- Q: Do I have to see the same therapist each time I go for a massage?
No, which therapist you see is entirely up to you. There are advantages of making return visits to the same therapist. For example, a therapist you have seen before will be familiar with your health history and treatment preferences. It is also true that no two therapists are the same. Each therapist may take a different approach and therefore present varying levels of success.
- Q: Can anyone receive massage therapy?
Yes. Massage therapy is appropriate for people of all ages. Regardless of age or physical condition, there are long lasting and amazing benefits to having a massage.
- Q: Does massage therapy hurt?
If the purpose or goal of the massage, is to reduce stress and relax; then no, the massage should not hurt. Massage therapy involves the mechanical manipulation of the soft tissues of the body and as such, there can at times be some discomfort (though that is not the purpose).
When the goal of the massage is to break up scar tissue / adhesions, release trigger points and to increase range of motion; some discomfort can be expected. The discomfort can be very much like that which you experience, when stretching or strengthening. The intensity of the treatment depends entirely on the client. The desired level of pressure, will be established before the treatment begins and the therapist will check in throughout the treatment to maintain an appropriate level of intensity. At any point throughout the treatment, the client can ask to have any aspect of the treatment be stopped, changed or modified. The client may also request that the entire treatment be ended if need be.
Under the federal Excise Tax Act, massage therapy is a service to which GST was applied. While massage therapists are considered health care practitioners under the Ontario Regulated Health Professions Act (1991), Massage therapy is not included in the definition of health services that are exempt from the application of HST. The list of exemptions is controlled by the federal government and the Federal Minister of Finance has made it clear that the current policies governing exemptions will remain in place. A health profession can be exempted if it is regulated in five provinces or territories or if it is paid for in the health plans of three provinces. Massage therapy has only recently met these conditions and the process to be recognized as exempt, takes time.
- Q: Does OHIP cover Massage Therapy treatments?
No, though many people have benefits for massage, through their place of employment or their family / significant other’s places of work.
- Q: How do I find out if I have coverage?
A Human Relations representative from your place of work, should be able to inform you of what you benefits do cover.
- Q: Do I need a referral from my doctor?
If you have any health concerns, checking with your Doctor first is always a good idea. Additionally, before you receive your massage, we will discuss your health history. If there is a health concerns we can either make appropriate accommodations to your treatment or refer you to a more appropriate Health Professional.
Regarding your benefits, it depends again on your individual plan. Some, but not all, do require a doctor’s note. Generally speaking, a note from your family doctor is what is being requested.
- Q: How do I pay for massage therapy treatments?
Cash, Cheque or e-transferis accepted.
- Q: How often do I need to go, and how long will I have to keep going for massage?
There are two general choices: You can come in when you feel the need to do so or we can create a Treatment Plan, that is appropriate for your personal needs.
The first option is reactive; you experience pain and then decide to come in for a treatment. The goal with the second choice is to manage tension and other issues from building and creating a more profound issue. This is generally the choice therapists prefer as preventive care is always less stressful on the body then a reactive approach. The choice of which approach is taken, it always ultimately the choice of the client. Much like exercising or stretching, studies have shown that working out once a month (though less than ideal), is a healthier choice then not working out at all. In general, a greater frequency and duration delivers better results, however there are still benefits of seeking out a massage therapist, stretching and / or exercising less frequently.
- Q: For my first treatment should I go for an hour or half an hour?
For the first treatment, it is generally better to have more time to work with. This allows the therapist to have the opportunity to apply a wide variety of techniques and modalities (hydro applications, various therapeutic massage techniques, stretching, exercises, etc) in an effort to accomplish the best possible results. Some clients respond better to different modalities and many simply have a preference for a particular style. Scheduling a little extra time for the first treatment, gives the client and therapist time to work this all out. The choice however, is up to the client
- Q: What is a Treatment Plan?
Though results can be generally felt after the very first massage, most issues will benefit from repetitive massage treatment. A treatment plan is a schedule of massage appointments, structured in such a way to be most effective for the client. It is not required for every treatment, but it is a very forward thinking and effective approach. If your therapist believes that you might benefit from further treatments, they may discuss creating a treatment plan with you, so that we can help manage the injury and improve your recovery time.
- Q: What areas are worked on during a typical full body massage treatment?
Back, neck, legs and arms. However, before the treatment we will discuss with you if there is any area that you would like us to avoid or if there is an issue that you would like us to focus on. It is very common that a client will come in looking for relief from one particular issue. With such a case the entire focus of the treatment, may be focused on addressing only that one issue. Neither approach is right or wrong, the treatment is simply based on what the client is looking for.
- Q: What do I wear?
Your comfort is very important to us and what you chose to wear, is entirely up to you. Skin on skin contact, provides far more options for the therapist, as well as being far less taxing on the therapist (working through clothing can limit us to much more physically challenging techniques). It is generally our preference, that we be able to do skin on skin massage, but it is entirely up to the client. We are comfortable working through clothing, if that is your preference. In some cases clients chose an appropriate middle ground, such as wearing a bra for a back massage and once on the table, moving the straps to allow the therapist to work more freely.
- Q: What does R.M.T. stand for?
You may notice that on the receipts that we issue, we have the title RMT. It is important that we include this on all of our receipts, otherwise your insurance company will not reimburse you for the cost of your treatment. R.M.T stands for Registered Massage Therapist. It is a title given to a therapist whom is in good standings with the College of Massage Therapist of Ontario. When issuing receipts, it is equally important that we include our registrations number.
- Q: What is the difference between a masseuse and an R.M.T.?
A “masseuse” is an individual who has taken a short certificate course or may have no training what so ever. An RMT is an individual who has gone through a minimum of a 2200 hour college program that includes extensive study into Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, remedial exercises, First Aid, Law and Ethics, Treatments and Assessments, and more. After completing the college program, we are required to pass two Ontario Board exams. After passing both exams, we can apply to be a member of the CMTO (http://www.cmto.com/). Only after becoming a members of the CMTO can we then use the title Massage Therapist or Registered Massage Therapist. To maintain our registration, we are required to maintain Liability Insurance, an up to date First Aid Certificate, obtain Continuing Educational Credits and go through Peer Assessments.
Bryson Ingram R.M.T. 