their chair massage training. This routine was first developed in 1994 and has been developed and refined since then on tens of thousands of customers. The massage routine focuses on the back, neck, shoulders, arms and hands.

The routine was also designed to accelerate a students learning process, allowing them to do a safe, effective, and deeply relaxing massage in a matter of days. In less than a week of training, students are able to do massage that feels so good, that many customers think that they have trained for years.

But unlike most chair massage training thats available, Relax to the Max training goes well beyond a predetermined chair massage routine. Students learn a large range of techniques that cover every part of the body from scalp to toes. They learn how to customize a massage of any length and are able to do anything from a three minute shoulder rub at the ninth on a golf course, to a full body massage with the person sitting right in the chair.

Like all other occupations, a physical therapist assistant is required to acquire formal physical therapist assistant education, followed by licensure in order to qualify to practice as a professional in this field.

A physical therapist assistant works under the supervision of a professional PT to provide rehabilitation and therapeutic services to people suffering from injury, illness or any other disability that limit their daily functional activities. They monitor the patient's developmental progress, teach them how to use the required medical devices and the exercises they are required to carry out themselves.

Educational Requirements

An associate's degree (or a postsecondary program) by an accredited college is the first step in physical therapist assistant education and is required by most states in the US. There were 276 related programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), as of July 2011, with most of them conferring associate's degree.

Associate's degree

It's a two year degree program, usually divided into five semesters. The curriculum is designed to provide academic course work as well as laboratory classes and clinical experience. Physiology, algebra, therapeutic techniques, healthcare law, rehabilitation procedures are a few of the many courses taught to students during this program. Clinical practicum involves first aid training and cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification (CPR). Clinical experience is a vital pillar of physical therapist assistant education and as per US Bureau of Labor Statistics, it is considered as major requirement by employers.

Licensure

Most states require you to obtain a license to practice in a medical facility. However, Colorado and Hawaii do not. Completion of a program by a CAPTE accredited college is generally required by most states; however some licensing requirements vary state to state.

Candidates are required to pass National Physical Therapy Assistant Examination, which is usually a state administered exam in order to obtain a license.

Continuing education credits

PTAs may also be required to obtain continuing education credits may be for license renewal or additional certifications. This gives them the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skill set and makes them an important part of their team.

Specialization

You may also choose to specialize in their area of interest. Such as aquatic, pediatric, geriatric, etc. It is a certification program to receive the Certificate of Advanced Proficiency and is offered by the APTA. It has the following prerequisites:

• APTA membership


• During the last 5 years, 2000 hours of relevant work experience and 60 hours of continuing education credits


• Reference letters from the employers


• Proof of contribution to the field

Licensure is usually the last step in the long process of physical therapist assistant education to professionally practice with a PT. Additional educational credits and specialty certifications are usually optional but add to your profile and make you a vital part of your team.