Ta k e 5 a n d t r y A B M P F i v e - M i n u t e M u s c l e s a t w w w. a b m p . c o m / f i v e - m i n u t e - m u s c l e s . 67
Electronic health records provide a great way to measure goals.
7. Rosemary Carol Polomano et al., "Psychometric Testing of
the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS): A New
Pain Scale for Military Populations," Pain Medicine 17, no. 8
(2016): 1,505–19, https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnw105.
Diana L. Thompson is a licensed massage therapist in
Seattle, Washington. She created Hands Heal Electronic
Health Records, wrote Hands Heal: Communication,
Documentation, and Insurance Billing (now in its 5th edition),
and edited Integrative Pain Management: Massage, Movement,
and Mindfulness Based Approaches with co-editor Marissa
Brooks. She can be reached at diana@handshealehr.com.
4. Discuss a treatment frequency they are willing
to commit to.
5. Support the sessions with homework and self-
care education for in-between times.
6. Revisit the plan every few sessions and modify if needed.
7. Celebrate accomplishments!
Remember, measured results (goals) encourage
repeat clientele. And while you're focused on retaining
the clients you have, your happy clients will be busy
referring their friends and family to you!
Notes
1. Ylenio Longo et al., "The Scales of General Well-Being (SGWB)," Personality
and Individual Differences 109 (2017): 148–59, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
paid.2017.01.005.
2. "5 Things You Should Know About Stress," National Institute of Mental
Health, accessed July 17, 2019, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/
stress/index.shtml.
3. R. Morgan Griffen, "10 Health Problems Related to Stress That You Can
Fix," WebMD, accessed July 17, 2019, www.webmd.com/balance/stress-
management/features/10-fixable-stress-related-health-problems#1.
4. Neil Scheiderman et al., "Stress and Health: Psychological, Behavioral,
and Biological Determinants," Annual Review of Clinical Psychology 1 (April
2005): 607–28, https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.1.102803.144141.
5. C. Hsu et al., "Unanticipated Benefits of CAM Therapies for
Back Pain: An Exploration of Patient Experiences," Journal
of Complementary and Alternative Medicine 16, no. 2 (2010):
157–63, https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2009.0188.
6. Tracy Walton, "5 Myths and Truths about Massage Therapy: Letting Go
Without Losing Heart," Massage Therapy Foundation, accessed July
17, 2019, www.massagetherapyfoundation.org/resources/e-books.
WHY IS THE INFORMATION IN THIS ARTICLE
SO IMPORTANT FOR MASSAGE THERAPISTS
AND BODYWORKERS? BECAUSE IT CAN
ABSOLUTELY IMPACT YOUR BUSINESS TODAY!
The 2019 ABMP National Consumer Survey,
conducted by Harstad Strategic Research, confirms
that consumers enjoy massage and appreciate its
therapeutic benefits, but sometimes don't understand
that its value goes beyond the "fix-it" stage. Of
the survey respondents who had ever received
massage, 31 percent said they had not been back
for a massage in the past year because "they don't
need a massage" right now. With comments like "what
was broke got fixed" and "I got better so I don't need
it anymore," these consumers only saw massage
through a very narrow remedial window. Do your
acute pain/injury clients know the ongoing value of
massage beyond the targeted, reparative role?