What Is Massage Therapy?

Massage therapy is the hands-on manipulation of the soft tissues of the body to gain a therapeutic response. Soft tissue includes muscles, skin, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments, membranes and joints.

Therapeutic massage directly affects the muscular, circulatory and nervous systems. Due to injuries, or the stress of daily life, all tissues in the body lose their efficiency in repairing and restoring themselves to a healthy and stress free condition. Massage techniques remove constriction in the tissues, thus increasing the circulation of blood and lymph. This results in the proper flow of metabolic waste out of the tissues and increases the supply of oxygen and nutrients into the cells. This in turn helps to eliminate unwanted pain.

Why Massage Therapy?

Does pain or restricted movements keep you from living the life you want? Sports injuries, household accidents, repetitive actions on the job, and tension from everyday stresses can all cause problems that, too often, take up permanent residence in our bodies.

Massage therapy provides an alternative health option to help alleviate the soft tissue discomfort associated with everyday and occupational stresses, muscular overuse and many chronic pain syndromes. It can also greatly reduce the development of painful muscular patterning, if employed early enough after accidents involving trauma and injury.

What Conditions Can Massage Therapy Help With?

Many of today’s health problems arise from stress. Because stress upsets the delicate integral balance of all your body’s functions, regaining this balance requires a holistic approach.
Massage therapy not only treats those parts of you which are a problem, but also affects the whole of your metabolism through normalizing your circulatory, muscular and nervous systems and their interdependent functioning.
Massage therapy is safe and effective if used for stress management, but it is also widely used to help clients obtain relief from many specific problems, including the following:

• Migraines
• Post injury rehabilitation
  
• Whiplash
  
• Respiratory problems
  
• Arthritis
  
• Circulatory problems
  
• Frozen shoulder
  
• Neuritis/neuralgia
  
• Tendinitis/bursitis
  
• Neck and shoulder tension
  
• Low back pain
  
• Digestive/lower bowel problems
  
• Muscle spasms
  
• Sciatica
  
• Repetitive strain injuries
  
• Pregnancy

Who Qualifies As A Registered Massage Therapist?

The College of Massage Therapists of Ontario regulates education and examination of massage therapists. Students complete 2,200 hours of intensive anatomical, physiological and clinical studies, including extensive practical instruction, at a government approved vocational massage therapy school. Graduation is a prerequisite to taking provincial examinations. Successful candidates then become licensed and registered under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA).

Extended Health Care Coverage

Many insurance companies cover massage therapy if the therapist is a Registered Massage Therapist. Some policies require a physician’s referral. The amount of coverage will vary depending on the policy. Please check your policy for details. Massage therapy is not covered by OHIP.