LMT Certification

[Catrin]

My doctor tells me that targeted trigger point therapy will go far in relieving my pec minor syndrome symptoms. He DID recommend someone and gave me a $100 gift certificate for her facility but I know her from her personal training days at my previous gym and she isn't touching me. I LOVE that my OD always looks for non-medication-surgical approaches

I know nothing about proper certification in this area. I know some TE members use LMTs - what kind of certification should I look for? He also told me that acupuncture would likely work as well, but I am not going to start there.

[OakLeaf]

Heh. I didn't even know there were specialty certifications in massage. I really don't know, I just lucked out - my precious LMT doesn't have any that I know of, and he actually told me that many of the techniques he uses were invented by his wife, not learned in school or seminars. Mostly you can tell from their ads whether they specialize in sports massage or in a relaxation, spa-type experience. Ask around for who works on top athletes in your area. My experience is that getting any individual muscle to release is not that complicated, it's working them in the proper sequence that very few LMTs seem to understand.

[Catrin]

Heh. I didn't even know there were specialty certifications in massage. I really don't know, I just lucked out - my precious LMT doesn't have any that I know of, and he actually told me that many of the techniques he uses were invented by his wife, not learned in school or seminars. Mostly you can tell from their ads whether they specialize in sports massage or in a relaxation, spa-type experience. Ask around for who works on top athletes in your area. My experience is that getting any individual muscle to release is not that complicated, it's working them in the proper sequence that very few LMTs seem to understand.

Thanks Oak, I wasn't sure. I've seen so many different things advertised that it seemed good to ask. I know my own gym has, or did, a sports massage specialist, I am going to find out what she actually does. The Aveda Salon I patronize has a therapeutic massage specialist they work with - and she does neuromuscular and "acupressure" work and other related types of deep massage. She actually sounds promising but the prices are high enough that I wouldn't be able to see her more than a couple of times, not with the move in September.

[Becky]

I was lucky enough to find a chiropractor who is also certified in Active Release Techniques (activerelease.com) (and she's a cyclist too!). ART has been tremendously helpful in treating my IT band issues, and all of my assorted post-race and post-crash issues. If you happen to have a health insurance plan that covers chiropractic care, it can be a more affordable option than massage.

[indysteel]

My best friend has used the LMT that used to work at NIFS for years and loves her.

[Catrin]

My best friend has used the LMT that used to work at NIFS for years and loves her.

Nice! I've just been told the current female LMT is very good as well, I will check her out.

[Irulan]

Massage therapist licensing varies from state to state for how many hours of education and student work is needed. I find that in and of itself LMT doesn't mean a whole lot. What you need to know it what particular modality(ies) you want or work for you. Deep tissue, myofascial release, Swedish, trigger points....this just a short list of the possibilities. In my community, we have three different massage schools that turn out LMTs but its all spa- related training (relaxation massage) and not true therapeutic work. Part of spa training is that they won't work on anything close to the pelvic area ( no glute, hips, or psoas work) and they don't ever want to cause the kind of discomfort that true deep therepeutic work can. I se the therapeutic work as a real specialty that one has to hunt out practicioners of.

[Catrin]

I just returned from my gym, and did some investigating about the female massage therapist we have there. She has been there for 20 years and has a great reputation for anything dealing with sports/therapeutic work. Indy - I bet this is the same woman your friend uses! I have heard that she is always late, but her work is worth it and people just plan around that (they do get their full time). I will talk with her before scheduling anything to make certain that she is willing to do what needs to be done - though from her reputation this shouldn't be a problem.