Massage Therapist

FRLS
FRLS Posts: 3 Member
edited December 16 in Fitness and Exercise
Just wondering if there are any other massage therapists on here that know approx. how many calories are being burned during a 60-90 minute session. Obviously there is a bunch of factors like pressure and size of client but a guesstimate would be great!

Replies

  • JMcNiel24
    JMcNiel24 Posts: 15 Member
    I'm not a massage therapist but if you count your heartbeat for ten seconds and multiply by 6 and do this 3 times during the hour or so and take the average to input into a heart rate calorie burned calculator. It's the most scientific and accurate way I know.
  • rebeccask
    rebeccask Posts: 140 Member
    Is this your profession? If it is, I'd just change your settings to Active and that'll factor in the level of activity you do in your normal daily routine.
  • warmachinejt
    warmachinejt Posts: 2,162 Member
    i can't answer your question but, i suggest not adding this to exercise. If this is what you do everyday just add it to your lifestyle activity. Put light or a little bit more, depending on the average times you do this. Also try wearing a hrm next time.
  • Bronx_Montgomery
    Bronx_Montgomery Posts: 2,284 Member
    I agree with Rebecca. Change your activity to active. You do not want to put in every single massage you do then it won't give you an accurate reading on your calorie intake. Hopefully you are not one of the folks who put house cleaning or doing the dishes as a calorie burn.
  • YassSpartan
    YassSpartan Posts: 1,195 Member
    I have never ever try to calculate or pay attention to it lol. It is kind of hard for me since I disconnect from the world when I start a session, I can't use a heart rate monitor because I use my forearms too and I can't take my pulse manually because I can't stop a massage to do so. I think that with the BodyMedia armband I might be able to calculate it whenever I get to give a massage again, but the modalities I offer are kind of passive in a certain way but because I move along with the rhythm of the music I guess I'll get no more than 100 calories. I'll let you know when I get the numbers :)
  • Lesa_Sass
    Lesa_Sass Posts: 2,213 Member
    Is this your profession? If it is, I'd just change your settings to Active and that'll factor in the level of activity you do in your normal daily routine.



    ^^^^^this
  • yesthistime
    yesthistime Posts: 2,051 Member
    Is this your profession? If it is, I'd just change your settings to Active and that'll factor in the level of activity you do in your normal daily routine.

    I don't think massage therapy warrants a change to "Active" level of activity. OP, can you buy a heart rate monitor to wear while you give the massages? That is the most accurate way to measure your burn, as it will vary greatly from person to person. Make sure it has a chest strap.
  • Kougra
    Kougra Posts: 358 Member
    I am a massage therapist and I usually wear my hrm when I work on clients. Depending on what whether its a Swedish or Deep tissue, I can burn from 165 cals an hour to 234 cals. Here is a website that can give you an estimate as well.

    http://www.self.com/calculatorsprograms/calculators/caloriesburned/giving_massage

    My hrm has a chest strap and watch. I put the watch in my scrub top pocket. It works great that way. =^_^=
  • XOchocolate
    XOchocolate Posts: 95 Member
    I agree with the above. Just adjust your lifestyle settings. Here is a website which has a calculator that you can check out.
    http://www.self.com/calculatorsprograms/calculators/caloriesburned/giving_massage/result?weightPounds=172&duration=60&activity=&met=4.0&submit=
  • YassSpartan
    YassSpartan Posts: 1,195 Member
    About changing the settings to active, I'm a little doubtful about this. Massage therapy is not a profession where you give 8 straight hours of massage, if that's the case, I'd love to work there LOL. Usually is not like that. Also, depending on the style of massage, the level of activity could be very little. When it comes about the HRM, a therapist usually don't get agitated when giving a massage, except if the style is very active, and that's uncommon for the most part. At least I never get tired, and sometimes I sweat jut because of the room temperature.
  • XOchocolate
    XOchocolate Posts: 95 Member
    Just realized that already been posted...lol
  • Kougra
    Kougra Posts: 358 Member
    In my practice, I do a lot of deep tissue work as well as active stretching. Most of my clients are athletes and so hence the active stretching. I usually see 4 to 5 clients for 60 to 90 minutes each session. Being overweight, I get a pretty good workout!
  • FRLS
    FRLS Posts: 3 Member
    Thank you every one! All great ideas, I am so glad I received so many responses. I will have to check the HRM out, I think those would be great at the gym too since I'm weary of the calorie count it gives you on the machines.
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