Is being a massage therapist a good career?

Yes, being a massage therapist is a good career. There are many reasons going into massage therapy is a good career choice.

A massage therapist is a professional who massages a patient's muscles and soft tissues with the goal of relaxation and stress relief. Massage therapists take a holistic approach to pain management and relief through the use of different types of body massages.

They also aim to reduce stress and anxiety in their patients. Massage therapists use muscle manipulation to target areas of a patient's body that are bothering them.

Patients may see a massage therapist for a number of reasons, including after an injury, during pregnancy, to sustain athletic performance, and to treat anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and headaches.

Here are the top reasons being a massage therapist is a good career:

• Patients are flocking for treatments in the alternative health industry. Massage therapy is in a boom and is only going to keep on growing according to industry experts.

The global wellness economy is a $4.5 trillion dollar industry, and these are the factors driving that high number:

• Increased consumer/patient interest in non-pharmaceutical interventions

• Consumer/patient knowledge and awareness of alternative medicine benefits

• An increase in the emphasis on prevention of illnesses and injuries

Because of these factors many people are turning to massage therapy treatments. Massage therapy is in high demand for these reasons:

• Consumers/patients are looking for ways to relax in a world that is becoming more and more stressful, and anxiety-ridden

• Massage therapy has begun to be more widely accepted as a legitimate treatment option for many different health conditions

• Massage therapy has grown in popularity in terms of health and wellness maintenance

• Many modern work and living environments have caused people to have sedentary lifestyles resulting in more aches, pains, and chronic muscle issues

• 40% of hospitals in the United States offer massage therapy treatments

• A sharp increase in the aging population has led many seniors to seek out this form of therapy for an increase in quality of life

While there are many massage therapists, one should not be concerned with overcrowding of professionals in this area.

The average length of a massage therapist's career is five to eight years, and many also choose to participate in this field on a part-time basis. This makes room for those who are new and want to join the industry.

• Massage therapy is a rewarding career. A great aspect of being a massage therapist is that you get to genuinely help people and improve their quality of life.

Many find the profession to be extremely gratifying because of this aspect. This reason, among others, saw massage therapy garnering a spot on US News and World Report's Top 100 best jobs in 2021.

• Massage therapy enables you to choose from many different work settings. This is a big draw for many in the industry.

• A treatment room or office of your own

• You can run massage therapy sessions out of your own home

• You can be a mobile massage therapist and visit clients' homes

• You can work for an established massage therapy office

• Chiropractic offices, physical therapy offices, and other medical clinics are also options

• You can work at gyms, health clubs, and spas

• Hotels and salons are also viable options in the field

• Hospitals employ massage therapists