Updated: Nov 2, 2020
This is an article from MassageBook's blog.
What is Medical Massage?
Medical Massage is prescribed and intended to resolve conditions that have been diagnosed and prescribed by a Physician. The massage therapist can use a variety of modalities or techniques, but will focus the Medical Massage session on the areas of the body related to the diagnosis. Medical Massage is typically billed in 15-minute increments. Reimbursement fee schedules apply based on the coverage your insurance company has determined.
(Insurance for bodily injury in an auto accident, workers' compensation policies, your HSA, and in some cases, your health care plan may offer coverage for massage - typically all need a Dr's script. )
Medical Massage requires a prescription
Massage Therapists are not permitted to diagnose and must work from a doctor’s prescription if they are claiming to treat a specific condition.
When massage therapists and physicians coordinate their ability to diagnose and treat patients, the patient is the big winner. Medical massage can be an incredibly effective treatment for many soft tissue injuries as well as psychological disorders. It has been found to relieve the symptoms of a wide range of conditions, including the ability to relieve stress and anxiety, to facilitate rehabilitation after injury, and to address depression.
Medical massage is a complementary therapy
Medical massage therapy should be seen as complementary to the work of your medical practitioner – you should always get a medical diagnosis for any health problem before you use massage therapy. You should also tell your doctor if you are using complementary alternative therapies, including medical massage. This will help him or her to understand and track your progress and any improvements in your overall health.
Not all therapists are equal
Before you jump on the treatment table, you need to check that your therapist is trained and working in a hygienic way. You should also make sure that the therapist understands your condition and can address any concerns about the treatment you may have. With massage techniques, therapists use different therapies to achieve improvements in the condition diagnosed by the doctor, including:
Muscle testing
Rehabilitative stretching procedures
Trigger point therapy
Myofascial release
Positional release
Neuromuscular therapy
Benefits of medical massage therapy
The specific benefit of medical massage therapy depends on the condition that is being treated. However, benefits of the therapy can include:
Releasing sore and tight muscles that can cause a lack of blood supply to soft tissues and hypersensitivity to touch; known as Ischemia
Relieving nerve entrapment and compression
Deactivating Myofascial trigger points
Decreasing pain and inflammation
Improving circulation and alleviating stress
Aiding digestion
Improving flexibility and range of motion
Calming the nervous system
Improving coordination and posture
Helping prevent future chronic pain conditions
Check out the video (short and sweet):