Columbine Massage Therapy
Sheri West, NCMT CST LMT
It is not clear what the letters, NCMT, stand for. They could stand for Nationally Certified Massage Therapist, however, there is no certification agency that allows those particular letters. The NCBTMB, National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, the only recognized board for national certification, allows therapists who successfully complete the certification requirements, including passing an exam, to use similar letters, NCTM, which stand for National Certification for Therapeutic Massage. However, Sheri West's name does not show up in the database and it appears that she does not actually have national certification.
CST stands for Craniosacral Therapist, a designation that takes one to two hours to achieve.
LMT stands for Licensed Massage Therapist. Sheri West is licensed through the State of Colorado, MT.0008412.
This business lists a number of techniques, some of which are dubious, unproven, and ineffective; acupressure, craniosacral therapy, reflexology, ion foot baths, and lymphatic drainage.
Craniosacral therapy is claimed to be a technique to facilitate the flow of cerebrospinal fluid and to adjust the synarthrodial joints of the cranium with the use of a light touch to certain parts of the body such as skull, face, spine, and pelvis. Currently, there is no evidence that cranial bones can be manipulated or that therapists can detect cerebrospinal pulse or craniosacral rates, both of which have been determined to be non-existent phenomenon.
Acupressure is sort of like acupuncture, but without the needles. Certain points on the body are claimed to be on a particular meridian and pressure applied to the point is supposed to affect an internal organ or system. Clinical trials and reviewed biomedical research reveal that acupressure does not work, for anything.
Reflexology is sort of the same, points on the foot or hand are claimed to be on a meridian that corresponds to an internal organ or system. Clinical trials and reviewed biomedical research reveal that reflexology does not do what its proponents claim, for anything.
Ion foot baths are promoted to release "toxins" out of the body and thereby reduce or prevent diseases, like autoimmune disorders and allergies, increase energy, reduce pain, and cause weight loss. There is no validity to claims of pulling "toxins" out of the body through the feet and the method is not based on physics, chemistry, anatomy, physiology or any other science.
Lymphatic drainage, or MLD, Manual Lymph Drainage, is a legitimate massage treatment specific to lymphedema, which is swelling in the tissues due to fluid accumulation in the lymphatic system. That is the only recommendation for use for MLD and practitioners are required to have specific MLD training in order to perform this technique. There is no mention in the listing as to whether Sheri West has this training.
Consumers not only have to check therapist's credentials, they must also check the validity, safety, and effectiveness of claims the therapist makes about potential treatments.
Fortunately for consumers, there is a very easy way to determine if a massage therapist holds national certification. There should be a certificate or decal with an emblem, either NCTMB or NCTM, displayed at the business location of any therapist that claims national certification. There is really no reason massage therapists should be confused about their own credentials.
As for the treatments beyond basic massage, consumers can save money by skipping those. Even better, massage therapists shouldn't charge for unproven, ineffective, treatments.
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Happy's Space
No name, no credentials.
It is best to avoid practitioners that do not readily make available their name and credentials.
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