".. He is either working on your hip flexors through the psoas and illiacus, or working on your glute medius which helps release back strain through your upper hips depending on whether you were facing up or down..."
I’ve had a lady who tried to “burp” the air out of my body. Another time a man insisted on lowering the towel to places he didn’t need to see.
But most recently, when I was left with more than just a headache after a visit to an inner-city Brisbane massage clinic, I couldn’t shake the feeling something wasn’t right.
The place was legit, well, that’s what I thought, anyway. It wasn’t down a dodgy dark alley in the backstreets of the burbs. It was in a well-known shopping centre.
After chatting with the so-called therapist, he informed me he found the job listed in the local paper and that he had no formal qualifications — “You just come in and they teach you”.
Umm… what?
The young university student embraced the “hard massage” I had asked for but his technique so close to my spine had me second guessing my request. And the next day actual concern set in as I woke with a very sore back.
I cringed at the thought this man could have done some serious damage to my spine.
A quick call to The Australian Association of Massage Therapists later and I discovered you actually don’t legally require any formal qualification to practice as a massage therapist.
The industry’s unregulated practice is astounding. Have you ever thought about who is massaging you? Do you know anything about their background. Or if they have a criminal history?
Most of us assume we are in the hands of reliable, qualified therapists. But the reputation of massage clinics is being jeopardised by unskilled therapists.
The AAMT has called for the introduction of a formal register to ensure the public receives legitimate, safe massages but this has fallen on deaf ears.
Surely this isn’t asking too much?
Last year, the AAMT had 18 formal complaints (mostly about non-qualified individuals) across Australia.
The business I entered had enticing signage — a 40-minute back, shoulder and neck massage cost $45 — and touted available health fund rebates. I had a sore neck and liked what I saw.
But the AAMT is warning us not to be fooled and recommend people see qualified therapists registered with the organisation.
CEO of AAMT Tricia Hughes says: “There are no legal requirements to have qualifications in order to practice massage, there are national qualifications and degree programs but there is no regulatory framework such as APHRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) for Allied Health.”
So basically, the lack of regulations means any individual with a dodgy past could be laying their hands on our bodies.
And who’s to say business owners are not abusing the system? Or exploiting individuals on work and study visas with poor employment conditions, inappropriate billing practices — particularly in high tourist areas where people are transient?
Having a massage is a very personal enterprise. There is a need and want to trust this person to be respectful and professional with our bodies. We expect them to be reliable, truthful and have ethical boundaries.
“There is an opportunity for individuals who want to prey on victims in all health practices to use treatment for inappropriate and illegal behaviour,” Hughes says:
“You cannot regulate for criminal activity but you can educate the public about what is appropriate and what is inappropriate. They should always use a trained professional and request to see their membership or professional association.”
People should know they have the right to refuse or stop treatment at any time and have the treatment explained to them.
So, lesson learnt. The next time I’m suffering from a tension headache or need a remedial massage, I’ll be asking to see some documentation first.
No comments:
Post a Comment