A Medical Massage Might Just Be What the Doctor Ordered

Literally! It could be what the doctor, physical therapist or even the dentist ordered. In most cases, you do not need an order from a healthcare provider to receive treatment from a medical massage therapist (MMT).

There are many benefits of massage and it is being used more often in the medical setting as additional research is being done on the effects when used in combination with other treatments and alternative therapies. The Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science also discusses the increase in use of massage therapy in the medical field.

In the hospital setting, a medical massage therapist may treat patients with conditions such as fibromyalgia pain, cancer, and patients on hospice.

Read on to learn how medical massage (A.K.A. therapeutic massage) is different from other types of massage. It might be a game-changer for you.

More than a massage

How is this type of treatment different from the other types of massage such as those discussed in this Health Line article?

This is a more specialized form of massage where specific conditions are treated using a combination of techniques to help correct the problem. It usually isn’t just for relaxation or relief of tension, although, some conditions like anxiety, depression and insomnia may benefit from these as well.  

The licensed massage therapist (LMT) will talk to the patient about why they are there and ask specific questions about the pain, discomfort, or other reasons for the appointment. The LMT will perform a physical assessment and develop a treatment plan.

This probably sounds very different from what you may know about getting a massage. Pain, discomfort, and limited mobility have a significant impact on our lives and need special attention and care. Some rely on these treatments to function in their everyday lives.

Do you have to see a doctor first?

There are times when you know you should seek medical attention first. If you are in serious pain, you should see a doctor. If there is a wound, discoloration, or something that just does not look or feel right then you should see a physician.

You may have already seen a doctor, chiropractor, or physical therapist. That’s great! When you have an appointment, ask while you are there. However, for many common issues, you do not need to be evaluated by another healthcare provider before seeking treatment from an MMT.

Maybe you already know that you carry a lot of tension in your back, shoulders and neck that causes headaches. You might have plantar fasciitis that causes sharp shooting pain in the heel of your foot in the first few steps of the morning. Back and neck pain are very common. These are just a few very common issues that can be taken care of without a trip to the doctor every time.

When in doubt, ask.

Conditions that can be treated

There are quite a few conditions that can be treated with the many techniques that have been developed over the years and around the world.

Here are some common issues that can be treated with massage:

  • Tension headaches
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS)
  • Temporomandibular Dysfunction (TMJ Dysfunction)
  • Sciatica
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Certain types of swelling
  • Scar tissue restriction and pain
  • Back pain
  • Neck pain
  • And the list goes on

If you have questions about whether therapeutic massage is right for you, contact a medical massage therapist near you and just ask.

Treatment options

You have heard of Swedish, deep tissue and Thai massage as well as some others. Each has their own techniques and purpose. There are many ways to achieve similar effects and thank goodness! Some people have sensitivities to pressure, heat or cold, range of motion limitations and more.

Here are just ten of the techniques that can be used in medical massage:

  • Swedish
  • Deep tissue
  • Trigger point therapy
  • Myofascial release
  • Cupping (static and cupping massage)
  • Gua Sha (A.K.A. scraping or coining)
  • Active and passive stretching
  • Post isometric stretching
  • Pin & stretch
  • Muscle Energy Techniques (MET)
  • And so many more

Depending on the problem to be addressed, one or several of these techniques may be used. Treatment should always be specific to the individual patient’s needs.

Where to find them

This specialty of massage therapy can be found in the hospitalist setting, clinics, nursing home facilities or in private practice.

Chances are that you will be looking for one that is in a private practice or works in a clinic. If your healthcare provider doesn’t know of one to refer you to, here are a couple of options.

You can check online directories such as these:

Otherwise, Google will likely have the answer.

Try searching for “massage therapy near me” or massage therapy + your city/town. If you live in a city, then the chances are that you will have at least a few to choose from. Smaller towns may not have exactly what you need, and you may have to look at surrounding towns as well.

From there you can review the results to see if they might provide the services you are looking for. You may need to call and ask them. If they don’t, ask them if they know someone in the area who does.  

Does insurance cover medical massage?

Some physicians are familiar with the benefits of massage and may even write a prescription for treatment of a specific condition. This prescription is needed if you would like your insurance to cover the cost. Not all insurance companies cover massage therapy, however.

Because of this, many massage therapy practices are private pay only and do not accept insurance. There are often requirements and restrictions (including time restrictions) by insurance companies. Even if your insurance doesn’t cover the treatment, it may still save you some money in sales tax.

Conclusion

Medical massage therapy is there to help decrease or relieve tension, pain, and improve the quality of life for the patient. It is the specialized study conditions and practice of using techniques to achieve a therapeutic outcome. These therapists are focused on providing a service and caring for their patients.

They study and apply many different techniques to achieve the treatment goals of their patients. They may use many tools of the trade as allowed by their scope of practice in addition to their fingers, hands, fists, forearms, elbows, etc. Be curious and ask questions.

About the author

Ethan Pariseau is a licensed massage therapist, Registered Nurse, and a freelance health writer. He is passionate about health-related topics and educating others so they can better understand their conditions and take an active role in their own health journey.

Links and resources used in this article

The Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science – https://college.mayo.edu/academics/explore-health-care-careers/careers-a-z/medical-massage-therapist/

Health Line article “What Are the Different Types of Massage?” – https://www.healthline.com/health/types-of-massage  

The Mayo Clinic – Benefits of Massage – https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/benefits-of-massage-therapy

American Massage Therapy Association – Find A Massage Therapist – https://www.amtamassage.org/find-massage-therapist/?utm_source=radio&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=famt

Massage Book directory – Massage Book Health Grades directory – https://www.healthgrades.com/massage-therapy-directory

Why I Call You My “Patients” and not “Clients”

I’ve been a nurse for 15 years. So, I’m sure that has a lot to do with it. But, in my mind, a “patient” is someone you have a different connection with than a “client”. It feels like it’s a cold and distant relationship to me. There’s nothing wrong with massage therapists or other businesses calling them “clients”. They may feel the same way about using the term “client” as I do about “patient”. 

As a nurse, I have taken care of patients who were coming to the end of their lives. Others who were dealing with the worst health crisis they had ever experienced. I have listened to the life stories of the elderly because they were lonely in the middle of the night with no family around to keep them company. I have dealt with many situations from the nurse/patient perspective. I have been the one providing the care.

I’m not a physician but I have had patients, both as a nurse and as a massage therapist, call me “Doc”. They knew I wasn’t a doctor but I didn’t correct them. It was their way of showing me that they respected what I was doing for them. Sometimes, you just have to go with it. 

As a licensed massage therapist, I see people in various stages of health as well. They come to me when they’re in pain and have tried everything else that they can think of. Other times, they’re just so uncomfortable and have so much tension built up that they need a professional to work it out. Physicians, physical therapists and other health professionals may also refer them to see a massage therapist so they search on Google and find me. 

To me, the term “patient” is an endearing term. Referring to those who come to me as “my patients” carries with it a sense of weight and responsibility, on my part, to the person seeking treatment. They’re coming to me in hopes, trusting, that I can help them. I don’t take it lightly and I appreciate each person that comes to see me in my humble “residential practice”, as they call it. It’s a start.

This is the reason I call them my “patients” instead of my “clients”. It’s a personal and professional preference of mine. 

About the author: Ethan Pariseau is a registered nurse with a bachelor of science in nursing and is licensed by the state medical board of Ohio to practice massage therapy.

A Pain in the Tooth Can Become A Pain in the Backside for Dental Professionals

A Pain in the Tooth Can Become A Pain in the Backside for Dental Professionals

Dental professionals are at a higher risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders. To a patient laid back in the chair with their mouth agape it may just be a fleeting thought but if they take a minute and think about it, bending and leaning over like that’s gotta hurt. Then, the patient returns back to focusing on anything but what’s being done to their mouth.

Neck, shoulder, upper and lower back pain all contribute to early departure from the dental profession. Those of you who work in dental offices have to contort your bodies to get the angle needed to take care of your patients. You have to hold those positions while you carefully, meticulously and methodically work to take care of your patients throughout the day.

Doing this day after day and year after year can lead to the inability to continue working in this capacity. It’s just too damaging and too painful to continue on after so long. If you don’t find ways to make your work practices more ergonomic and really pay attention to your body you may find yourself looking for a new position in the dental field or for another line of work altogether.

  • Here are a few ideas for things that could help relieve or even prevent pain/discomfort while at work in the office:
    • Make it a point to stretch periodically throughout the day.
    • Use a tennis ball between yourself and the wall to roll out tense and aching back muscles.
    • Keep a massage gun in the office for a quick tune up. You may need a hand from a coworker if you can’t seem to get the massage gun
    • to the right spot or hit the tissues at the right angle.
    • Schedule a massage therapist who will come to the office with their massage chair and give 10-15 minute massages to each of the staff as they rotate out for their lunch break.

Injuries can be short or long term but chronic injuries are more common. With chronic injuries, it increases the likelihood that you won’t be able to continue working in the dental field as you are. As a result of these injuries, the dental practice will see an increase in sick leave, decreased quality of work and increased work-related accidents. These can cost you considerably and in more than one way.

When able, try to find different positions to perform the same tasks and vary them throughout your workday. Find ones that work for you and place less strain on your body. Take a minute here and there to move and stretch those muscles, tendons, ligaments and structures that are pushed, pulled and cramped while working with patients.

About the author: Ethan Pariseau is a registered nurse with a bachelor of science in nursing and is licensed by the state medical board of Ohio to practice massage therapy.

Expressing Appreciation for My Patients

A big Thank You to my patients

As a new small service based business owner in my small community I am very grateful for those in my town and the surrounding small towns that have come to see me and have trusted me with taking care of them. Allowing me to interview them, assess them, develop a plan of care with them and then follow through with that plan. 

I appreciate each and every patient that I have seen. And those who allowed me to work on them while I was still in school. Without those who allow students to practice on them the students wouldn’t be able to gain valuable experience and learn what different tissues feel like on different people. There is only so much one can learn from treating their classmates who don’t actually have any issues with their tissues. 

 I have learned something each time I’ve worked on someone. It may have been a new technique that I wanted to try out. Or maybe I just came up with a different way to accomplish the same goal but it helped to give variety to the treatment. I’ve learned which techniques are more effective for certain body types, pains, sensitivities and more. 

My experience so far has taught me something about myself. I’ve learned several problems I like to work on and it has helped me better define the type of patients I want to work with. There are still so many things I want to try and be a part of relieving and that just shows me that I have a long career ahead of me. I enjoy a challenge. I love to teach people about the body and what I’m doing so they can have a better understanding of themselves and take some control back. 

I will continue to look for different ways to show my appreciation for each of my patients whether they only see me once or become a regular who comes to see me for years to come. Getting creative in many aspects of my practice is one of the things I look forward to having the opportunity to do.

I hope that if I have treated you that you were able to get some relief and learn something from me. I appreciate the time you took to contact and come and work with me. Maybe we’ll work together again in the future. I thank you for giving me the opportunity.