Good Therapists are Skilled, Greath Therapists give Homework
A good massage therapist has a full toolbox of techniques—deep tissue work, trigger point therapy, stretching, mobilization—and can skillfully apply them to ease a client’s pain in the moment. They create relief, restore movement, and send the client home feeling better than when they arrived.
But a great massage therapist goes a step further. They empower clients to understand their bodies, recognize early signs of tension or dysfunction, and take action between sessions. They teach clients how to manage their aches and pains through targeted self-soft tissue mobilizations, mobility drills, and PNF stretching—skills that not only prolong the benefits of each session but also reduce the risk of recurring issues.
When clients learn to help themselves, they become active participants in their wellness rather than passive recipients of care. This not only deepens trust and loyalty but also elevates the therapist’s role from “service provider” to “trusted health coach.”
In short: good therapists treat the problem—great therapists teach the solution.
How to be a Great Therapist
The scope of practice for a massage therapist concerning recommending self-care involves staying within the boundaries of what is legally and ethically allowed for their profession, focusing on techniques that support the therapeutic outcomes of massage without overstepping into areas typically reserved for medical professionals, such as physical therapy. This doesn't mean that you can’t recommend beneficial things to your clients; it just means you have a specific set of techniques and tools that you can talk about. The two greenlight areas for massage therapists are self soft tissue mobilizations and stretches.
Self-soft tissue mobilizations (SSTM) refer to techniques that clients can use to manipulate their own muscles and fascia using tools like foam rollers, massage balls, and other equipment. These methods mimic certain effects of hands-on bodywork and can be an excellent way for clients to manage tension and maintain the benefits of massage therapy between sessions.
When most people think of stretching, they think of static stretching, similar to yoga, in which muscles and tissue are held in a lengthened position for long periods of time. A more effective technique that Massage Therapists can employ is similar to Muscle Energy Techniques, is called PNF Stretching. Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) stretching is a highly effective technique that combines passive stretching with isometric contractions to improve flexibility and range of motion (Kaya, 2018). PNF is widely used in physical therapy, sports performance, and bodywork settings. Understanding its principles and applications can enhance your ability to recommend and incorporate stretching into your client care plans.
There’s a difference between educating clients and prescribing to clients. Our goal is to educate and empower our clients, and we focus on clear, respectful, and client-centered communication. This approach not only enhances client trust and compliance but also ensures that recommendations align with the therapist's scope of practice.
If you’d like to learn more about self soft tissue mobilizations, PNF stretching, and how you can recommend this kind of self-care to your clients while staying in scope of practice, check out Hands-On to Hands-Free: Guiding Clients in Self-Care Strategies.
Texas State Licensed Massage Therapists can receive 6 Continuing Education Credits for completing the course.
Reference:
Kaya, F. (2018). Positive Effects of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Stretching on Sports Performance: A Review. Journal of Education and Training Studies, 6(6), 1-12.