Kelly Parker, massage therapist for East Village Spa, massages a client with warm jade stones in the East Village Spa.(Photo: Special to the Register)
As a licensed massage therapist of 17 years, a business owner and an educator in the field of massage therapy, I must stand against the proposed deregulation of massage therapy. (Job licensing changes should be thoughtful, March 1) Licensing raises the bar for all applicants. Setting standards of ethics, treatment protocols, education standards and continuing education requirements are necessary for elevating the profession and protecting the public. According the the American Massage Therapy Association, 46 states and the District of Columbia regulate massage therapy creating consistent and fair licensing practices among states. Deregulation would leave the burden of proof to the municipalities, creating a headache for local enforcement. Licensing also creates a clear separation between therapeutic massage and businesses that use massage as a ruse for prostitution and human trafficking.
Massage therapy in recent years has re-emerged in the heath care field, recommended by physicians and physical therapists as complementary therapy for pre- and post-operative/injury, stress relief and pain relief. Statistics show 50 percent of Americans state pain relief as their primary reason for receiving a massage and 82 percemt believe in the pain relieving benefits of massage therapy.
Educate yourself before making blanket generalizations that will have lasting impact on the careers of many.
— Wahneta Dimmer, president, Hands in Harmony, Cedar Rapids
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