Massage therapists, like any other clinician, need mentorship and the specialized knowledge that comes from that relationship. Massage therapy education prepares generalists who can do excellent work with healthy populations, but there is no clear path (via a fellowship) for massage therapists who want to work in the setting of serious illness. This doesn’t mean that massage therapists don’t belong. It means that welcoming a massage therapist onto your team requires some active engagement if palliative care clinicians, the massage therapist, and the patients they touch are to realize the true benefits of the discipline of massage therapy.
Link: Center to Advance Palliative Care (9/2024)
