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Are Vibram's Professional Footwear for a Massage Therapist

My school has just decided that the Vibram Five-Finger shoes are unprofessional shoes for a massage therapist and I want to know what other students, teachers, and practicing massage therapist's think

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Permalink Reply by Gordon J. Wallis on September 7, 2011 at 4:19pm
I massage bare foot...and I've been a professional therapist for 27 years...
Permalink Reply by Sylvia Phillips on September 7, 2011 at 6:58pm
I'm a practicing massage therapist and wear the black vibram shoes, they are professional. I guess it just depends on the person.
Permalink Reply by Therese Schwartz on September 7, 2011 at 9:10pm
I'm with Gordon on this one.  I massage barefoot.  Have you asked them to explain why they are unprofessional?
Permalink Reply by Kay Warren on September 7, 2011 at 10:09pm
That's a tough one. I can tell you that from my perspective, they don't LOOK very professional.  From 5 feet away it looks like you're wearing weird sort of fuzzy socks. I'm in the medical end of therapy, rather than the spa end.  The spa end as a profession tends to be kind of picky about the "look" they want, at least in a high end establishment. I'm not sure I'd agree with a blanket statement on whether or not they should be worn.  I can tell you that they don't have anywhere near enough support for this girl who is on her feet all day long, and I wouldn't wear them.  I can also tell you that in some offices, they'd be fine, and in others they wouldn't. Are they forbidding them to be worn at school?  I agree that asking for clarification on the policy and why it's been adopted is a good idea.
Permalink Reply by Daniel Cohen on September 8, 2011 at 1:26am
I can see where they might think of them as unusual and distracting. Like some others here I prefer to be barefoot. It makes it easier to get on the table or use my knee without fumbling with shoes. Outside the room I wear sandals. Without shoes and socks there is no foot odor. Even if I were wearing the vibram shoes I would take them off during the massage for the same reasons above. I think barefoot also adds to the smooth movement of massage work. Many years ago my early classes some teachers and students were barefoot and I still demonstrate massage barefoot in my classes. I could see if they were only training for working in a medical office uniforms including foot wear might be an important issue.
Permalink Reply by Lee Edelberg on September 8, 2011 at 6:02am

I think it's good to consider the overall look someone wants to project in their practice. And I suppose a school has the right to set rules about its' clinic.

I don't want to meet and greet clients barefoot, so I wear cotton slippers until I'm ready to start the massage, then do the massage barefoot. I put them back on at the end of the session before the client gets up off the table, so for the most part they don't see me barefoot. 

 

 

Permalink Reply by Allison Courville on September 9, 2011 at 4:56pm

I started wearing my Vibram Five Fingers a few months ago while I massage and my feet and body feel wonderful.  I felt so restricted in my feet at the end of the day when I wore sneakers and now my feet feel stronger and more flexible.   Vibram is a substitute for being barefoot (barefoot but with protection, not support), and so many therapists work barefoot, that I really cannot see a problem with wearing them.  Mine are a sport version that cover my entire foot.  I look professional when I work (long khaki or grey pants, button down short sleeved shirt or polo shirt, and my five fingers). 

 

Looking professional is subjective - feeling good is the most important thing. 

Permalink Reply by Gordon J. Wallis on September 10, 2011 at 2:17am
I've been told by my martial arts buddies, as far as footwear, they are the way to go..  Hmm, I think I'll check em out.
Permalink Reply by Jason David Bratcher on September 18, 2011 at 5:50pm
I've taken a look at the Vibram shoes,,still undecided about them. Agreed that they are not professional looking. If you've got a private practice you can pretty much wear what you want,correct?
Permalink Reply by bellavie on September 25, 2011 at 9:01pm

I have been wearing five-fingers for two years now and love them. For anyone interested in saving your feet and addressing body mechanics issues, you should look into them. Check out Dr Phil Maffetone's website for a jumpstart (http://philmaffetone.com/barefoot.cfm). Reading his book, called Fix Your Feet, was a real eye-opener for me. So, I can understand why many therapists prefer working barefoot.

 

As far as the five-fingers go though, I reserve them for running, hiking or going to the gym. The main reason being that no matter how many times I wash them, they still smell so foul. I'm currently a student and would never consider wearing them to school because of the radiating foot odor. There are students in my program who have started wearing them to classes, and others definitely avoid working with them because of the smell (think the worst foot odor, times ten). From my personal experience receiving work from folks wearing them, it is quite unpleasant and therefore not conducive to relaxation.

 

Perhaps people know of ways to keep their five-fingers from getting so smelly??

 

 

Permalink Reply by Kim Galliher on September 27, 2011 at 6:15am

I must be very unprofessional because as soon as I step into the room I take off my shoes and do the massage barefoot.

Permalink Reply by Dawn Lewis on September 27, 2011 at 2:34pm

I massage barefoot too.  But I also work for myself out of my house.  I think while in school, the school has some right to tell you what they expect.  Although, when I had my school, most of the student's massaged barefoot.

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