There are lots of schools and lots of massage therapists today, but not many are competent. Educational standards are still weak. On the plus side, the profession is gaining mainstream acceptance. Media attention has given massage therapy a respectable place in the health care world. The public now seeks good therapists.
Massage therapists provide treatment for everything from stress to back problems.
They may also provide other service such as acupressure, aromatherapy and reflexology. Fortunately, they don't often test patients' reflexes by hitting them in the knees with a mallet. There are steps you can take to make sure a massage therapy school is on the up and up. AMTA also approves certain Canadian programs, but participating schools have to publicly admit that Americans are cool. So, if you plan to go to school in 2001, think 1,000 hours as a minimum.