What is Massage Therapy?

The practice of massage therapy is the assessment of the soft tissue and joints of the body and the treatment and prevention of physical dysfunction and pain of the soft tissue and joints by manipulation to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment physical function or relieve pain. (Massage Therapy Act, 1991)

 

The College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia ("CMTBC") is the regulatory body for Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) in the Province. It acts on behalf of all British Columbians to ensure Registered Massage Therapists always deliver safe and effective treatments.

Therefore, only regulated health professionals who have completed the requisite training and have met strict competency requirements of the CMTBC can call themselves “Massage Therapist” or “Registered Massage Therapist.”

An RMT holds Professional Liability Insurance and follows the guidelines set by the governing body.

RMTs in BC are trained in:

  • The assessment and diagnosis of soft tissue and joints of the body
  • The treatment and prevention of injury, pain and physical disorders

RMTs are dedicated to treating your symptoms of pain and dysfunction, including the underlying causes.

It is widely understood that massage therapy decreases stress and helps control pain. Perhaps less known is the effectiveness of massage therapy in treating deeper structures of the body such as ligaments, bones and joints, fascia, blood vessels, organs and other soft tissues of the body. Massage therapy can provide relief for many common conditions such as:” (MTABC 2012)

  •  Migraine headaches
  •  Low Back Pain   
  • Osteoporosis
  • Whiplash  
  • Stress Release  
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Pregnancy  
  • Tendonitis  
  • Sports injuries
  • Cancer    
  • Arthritis     
  • And many other common conditions related to soft tissue and joint dysfunction

Education and Training

Registered Massage Therapists are among the most educated and highly-trained professionals in their field. To become an RMT in BC students must complete at least 3 years of training at an accredited college.

Standard educational requirements include comprehensive studies in health sciences such as anatomy, physiology, pathology, kinesiology and neuroanatomy. Other studies include clinical sciences such as manual skills, orthopedics, remedial exercise, hydrotherapy and patient education. The management of chronic diseases, injuries and the effects of long-term stress are also studied extensively.
 

Massage Therapy - A Regulated Health Care Profession

Massage therapy in BC has been a regulated health care profession since 1946 and is legislated by the government under the BC Health Profession Act. In 2001, the Health Professions Council (HPC) accepted a revised scope of practice definition proposed by the College of Massage Therapists of BC (CMTBC), the professions regulatory body. The proposed definition reads:

“The practice of massage therapy is the assessment of soft tissue and joints of the body and the treatment and prevention of dysfunction, injury, pain and physical disorders of the soft tissues and joints by manual and physical methods to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment physical function to relieve pain and promote health.”

 

*for more information on the CMTBC please visit their website at www.cmtbc.bc.ca.