The Pittsburgh School of Massage Therapy, on 3600 Laketon Road, has small classes, which means it can offer more personalized attention. According to the college's website, the ratio of students to teachers is 16 to one. The School of Massage Therapy was the first massage school in Western Pennsylvania and offers a comprehensive program based on a business curriculum, which prepares students to manage their own businesses. This is a 648-hour, all-inclusive curriculum that includes Swedish, neuromuscular, myofascial, reflexology and sports massage techniques. Bob Janstch, the school's director, has been a massage therapist since 1981 and the manager of the school since 1988. For more information call 412-241-5155.
The Pittsburgh School of Pain Management, or the Institute of Medical Careers, on 133 East Jefferson Street, has been in operation since 1995. It has gained recognition from the National Association of Myofascial Trigger Point Therapists. The technique known as trigger point massage seeks to relieve pain by applying gentle pressure to tender spots, or knots, in the muscles, also known as trigger points. These points can reveal much about what's wrong in the rest of the body.
As of 2011, its massage program is limited to the 650-hour, entry level program for trigger point massage. According to the school's website, however, a training program for traditional massage is coming soon. Contact the school at 412-244-3240.
Sanford-Brown, located at 421 Seventh Avenue, offers a comprehensive curriculum that provides training in anatomy, physiology, practical massage, massage theory, ethics, pathology, hygiene and clinical practice. At the end of their coursework students complete an internship. Students must also keep a log of all work and evaluations during the supervised experience portion of the training. For more information call 1-877-809-2444.
The Career Training Academy, a college chain with a Pittsburgh location at 1500 Shoppes at Northway, offers three areas of massage training -- comprehensive massage therapy, therapeutic massage and advanced body works. In this school's nine-month comprehensive program, students acquire skills in Swedish or comprehensive massage. The six-month therapeutic massage program focuses on therapeutic techniques and includes Swedish massage instruction. The 15.5-month Advanced Bodyworker Degree program offers an opportunity to work with actual clients suffering from various maladies, whose doctors have determined that they might benefit from massage therapy. For more information, call 412-367-4000.