Updated on July 4, 2024

What is massage therapy

Massage therapy is a treatment modality in which a massage therapist manipulates muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments, and joints to relieve pain, and ease tension of tight joints structures and soft tissue.

A registered massage therapist, RMT, is a healthcare practitioner who provides massage therapy treatment. The RMT can address issues with tension due to lifestyle stressors, and alleviate discomfort resulting from sports-incurred injuries, overuse injuries (e.g., tennis elbow, golfers elbow, pain in your knees, etc.), chronic conditions (e.g., osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis), headaches, and TMJ issues.

If you have tightness in your neck, muscles knotted up in the upper back region or in the region in between your shoulder blades, or a stiff lower back, a massage therapy session with an RMT will aid you in getting relief.

If you are experiencing radiating pain or tingling from sciatic nerve impingement, or tingling, or numbness along your hands, massage therapy treatment sessions by an RMT may help you alleviate and reduce the intensity of the symptoms.

Additionally, the RMT may be able to provide you with take-home how-to tips so you can keep the level of pain or discomfort from the symptoms to a reasonably manageable level.

In Ontario, Canada, a massage therapist must be registered with the provincial regulating body, the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO).

Scope of Practice

The CMTO defines the scope of massage therapy as:

1. “… the assessment of the soft tissue and joints of the body and the treatment and prevention of physical dysfunction and pain of the soft tissues and joints by manipulation to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment physical function, or relieve pain.” …. (ref: CMTO, RHPA section scope of practice).