Jun 07
18
Defining Massage Therapy
One of the issues that we are faced with as massage professionals is lack of a clear definintion of just what constitues massage, massage therapy and bodywork.
As I am researching the definitions that are created by the various states, there is a wide range of descriptions and scope of practice regulations included in the definintions.
One of the things that also concerns me is that most laws are based on using Swedish Massage as the core of a massage students training and uses it for testing purposes. How did we ever come to the conclusion that swedish massage is needed to become a massage therapist? Do people who learn cranio-sacral massage , structural integration, Breema, The Rosen method, Hakomi therapy, acupressure, shiatsu, aromatherapy, Bowen therapy or any of the hundreds of different types of massage really need to learn Swedish Massage and effleurage and petrissage?
Here are some of the various definitions for various states:
NY State: “Definition of practice of massage therapy.
The practice of the profession of massage therapy is defined as engaging in applying a scientific system of activity to the muscular structure of the human body by means of stroking, kneading, tapping and vibrating with the hands or vibrators for the purpose of improving muscle tone and circulation.”
OHIO : “Massage therapy is limited to the treatment of disorders of the human body by the
manipulation of soft tissue through the systematic external application of massage
techniques including touch, stroking, friction, vibration, percussion, kneading,
stretching, compression, and passive joint movements within the normal
physiologic range of motion; and adjunctive thereto, the external application of
water, heat, cold, topical preparations, and mechanical devices.A practitioner of massage therapist may treat temporomandibular joint
dysfunction provided that the patient has been directly referred in writing for such
treatment to the practitioner of massage therapist by a physician currently licensed
pursuant to Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code, by a chiropractor currently licensed
pursuant to Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code. or a dentist currently licensed
pursuant to Chapter 4715. of the Revised Code.New Mexico: ““Massage therapy†means the assessment and treatment of soft tissues and their dysfunctions for therapeutic purposes primarily for comfort and relief of pain. It is a health care service that includes gliding, kneading, percussion, compression, vibration, friction, nerve strokes, stretching the tissue and exercising the range of motion, and may include the use of oils, salt glows, hot or cold packs or hydrotherapy. Synonymous terms for massage therapy include massage, therapeutic massage, body massage, myomassage, bodywork, body rub or any derivation of those terms. Massage therapy is the deformation of soft tissues from more than one anatomical point by manual or mechanical means to accomplish homeostasis and/or pain relief in the tissues being deformed, as defined in the Massage Therapy Practice Act, NMSA 1978, Section 61-12C-3.E.”
With such a wide range of definitions no wonder massage is still not widely accepted as a health care profession.
The other reason why we need to define the massage profession is because if we don’t, someone else will. And it is already happening here in WA State with the definition of medical massage being defined by insurance companies with the creation of a medical massage therapist credentialling by one insurance company here.
How can we create a defininion that allows all types of massage and touch therapies to practice what they want to practice? How do we create standards of practice for all of these various therapies that are acceptable to the political arenas demand for protecting the public (which does not really apply to our profession since there hasn’t been proof of harm – but that is a whole other post!)
Do you know how massage is definined in your state and how does this affect what you do and how you practice massage? Are you allowed to do treatment massage? Are various disciplines exempt like Reiki, Structural Integration or Reflexology? Are there confusing issues such as in OH where one therapist said that “If someone has been diagnosed with TMJ, you can only work in their mouth if they are referred by a doctor or dentist. If they haven’t been diagnosed with it, or do not disclose it, you can work away without any legal repercussions – just make sure you document intake and ask if they have TMJ.”
And is states without licensing – Does not having a licensing requirement affect your ability or right to work with clients in any way? Are you able to bill auto insurance companies?
As I ask these questions what I am finding is that most do not even know what their laws require of them nor have they ever questioned them which really makes me wonder what is going on out there in this profession. We want massage to be accepted by the public but keep our heads in the sand and don’t participate unless it directly affects our own practice.
Just some thoughts to hopefully get you thinking about what it is that you want for the massage profession and yourself.
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