Im doing an assignment and can’t find the answer anywhere! Please help… Thank you!
Deep tissue massage can help break up and improve the appearance of cellulite in many people. So can massage focused upon the lymph system in the area and mechanical lymph stimulation. The problems associated with this are mostly cultural and ethical especially for the opposite sex practitioner.
The areas most involved are the buttocks and upper thigh. While I have had a number of female clients quite comfortable with the inclusion of their buttocks in their massage, it usually is based upon developed trust, but in the cellulite treatment I see some real possible issues and risks that may not be worth taking especially with a new client whose views and attitudes are unknown.
Deep tissue massage in those areas is going to be rather probing and may be uncomfortable both in depth and due to the intimate nature of the area. Draining the lymphatic system there involves not just the buttocks and thighs, but the inguinal area again raising the issue of intimacy beyond professional limits. Last there are a number of practitioners who have found mechanical stimulation to the lymph system to be superior and the use of a professional vibrator so intimately on a female patient could easily run you afoul of most state’s practice act if misunderstood by the client. Asking the client to wear a thong may help alleviate the risk to some degree and make clear your profession intentions, but you would be at the mercy of your least stable client who complained about sexual advances. I would think this type of procedure is best referred to a same sex practitioner. There are just some jobs not worth taking on. Unfortunately as a man in health care there is a double standard and you need to be hyper aware of it to avoid trouble. (assuming you are male bruce lee fan)
