Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/68175
READER FORUM of Oregon requires a chiropractic license for the practice of spinal manipulation, calling your massage techniques spinal manipulation violates that law. Of the 41 massage statutes we compiled, none describe spinal manipulation as within their scope of practice. In addition, 30 states specifically prohibit the use of chiropractic techniques and/or joint manipulation. As always, we encourage anyone practicing massage to consult your state laws about your legal scope of practice. MARY ANN FOSTER AND MARY KATHLEEN ROSE Intake and Medical History I have been a massage professional for more than 13 years and still love the profession. But I have seen an alarming change in the industry, especially the spa division. I have been a massage instructor for more than five years, and usually work a second job. This has mostly been in the spa industry, but now I work for a franchise. I find the franchise more professional, and they provide a higher quality of massage because not only are the therapists outstanding, but we do health intakes and chart each session. The normal spa menu now includes "Personalized Pressure Massage" and/or "Deep- Tissue Massage." So many people take medications and have health conditions that may make these types of treatments a contraindication. I tried to engage some of these spas to at least require a signed release before treatments, but they do not want to. This can put both the client and therapist at risk. A therapist is still liable if a client claims injury, and can be sued along with the spa. This does not aid in providing outstanding service. Therapists need to be more vocal about this necessity of knowing medical conditions and pharmaceuticals being used by their clients. The International Spa Association requires that spas in their membership provide a release for the guest/client to sign. It's curious that many corporate resort spas do not require this. We, as therapists, need to educate our employers, and ourselves, about the importance of medical history intake and charting. MAUREEN C. THACKER ORLANDO, FLORIDA Jacks of All Trades I loved the articles "Is Swedish Massage Dead?" (November/December 2009, page 36) and "Dimensions of Holistic Massage" (page 62) because they illustrated a subject near to my heart. I was trained in massage back in the early '90s, when you chose one of two modalities: shiatsu or Swedish. I chose shiatsu. I got my first 103- hour certification in a form that was mostly ohashiatsu. I got some college credits in zen and traditional Chinese medicine and rounded it all out with some training in ashiatsu, hansha, and amma styles. I studied makko ho and tai chi to properly cultivate my chi, my hara consciousness, and the fluidity of my movement. I couldn't tell you what effleurage and petrissage were, but I could sure show you kenbiki and the best stretches for each meridian, basic hara diagnosis, and alarm points. I've been on a similar quest to see if shiatsu is "dead." I recently had a few massages at a fast-growing mall franchise, and it was a bewildering world. I didn't have a clue what they were doing to me! I requested shiatsu and was given a "custom blend" that was supposed to integrate it, but really only one or two stretches were recognizable. When I did point out to a therapist that one technique she was using was shiatsu, and that I could even name which school, she replied, "It is?" Most new therapists I am coming across seem sadly oblivious to some concepts that, to my classmates and I, were absolutely basic and sacred: that developing body awareness is the first step to healing, and that the body has an amazingly rich emotional life all its own that must be carefully attended to. LESLI FULLERTON SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA In Memoriam Michelle Phillips, known to the profession through Massage Review Publications, died on April 21. Her family and friends celebrated her life on May 22 in Sunrise, Florida. She was buried at sea on May 2. At Phillips's request, donations can be made to the Women in Distress organization, specifically to the Capital—Moran Challenge, or to your local women's shelter. Visit www.womenindistress. org for more information. To share your thoughts with her loved ones, you can email contactus@massagereview.com. 14 massage & bodywork july/august 2010