May 28, 2012 | Alberta

Many students pursue post-secondary education as a way to gain the knowledge necessary to start a career helping others. Massage therapy professionals can help people in need, whether they suffer from a chronic illness or sports injury.

Some cancer patients use therapeutic massage to reduce symptoms, improve coping and enhance quality of life. Utilizing specific physical manipulations applied in a systematic way, therapists vary the intensity, direction, rate and rhythm to the soft tissues of the body to relieve pain and improve a patient's personal well-being. While massage may not cure the illness, massage therapists can help minimize patients' pain during the worst moments of treatment.

Some of the ways massage can make a difference for those living with cancer include pain management, regaining mobility after treatment and restoring normal sleep patterns. Patients may also find that massage promotes relaxation and eases fatigue.

Those interested in exploring a massage therapy career in Alberta can enroll in the Massage Therapy or Advanced Massage Therapy program at CDI College. To find out more information, fill out the form on the right.