A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

career change to massage therapist suggestion - mtisdead

Posted: Mar 06, 2014

My son is attending massage therapy training and will be done the end of June. He will be making more money than I will be once working. It only took a year. He is going for another year to earn an AA, but will start working and go to school at night. It's kind of expensive, but I think it would be a rewarding career. There is an extensive anatomy course that we MTs would breeze through, so I thought I would pass this suggestion on. I realize some of you are in remote areas and this is not available to you. It's a profession where some of our knowledge can be put to use and it can't be off-shored. It can be done from our homes, and we would be our own bosses and make our own schedules. I am considering going myself. I would love to get out of MT forever. What a sinkhole it's become. Aside from the physical demands, how stressful could this be compared to MT? And you can do it forever. No time limits or forced retirement. You are your own boss.

career change to massage therapist suggestion - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
I took the course and passed the licensing many years ago. Unfortunately, when people get short on money, massage is not something you spend it on. Also, unless you get a job in a medical-type facility, i.e., chiropractor or physical therapy location, you have to build up a clientele before you make any money, so you spend a lot of time waiting around a salon, etc., waiting for clients. I didn't make enough money to make it worth while, and I was set up in a salon. Went back to MT. Just a word of caution.

I say go for it. - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I think you have to be somewhat of a self starter to build a client base, but it sounds like you're motivated enough to do it. Great idea!

Suggestion - see msg

[ In Reply To ..]
If you are taking clients into your home, you'd have to ensure you have the proper business papers, liability insurance, etc.

If you live relatively near a high-end rent district, they may have a spa where you can be employed. People who are rich share no expense and have no problems being pampered. You could also work at a gym.

You could wait and see how your son makes out, then decide from there what the best course of action would be.

I knew an in-house MT... - who was a masseuse on the side.

[ In Reply To ..]
She said it was really hard on your arms and hands, and she was in her 20s! She was really skinny though and lived on Skittles...

My Thoughts - see msg please

[ In Reply To ..]
It's not real clear if your son will be making more money than you are. Perhaps the hourly rate will be high, but it's not to say he'll be working a lot of hours.

I had thought about doing this, but I don't think my body could handle that sort of stress.

Long-time massage client here with several therapists over the years - In-House Lead

[ In Reply To ..]
I've had ongoing treatment from five different therapists over the years, and they all say the same thing:

Yes, your hourly rate is high but you may only have three clients a day. With the exception of one, who works at a chiropractor's office, everybody just works part-time and also does something else. It's not enough to live off of.

The one "full-time" guy really only works 28 hours/does 28 massages a week -- that's considered full-time in that world. He told me he only knows of one other woman who massages "full-time."

It could be some nice side income to supplement your other income streams.

Massage therapy - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Wait until you see how your son does wth it. The income is unlikely to be as high as he thinks,i.e., as high as the school convinced him it would be. A major factor in that is the presence of a school in your area; it will flood the market, limiting oportunities and what you can charge.

It is very difficult, stressful work, with a high incidence of arm, hand, and back injuries. The average time to burnout is about 6 years.

The anatomy is much more detailed than MTs know, and requires a working knowledge of origins, insertions, actions, and the ability to identify them by feel. It is more than just anatomy, too.

My state requires licensure for therapists and establishments, as well as expensive liability insurance. You can be sued for malpractice. CEUs for relicensure are very expensive. It is illegal here and in many states to work in your home, nor do you want to. The liability is too high, and the risk to yourself is too great. Doing massage in the client's home is even more dangerous. If you work in a doctor's office, be prepared to never get paid. They do the billing and won't pay you until they get paid, and a lot of insurers won't pay for massage, so you do a lot of work for free. I know a lot of MTs who all worked for the same doctors, one after the other, with each one working on the promise of being paid later. The doctors basically get massage therapist services for free. Be prepared to work on them for free, too, and expect them to hire sweet young things of whichever gender they prefer.

massage therapy - me

[ In Reply To ..]
LOL- I've been doing transcription too long and no longer have strength in my hands or forearms (beginnings of carpal tunnel) to do massage therapy....

Those were my thoughts, too - Not OP

[ In Reply To ..]
Yep, can't be said enough. I had mentioned liability in a post above and I had also mentioned to wait and see how her son makes out before assuming anything. A high hourly rate, doesn't necessarily mean every hour of every working day.

I would also maybe try to network out to some massage therapists in her area to see what the market is like. However, they may tell her the market is bad---you know, so they don't feel threatened by her taking work away from them.

I would be more inclined to try and work at a spa or something where the employer holds the liability. People are sue-happy sometimes, and you just don't need that responsibilty.

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