The What and What of Medical Massage by Ralph R. Stephens
Just what is medical massage and why should I study it? This is a common question asked by many therapists considering their continuing education options.
Medical massage is not a unique method in and of itself. Instead, it is a combination of advanced soft-tissue techniques, organized to address the particular complaints or needs of each individual being seen by the therapist. Medical massage is not relaxation or stress reduction massage. It is tissue and body region specific based on the individual's complaints and the therapist's findings. Medical massage is seldom a "full-body" treatment, but it could be. It is usually a focused treatment on the lumbar-pelvis region, or the cervical region for example. Often sessions are shorter and more frequent, sometimes as short as 15 minutes. However, extended sessions (90 minutes) can be appropriate depending on the patient's needs.
Medical massage does not have to be done in a hospital. It can be done in your private office or even on-site. It does not have to be a referral from a physician, but it could be. It does not have to be covered by insurance, but it could be. It is not the venue or who pays the bill, it is the nature of the treatment that makes it medical massage. If the treatment is specifically focused on the pain, complaint, injury, condition, or need of the patient and is not a choreographed, one size fits all, non-specific, full body, relaxation massage it could be medical massage.
To make it very simple, medical massage is a term being used to differentiate advanced, condition specific, individualized massage from general relaxation massage. The medical massage therapist has advanced training in anatomically specific assessment, palpation, and treatment of soft-tissue. Medical massage is a very clear term that is not confused with relaxation massage or adult entertainment. The term is clear to the public and to other health care providers.
The protocol for medical massage is:
- Taking a complete, detailed case history (patient intake)
- Assessment of posture, movement, and soft tissue
- Treatment of abnormal tissues
- Re-assessment
- Additional treatment.
The most common forms of assessment are:
- Posture and gait assessment
- Orthopedic muscle testing
- Range of motion (ROM) assessment
- Palpatory assessment of soft tissue (examination)
Based on the findings, a treatment protocol (treatment plan) is developed for each individual. This is really fun, challenging, and exciting for the therapist. No more boring massage routines done almost the same way over and over. Every treatment is slightly different and changes as the patient's condition improves. This reduces therapist burn-out and helps prevent repetitive strain injuries.
A medical massage treatment is any one of or a combination of 6 massage types:
- Neuromuscular
- Myofascial
- Periostial and Segmental Reflex (Russian techniques)
- Lymphatic
- Stretching and Movement
- Some might argue that cranial sacral could be done in a medical massage depending on the application.
Each of these massage systems are very specific and can be easily combined by the therapist to make a powerful therapeutic impact. Obviously, no one instructor or class will teach all of these massage techniques at once. It is a career long study.
Why study medical massage? To help you learn more and better ways to help more people efficiently and effectively. Medical massage courses will improve your palpatory literacy. You will gain a better understanding of soft tissue dysfunctions and injuries, from a holistic, soft tissue perspective. While medical massage addresses specific areas, it also recognized the interconnectedness of the entire body. "Where it hurts is where it ain't" - Ida Rolf. You will learn to find and work the other side of the pain along with how to lengthen and strengthen specific muscles to bring better balance to the person's body.
As the massage field becomes more competitive, with more and more therapists entering the marketplace, you need the skills that set you apart and make your services more essential and valuable to the public. Relaxation is wonderful and people will pay for it when they have the disposable time and money available. It will be cut from their budget when times get tough. They will also be easily lured to a cheaper venue.
However, if you are providing pain relief and performance enhancement, you are much more unique. Relief from pain is a necessity. People will pay more for it and will be much more loyal to a therapist who is actually helping them. If you can help people get out of pain, you will get busy rapidly and stay that way, because you will never run out of people in pain. People in pain know other people in pain and your practice will grow by referral, the most effective and cost efficient form of advertising.
If you want to help more people, grow your practice, increase your income, improve patient loyalty, and move beyond the relaxation routine, medical massage training can be an excellent investment that can bring a huge return in your job satisfaction and your income.