What is a GLoved MT?
The short answer is, a Licensed Massage Therapist, or LMT, who wears gloves. It's rare, but not unheard of to come across a LMT who wears gloves.
Why does a MT wear gloves?
That is a great question. I have a story involving my cat and many small scratches on my hands that I was covering multiple times a day with waterproof band-aids. That's at least how it started for me. But I'll give you just a few reasons why I continued to wear gloves, even when I didn't have cuts on my fingers.
1. I massage areas that house lots of bacteria, including the armpits and the feet.
It's not such a big deal, except:
2. "Fingernails are bacteria hotels."
I can't take credit for this, it was said by a former co-worker. Although I do wash my hands and forearms before and after each session, wearing the gloves gives me the added confidence to work comfortably inside an armpit or while massaging feet.
3. Less friction means more sensitivity.
It may seem counter-intuitive, but the smooth surface of the glove plus the glide of the lotion allows me to tune in even more to what's under the skin.
4. Lotion is not absorbed into my hands.
The lotion only goes onto you, the client, which means a little lotion can go a long way and still have a smooth glide.
Further reading: