The following is an excerpt from “Orthopedic Massage: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Address Soft Tissue Dysfunction, Pain & Injuries”, by James Waslaski with Chris Cunningham.

Full article Summer 2010 newsletter: amtacolorado.org.

Orthopedic massage is a comprehensive system that involves the manipulation and movement of locumotor tissue to eliminate pain and dysfunction. The focus of orthopedic massage is to restore structural balance and to prevent and rehabilitate musculoskeletal dysfunction. Clients who benefit from orthopedic massage suffer from musculoskeletal dysfunctions, chronic pain and sports injuries. Examples of upper extremity conditions include severe thoracic-outlet syndrome, frozen shoulder, rotator-cuff injuries, bicipital tendinitis, and shoulder impingement problems. Orthopedic massage will also relieve carpal-tunnel syndrom, nerve entrapments and progressive joint arthritis.

Pepsi has created the Pepsi Refresh Project to support ideas that will have a positive impact on society. Anyone can submit an idea, or propose a project. Preferred Physical Therapy of Kansas City, MO has had recent success using massage therapy to help treat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They would like to continue to help veterans, but some insurances will not recognize their services.  They are skilled in medical massage, and have had recent success with patients who suffers from this. With the United States at war in two different places, they thought this would be a great way to help our troops as they return from war and resume their lives in the States. They are asking for $5000 to provide medical massage to veterans that have returned from combat and are having difficulties with PTSD.  Help support veterans today by voting for their “refreshing” idea at: pepsirefreshproject.

When it comes to private practice, it seems all I ever hear about is the fear of not having enough clients?   So much so that it almost lends to a negative perception of starting your own massage business.

My question is, has anyone ever thought about what happens when you have too much business?   Well I have, I do.  You see, many a day over the last 4 years I have found myself with too much business; full schedule, too many appointment requests from existing clients and inquiries from new clients.  I understand that this is a great problem to have but it can be stressful and needs to be handled professionally.

To think more positive about your practice or future practice here are a few rules to live by when you find yourself on the Most Wanted list.

Say No
Let’s just start with the hardest one, saying no.  As care givers, it is extremely difficult to say no when someone is in pain but the fact is sometimes you will be maxed out and there is just no space in your schedule.  In this case, you will have no choice but to say no.   Provide the client with your next available appointment and several options from that date, in most cases they will book and wait for you.

Keep a Cancellation List
If you are booked out several weeks, let your clients know that you will contact them if something opens up sooner.  You will never have a happier client than the one that gets in to see you 3 weeks before their scheduled appointment.

Have Referrals Ready
Don’t be afraid to give your existing clients and new inquiries a few options other than yourself.  I always tell my clients that it’s important to have a back up massage therapist.   They will appreciate your honesty, admire your confidence and almost always schedule out a future appointment at that time.

Give Self Care Recommendations
You will have the folks that simply do not want to see anyone else, in this case they have to wait for your next opening.  In the meantime, find out what is ailing them and give them self care recommendations to help alleviate their discomfort.  Even though you can’t get them on your table immediately, you can still care for them in other ways.

Stop Taking New Clients
This is the leap of faith that many small business owners are too frightened to take. But if you have a full schedule and regular clientele it will serve you better to take care of them first.  If you are constantly taking new clients, your regular clients will get bumped out of appointments and be forced to find someone else to work with.  Whereas, if you make space to cultivate your existing clientele you will end up with more regular appointments and meaningful experiences as you get to know your clients better.  If things slow down, open your practice to new clients again until business gets back up to speed.

Be Good to your Good Clients
As much as I am an advocate to saying no there are times where you have to go the extra mile for your clients and find a space for them.  In this case, you squeeze them in for a treatment, look like a hero and take extra care of yourself so that you come out stronger in the end.

When you run a professional practice and you are good at what you do, your clients will respect and understand that you are busy.  Remember to always be a resource for your clients, don’t just say ‘no’ and hang up the phone.  Actions like that will ensure a less then financially satisfying schedule.  In private practice, there will be slower times and busier times but staying positive through all experiences while caring for your clients in the best way possible will help your practice thrive.

Massage Magazine has made the April 2010 issue available online — for free. It’s another great issue with features on pain relief.

Excerpt from “Trigger Points to Erase Pain” by Eric Stephenson:

The definition of a trigger point varies but usually indicates a is a taut band of tissue containing a nodule that refers sensation to other parts of the body- in other words, a painful muscle knot. There are many types of trigger points:

• Active: produces pain in an resting or moving stage
• Latent: produces pain uponi compression of tissue
• Key: has a pain referral pattern along a nerve pathway that activates a latent trigger point on the pathway or creates it
• Satellite: is created by a key trigger point

Download the entire issue for free here.

Massage & Bodywork, July/August 2010, The Body of Knowledge: What the MTBOK Is and Why You Should Care, Karen Osborn.

The final draft of the nation’s first Massage Therapy Book of Knowledge was unveiled on May 15 at the Highlighting Massage Therapy in Integrative Complementary Medical Research  Conference. This conference represented more than a year of debate and discussion over what the MTBOK  should, and could be. The result is a living document meant to define the profession’s “domain of essential information”, which includes the knowledge,  skills, and attitudes deemed necessary to pratice as an entry-level massage therapist. Creators of the MTBOK say its goal is to create a common language about massage therapy and its professional standards, both for those within the profession and those looking at us from outside the touch therapy world.

Full article here.

Charitable and Educational Events Benefit Communities

Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) today announced dates for the 2010 EveryBody Deserves a Massage Week, which promotes the benefits of massage to consumers. Massage therapists will hold events between Sunday, July 18, and Saturday, July 24, in communities nationwide. The award-winning promotion is open to both ABMP members and non-members to help build their businesses and visibility.

The use of massage therapy has boomed in the last two decades. Massage has proven health benefits, such as effectiveness in treating persistent back pain and arthritis pain, as well as strengthening the immune system. It also reduces symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and much more. Consumer research shows first-time massage therapy clients report very positive feelings about their experience.

More Info – click here

We would like to introduce you to the new Naropa interns who have joined us in the counseling center. All interns are working toward their masters degree and will be with us for one year.
Tammy Lea McKaskle: Tammy enjoys hiking, cooking, reading, camping and watching movies. She is well-travelled and is looking forward to meeting the students.
Molly Olk: Molly moved to Colorado from the Midwest to study counseling at Naropa. Molly loves Boulder and is looking forward to the opportunity to build meaningful counseling relationships with the students at BCMT.
Kelly Hill Ritchey: Kelly has been in Colorado since 2004 and enjoys kayaking and many other outdoor activities. She is the mother of three children and loves being a parent. Kelly is excited to be interning at BCMT and looks forward to meeting the students.
Wes Rosacker: Wes is one of four brothers who grew up in Florida, Connecticut and Colorado. Wes is passionate about cultivating wisdom and love, while maintaining his fiery spirit in competitive sports.
Kathy Naman, MALPC: Kathy is the counseling center supervisor and a 1982 graduate of Naropa with a masters in contemplative psychotherapy.

We encourage all BCMT students to take advantage of this excellent and very affordable ($5 per session) service.

I realize I’m taking the risk that every person reading this will think I’m talking specifically about them. Well, I’m not. I’m simply taking this opportunity to dispel the myth of what to wear under those sheets.

All of my clients get the same schpeel on their first visit. “Undress to your comfort level whatever that may be….”. I’ve had everything from pants to nothing. In all seriousness, it truly does not matter to me. The comfort and security of my clients overrules anything and everything. If I have a client on the table that is not able to relax completely because they are a nervous wreck about being naked then our session will be interfered with and full effectiveness will not be reached. So the rule will always be to make sure that you, the client, are comfortable with every piece of your experience whether that means you wear nothing or something.

In the end, it’s the client’s decision but I’ve had so many questions about this I thought I would address it from my point of view. And that is, I’m a massage therapist, I work with the soft tissue of the body and my work is best when applied directly to the skin. I have am trained to be meticulous with draping so that the client who does decide for the full monty will still feel safe and respected throughout their session.

Excerpt from Credit Cards (by Cherie Sohnen-Moe, futurelmt.com)

Offering your clients the option of paying with a credit card or debit card presents advantages and disadvantages. For many years, the typical massage therapist didn’t accept payment by credit card, but that is changing with the ease and low cost currently associated with a merchant account. In many instances, you don’t even need special equipment—you can process the transaction by phone or the Web.

A lot can be said for making it easy for your clients to pay you. I recommend accepting payment by credit card or debit card, particularly if you sell products or offer classes. In fact, marketing research shows that people are often are willing to spend more if they can pay with a credit card, and then there’s the impulse-buy factor. Advantages that come with accepting this form of payment are added convenience for your regular clients, increased appeal for your gift certificate program, more high-dollar product purchases and an increased likelihood of clients purchasing a package deal for a series of sessions.

Read entire article here.

Full article (by teesblog on July 7, 2010) here.

The Massage for Peace program by the Boulder College of Massage Therapy literally touches hundreds of people each year.

The non-profit massage school helps student share their healing hands with those living with illness, in poverty, and through war and conflict. Each year they offer 10,000 hours of massage free of charge to those who need it most.

As one alumna for the College, Becky Little explains Massage for Peace is “the simple act of reaching out and touching someone. Extending the love, care, and respect that comes from nurturing touch to another human being is a gift that enriches life. The gentle touch of a hand or a reassuring hug reduces fear, anxiety, and loneliness often felt in times of unrest and despair.”