Social ServiceISCO 5142
Masseur/masseuse
A masseur or masseuse is a person who gives massage, matching its type and technique to what a client needs, to help the client relax and relieve stress.
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Rate 5 of the 14 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.
maintain personal hygiene standards
give massages
develop personalised massage plan
identify customer's needs
maintain privacy of service users
About masseur/masseuse
The masseur knows the types of massage — classical, relaxation, sports, hot stone, work with oils — and what each of them is for. The masseur develops a personalised massage plan, asking about expectations, about painful areas and about past injuries, then setting the pressure, the order in which parts of the body are worked and the length of the treatment. Advice on relaxation techniques follows, so that a client has something to use between visits.
The masseur knows the contraindications, that is, when massage must not be given: with fever, inflammation, thrombosis, a fresh injury, certain skin conditions and in defined stages of pregnancy. Where there is doubt, a client is referred to a doctor.
The masseur works ergonomically, paying attention to posture and the height of the massage table, and takes responsibility for their own actions. The masseur also protects the client's privacy: the body is kept covered during treatment, and what is heard in conversation stays confidential. Formal requirements depend on national rules, which in some countries treat therapeutic massage as a health profession.
Key Work Functions
Core areas of responsibility for a masseur/masseuse.
1
Client Assessment and Personalized Planning
- Identify client's physical and emotional needs through initial consultation and assessment
- Develop personalized massage plans tailored to individual client preferences and health conditions
- Consider contraindications and medical conditions that may affect massage treatment
- Communicate clearly with clients about massage benefits and what to expect
2
Massage Therapy Delivery
- Apply various massage types and techniques appropriate to client needs and preferences
- Use high-quality massage oils and equipment correctly and safely
- Perform massage therapy following established massage theory and best practices
- Adjust pressure, duration, and techniques based on client feedback during the session
3
Client Education and Relaxation Support
- Teach clients relaxation techniques and breathing exercises they can practice at home
- Provide advice on self-care and stress management between massage sessions
- Educate clients on benefits of regular massage and healthy lifestyle practices
4
Professional Standards and Hygiene
- Maintain impeccable personal hygiene standards to ensure client safety and comfort
- Maintain a clean, welcoming, and private massage treatment environment
- Sanitize all equipment and surfaces according to health and safety regulations
- Respect client privacy and confidentiality in all interactions
5
Professional Development and Customer Relations
- Develop strong communication skills and empathy to build lasting client relationships
- Manage customer service by responding professionally to client inquiries and concerns
- Take responsibility for professional conduct and ethical behavior in all client interactions
- Pursue continuing education and training to enhance massage skills and professional knowledge
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (14)
massage typesmassage typesTechniques used and types of massage therapies such as shiatsu, deep tissue massage, Swedish, hot stone and Thai massage.communicate with customerscommunicate with customersRespond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.maintain personal hygiene standardsmaintain personal hygiene standardsPreserve impeccable personal hygiene standards and have a tidy appearance.work ergonomicallywork ergonomicallyApply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.give massagesgive massagesProvide clients with head, hand, neck, facial or full body massages.develop personalised massage plandevelop personalised massage planDetermine the massage treatment to be applied based on the medical diagnosis, the prescription plan, and according to the condition of the patient.identify customer's needsidentify customer's needsUse appropriate questions and active listening in order to identify customer expectations, desires and requirements according to product and services.maintain privacy of service usersmaintain privacy of service usersRespect and maintain the dignity and privacy of the client, protecting his or her confidential information and clearly explaining policies about confidentiality to the client and other parties involve...maintain customer servicemaintain customer serviceKeep the highest possible customer service and make sure that the customer service is at all times performed in a professional way. Help customers or participants feel at ease and support special requ...manage personal professional developmentmanage personal professional developmentTake responsibility for lifelong learning and continuous professional development. Engage in learning to support and update professional competence. Identify priority areas for professional developmen...apply massage therapyapply massage therapyApply massage therapy to relieve patient's pain by using various specialised techniques.accept own accountabilityaccept own accountabilityAccept accountability for one`s own professional activities and recognise the limits of one`s own scope of practice and competencies.contraindicationscontraindicationsThe condition under which a normally beneficial treatment can be harmful and have a counterproductive effect on a person's health.massage theorymassage theoryPrinciples of holistic therapeutic body massage, the application of massage techniques and the appropriate body posture, massage sequences and different mediums, massage benefits and contraindications...
Optional (32) — show
balneotherapybalneotherapyThe use of therapeutic baths to treat a variety of conditions, through relaxation, massage or stimulation techniques. This includes the beneficial properties of mineral waters and mud-wrapping techniq...etiopathyetiopathyAlternative medicine therapy which has as its basis the idea that the practitioner uses only his hands to treat the patients' symptoms on longer term by diagnosing the deeper cause of the illness.fasciatherapyfasciatherapyA manual therapy applied on the fascia (the connective tissue woven through the entire body) which is used for the treatment of physical or psychological disorders such as pain and movement disorders.cosmetic pedicurecosmetic pedicureTreatment of the feet and toenails for cosmetic and embellishment purposes. It includes the cleaning of dead skin and the appliance of nail polish and other cosmetic techniques.reflexologyreflexologyThe application of pressure to plantar, palmar, facial, cranial, dorsal, atrial and reflex points of the body with a specific finger or hand gestures and techniques, such as acupressure and the massag...cosmetic manicurecosmetic manicureVarious elements of a manicure, such as the cutting and shaping of toe- or fingernails, removing excess callouses and cuticle around nails, and applying a protective or decorative coat of nail polish.kineticskineticsThe study of movement and its causes.energy therapyenergy therapyAlternative medicine therapy which assumes that healers use the channel healing energy to get positive effects on the patients` well-being.cosmeticscosmeticsThe various types of substances used to enhance the appearance of the human body.hydrotherapyhydrotherapyThe practice used to treat diseases or maintain overall health using water.electrotherapyelectrotherapyThe type of medical treatment using electrical stimulation.shiatsushiatsuThe complementary medicine massage therapy which is based on the theoretical framework of traditional Chinese medicine and it is performed by finger massages on clients to reduce their stress and pain...skin typesskin typesThe different skin types, such as dry, normal, oily, and sensitive.order suppliesorder suppliesCommand products from relevant suppliers to get convenient and profitable products to purchase.give shiatsu massagesgive shiatsu massagesPerform massages on clients to reduce their stress and pain according to the shiatsu principles, based on the theoretical framework of traditional Chinese medicine.manage a small-to-medium businessmanage a small-to-medium businessManage the organisational, financial and day-to-day operation of a small-to-medium enterprise.apply deep tissue massageapply deep tissue massageApply precise techniques and pressures to bring changes to specific tissue layers in the body.maintain equipmentmaintain equipmentRegularly inspect and perform all required activities to maintain the equipment in functional order prior or after its use.apply acupunctureapply acupunctureUse procedures involving the stimulation of anatomical points on the body by a variety of techniques, such as penetrating the skin with thin, metallic needles manipulated by the hands or by electrical...apply thermotherapyapply thermotherapyUse heating and cooling techniques to treat musculoskeletal injuries and soft tissue injuries.administer hydrotherapyadminister hydrotherapyFormulate treatment plans and provide hydrotherapy treatment.liaise with industry expertsliaise with industry expertsConsult and cooperate with industry experts who handle matter that is relevant to you and your business.pluck hairpluck hairUse tweezers or electric devices to remove hair by mechanically grasping them and pulling them out of the roots.use hair removal lasersuse hair removal lasersUse lasers that remove hair by exposing the hair to pulses of laser light that destroy hair follicles.maintain professional administrationmaintain professional administrationFile and organise professional administration documents comprehensively, keep customer records, fill in forms or log books and prepare documents about company-related matter.process paymentsprocess paymentsAccept payments such as cash, credit cards and debit cards. Handle reimbursement in case of returns or administer vouchers and marketing instruments such as bonus cards or membership cards. Pay attent...perform facial treatmentperform facial treatmentPerform all kinds of treatments to improve the health and attractiveness of the facial skin, such as facial masks, scrubs, eyebrow tinting, peels, hair removal and make-up.develop a collaborative therapeutic relationshipdevelop a collaborative therapeutic relationshipDevelop a mutually collaborative therapeutic relationship during treatment, fostering and gaining healthcare users' trust and cooperation.provide individual exercise programmesprovide individual exercise programmesProvide a range of exercise programmes in accordance with the needs of the clients by applying principles of exercise programming, and modifying and moderating as necessary to support effective and sa...conduct pregnancy massagesconduct pregnancy massagesPerform massages for pregnant women to sooth the discomfort as well as making the labour process easier.apply sports massageapply sports massagePerform massage techniques meant to address and help recover sports injuries such as sprains, torn ligaments and broken limbs.musculoskeletal anatomymusculoskeletal anatomyThe human musculoskeletal system, comprising of the skeleton, muscles, cartilage, tendons, joints and other connective tissue that supports and binds tissues and organs together. The human musculoskel...
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Frequently asked questions
What does a masseur/masseuse do?
Masseurs/masseuses perform massages to help their clients relax and de-stress according to their preferences. They use appropriate massages, equipment and oils and also instruct their clients on techniques to improve relaxation.
What skills does a masseur/masseuse need?
A masseur/masseuse needs 14 essential skills, including massage types, communicate with customers, maintain personal hygiene standards, work ergonomically, give massages.
Will AI replace masseur/masseuse jobs?
The AI disruption score for masseur/masseuse is 14/100 (very low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: process payments, maintain professional administration, order supplies. Most resilient: maintain personal hygiene standards, etiopathy, fasciatherapy.
AI Replacement Risk
14/ 100
Very Low Risk
Low riskHigh risk
Quick Facts
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