Complete Your CE Test Online - Click Here Clients who have received massage Once you have established rapport, the interview focus shifts to clients’ medical history and current condition. It is appropriate to know whether clients have ever received a massage therapy session in the past. If so, ask the following questions: ● ● How often have they received massage? ● ● When was the last time they received a massage? ● ● Have they experienced different types of massage from various therapists? ● ● What was the reason for getting the massage? Relaxation or pain relief? ● ● How it was performed? Flowing strokes, pressure, kneading, etc.? ● ● What body positioning was used to begin and end the session? ● ● Was the session effective either by relaxing them or relieving pain? If not, why? ● ● If pain was relieved, by how much? Is the same pain issue still evident today? ● ● Have they ever been hurt by massage? If so, in what way? ● ● Has anyone ever explained how to receive a massage? The answers given determine the background experience of your client and what explanations or clarifications may be necessary. If a client’s experiences were completely positive with all appropriate educational explanations previously made, then you can assure the person the past treatment was handled professionally and appropriately. However, it is not unusual to find that even clients who have been receiving massage for many years have not been asked these or other informative questions, nor have they received pertinent explanations. Massage therapists who learn to be well versed in asking about a client’s previous massage experiences and who rationally explain their treatment protocol are likely to create a very favorable client impression. Your attention to the client’s answers allows you to determine whether previous treatment methods were effective. This information clarifies whether your methods are similar or different from past therapists to determine what needs to be explained as well as what to expect from your session. If any of these questions were not previously addressed, at this point you have the opportunity to explain the importance of this information to plan a session aimed specifically at the person’s needs. Further explain that this attention to detail ensures he or she will receive the highest professional service you believe all your clients deserve. Most clients will be keenly aware of the compassion shown in your high regard for their welfare. This can earn you deserved respect and credibility for your knowledge and professionalism. Experienced massage clients new to the area It is likely that a new client will come to you who has recently moved to the area, has received regular massage therapy in the past or whose previous therapist has moved away or is no longer in practice. These people have come to you seeking a new therapist, but many times they are still emotionally attached to their last therapist and have engrained their past therapist’s routine methods in their mind and body. That is an important reason why you must ask about past treatment methods because they will be used to them, which can make any new treatment protocol less to their liking. It should be understood this is a natural response to something new and different. To offset this mentality and transfer a client’s loyalty to you requires re-educating the client to help him or her accept a new treatment application. If the client has had multiple therapists previously, ask the person to describe the differences in the sessions of each therapist. Explain the format you use in your treatments and describe any similarities to those the person has experienced with other therapists. Ask the person to be open to experiencing a new method, and after the session is over, give you feedback on it. It is common for these new “experienced” clients to compare your massage treatments to their past therapist, and it may take them time to get used to your routine. If you speak about this issue with them before their session, it may help to create a mindset that acknowledges there will be differences to what they have been accustomed to in their massage sessions. Bringing awareness to a new experience will generally open people’s minds and bodies to a positive response. Avoiding the issue, on the other hand, can encourage a negative response because you may not match the expectations they had with their previous therapist. To further bolster their acceptance and patience in getting used to your treatment, ask them to experience a few sessions with you and then see if they like your methods. Most clients will adjust to your methods over a few sessions, and frequently even prefer them to past methods. Some will even find your application preferable to any they’ve ever experienced. After this trial period, if they have not developed a preference for your methods, you may offer to adjust your treatment protocol. Find what pleases them, as long as any changes to your routine will still allow you to perform the session with a positive therapeutic outcome. Determining the type of session The interview focus now shifts to the client’s medical history and current condition. When the appointment was made, it should have been established whether they were seeking a stress release relaxation massage or a pain relief therapeutic massage. Even those who were looking for a relaxation session should always be asked whether there has been a change in their condition where pain relief may now be their choice. When clients are receiving their very first massage, take a few moments to go over the benefits of massage and provide brochures or information about massage to read later. Regardless of their reasons for getting a massage, you must give attention to their medical history for any contraindications, medications to treat a condition, or current pain complaints. If there are no medical reasons to preclude giving a requested relaxation massage, then the therapist should prepare to begin the session with an appropriate explanation of how to receive a massage, draping, body positioning, client feedback, a description of your massage application, and what to expect to feel after the massage. If the client does have pain complaints, possible contraindications, or is being treated with medications, then further specific questioning is necessary. Contraindications and medications When contraindications are indicated but do not preclude a massage for clients, explain the rationale for avoiding contraindicated areas of their body and how you will work around those areas for their safety and security. If the contraindication is one that requires the therapist to adjust pressure, such as with a diabetic whose condition is under control through medication, it is imperative that the therapist knows how to conduct a safe therapeutic session. In this example, a prescription from a doctor authorizing massage therapy is absolutely necessary. Some other client medical conditions under control through medication that could allow massage to be safely administered are high blood pressure, heart problems or cancer. But any of them would require a prescription authorizing massage from a doctor along with proper adjustments in pressure applications or the length of the session. Because massage has the potential to alter the effects of medication, it is imperative to know how to make adjustments to your treatment based on a client’s condition, and you must be able to articulate the reasoning for any treatment adjustments to the client. It is the responsibility of a therapist to learn proper treatment protocol for any pathological condition presented by a client. This knowledge can be obtained through continuing education classes that focus on pathology in relation to massage therapy as well as a few written publications. There are several books available on this subject specific to massage therapy that a prudent massage therapist should keep in his or her library. Internet searches can identify these publications. Before treating any client taking medications, checking these sources can quickly inform the therapist on how to proceed or whether the session should be terminated. Massage.EliteCME.com Page 11