Massage Therapy
Massage Therapy is a complete system of healthcare focused on restoring, preserving, and optimizing health by natural hands-on care.
Where chiropractic medicine focuses on optimizing health with a non-invasive adjustment of the spine, Registered Massage Therapists work on the soft tissue of the body, releasing points of tension through the use of manual techniques. Included are: rubbing, kneading and applying fixed or movable pressure to various areas on the body, holding, and/or causing movement of or to the body, that attend to the muscles, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments and skin.
Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) are professional health care providers, and as such belong to the Registered Massage Therapists Association of BC. They are educated to assess and treat using techniques such as manual therapy, joint mobilization, hydrotherapy, rehabilitative exercise and patient education.
Some of the conditions RMTs treat include: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, headaches, lower back pain, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, Osteoarthritis, Plantar Fasciitis, sports injuries, joint pain due to pregnancy, general stress, whiplash and chronic pain from old injuries, just to name a few.
Massage therapy is the evidence-based practice of the manipulation of the soft tissues of the body for the purpose of normalizing tissues with a combination of manual techniques.
While massage therapy is applied primarily with the hands, sometimes the forearms or elbows are used. These techniques affect the muscular, skeletal, circulatory, lymphatic, nervous, and other systems of the body. The basic philosophy of massage therapy embraces the concept of vis Medicatrix naturae, which is aiding the ability of the body to heal itself, and is aimed at achieving or increasing health and well-being.
The massage therapist will use touch with sensitivity in order to determine the optimal amount of pressure unique to each person. This approach allows the massage therapist to receive useful information about the client’s body, particularly locating areas of muscle tension and other soft tissue problems.
You’ll be invited to undress in a private room and your RMT will knock before entering to start the treatment. You will stay covered with clean linens on the padded massage table throughout the treatment. Our RMTs ensure the sheet will always be draped over you to protect your privacy, even when invited turn your body from lying on your back to front. During the treatment, only the body part being worked on will be uncovered.
You will be asked periodically whether the pressure of your treatment is okay –and feel free to initiate a conversation about your pressure preferences at any time! Especially if you feel any pain, or uncomfortable sensations, like pins and needles or light-headedness.
There may be light conversation or complete silence, whichever you prefer, with calming music. If you prefer silence, or if you require the lights to be lowered, please feel free to ask.
Your RMT will let you know when the massage is complete and will leave the room while you get dressed. When you’re ready, open the door to signal to your RMT to come back. They’ll then provide you water, self-care advice/follow up and your recommended treatment plan. Feel free to ask your therapist any questions you may have at this point. They’ll then escort you to reception to book your next visit.
In the province of British Columbia, RMTs complete 3,000+ hours of training at an accredited school and must pass a set of exams that are mandated by the College of Massage Therapists of BC. RMTs must also keep up with continuing education as part of their post-graduation training to maintain good standing with the College.
While spa practitioners may well have some training, it’s much less training than a Registered Massage Therapist, somewhere in the range of 300-1000 hours. There are no exams to pass, and continuing education is not mandated to work as a “masseuse” in a spa. Spa practitioners are prohibited by law from calling the service they offer massage therapy or from calling themselves massage therapists.
RMTs provide more than just relaxation massage. They are educated in evidence-based theories to provide beneficial and proven treatments for many kinds of ailments.