Other Duties

As part of duties for the hospital, I also provide staff chair massage and help out at hospital promotions. Since my hours are dependent on the number of clients, this is a good way to supplement hours.

On Monday, I am presenting Massage Therapy as a Career to high school students. The hospital wants me to focus on massage in the medical community, which I think is great. I'm excited about this because it is a change to explain that MT is much more than a vacation treat on a tropical isle.

I'm also exited that the hospital is sponsoring this. As a CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) practice, massage is often disregarded by western medicine. As I have been researching this aspect of my presentation, there are lots of reasons presented why massage fell out of favor in the west.

I find it interesting that through out the world and history, massage has always been looked upon favorably. It seems that it only started to fall out of favor post WWII and we are still struggling for legitimacy today (although great improvements have been made).

Hippocrates, the same guy that gave western doctors their infamous oath, also stated "The Physician must be experienced in many things, but assuredly in rubbing..."

As I was reading, one of the theories for the disfavor, was not because the practice of massage did not work, but because cooler toys. Technology in medical devices and medications were making leaps and bounds and massage was just old fashion. The public was not exposed to massage as therapy, but only as way to vice in massage parlors.

I have to give my employers credit. They are small community hospital promoting another form of thought on health care. I hope I can inspire these kids to question the current health system.