I’ve completed the first half of my medical massage training and have used this highly effective work on some of my clients. I am spreading the word about my continuing education, and have been asked a few times now, “What exactly is medical massage?” An excellent question!
Very simply, medical massage is massage that is prescribed by a physician for the treatment of a particular malady or injury. If appropriate, the massage treatments prescribed could be billed to insurance. Billable insurances include auto insurance in the event of an accident, workman’s compensation in the event of a workplace injury, and occasionally major medical insurance, if your policy specifies massage coverage.
When prescribed, massage is applied only to the area(s) included in the diagnosis—no full body work here, unless the diagnosis includes a systemic issue. Some examples include:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Piriformis syndrome
- Sciatic nerve pain
- Lymphedema
- Stress
- Whiplash
- Tendonitis
- Rotator cuff injury
- TMJ
- Bursitis
- Lordosis, kyphosis, scoliosis
- Pelvic tilting/rotation
- Arthritis
Medical massage does not refer to a specific group of massage techniques, though some techniques are employed to a greater degree based on their ability to deliver measurably effective results. These techniques include, but are not limited to, myofascial release, neuromuscular techniques, petrissage, and cross fiber friction.
I am excited to be able to bring new, focused skills to bear with the clients I currently enjoy and look forward to adding new clientele with diagnosed needs.
To your health!
Laura Share is a Licensed Massage Therapist and Associate Polarity Practitioner at Elemental Work in beautiful Portland, Maine. She was a massage therapy and Polarity instructor at Spa Tech Institute 2014-2016. She will earn her Medical Massage Practitioner certification in April 2017.
Learn about her practice at www.elementalmaine.com