Not sure where to put this question, what's the difference?

[Steven Miles]

I see a lot of advertisements for various schools, some use the general term massage therapy while others use medical massage therapy. Is there a difference between the 2?

The reason i'm asking is initially I hope to focus on medical/clinical massage as opposed to working in more spa type setting. I'm not sure what working in a hospital is like, or type of additional education would be required.

Thanks again

 

[MusicIsLife]

medical v. spa type massage

Klauss-
The main differences between medical massage and therapeutic massage is that medical massage often requires a billing code related to diagnosis(such as whiplash,rotator cuff strain,lumbar musculature strain), a direct referral and presription from a physician, and is most often covered by insurance. Therapeutic massage is primarily for tension and relaxation purposes and does not require a prescription. Hope this helps you.

Blessings and Light-
Johnny

 

[iLoveMusic!!]

The school I attended was a "School of Medical Massage Therapy" in Lebanon, Ohio. We learned techniques for treating tmj, whiplash, thoracic outlet syndrome, sprains/strains, fractures, etc along with therapeutic work for other complaints.

Our instructors stressed that whether "they" liked it or not, those folks who sought to designate massage as "medical" vs "therapeutic" [which included the PhD and the physician who owned the school] were deluding themselves if "they" thought the 2 ideas could be completely disassociated with one another. Medical massage is therapeutic and therapeutic massage can be medical.

Stress is a medical condition, so is a sprain/strain condition, a whiplash injury, etc. I was taught to treat all of them with the appropriate massage techniques. To the instructors, and to me, the only designation that really counted was the diagnostic code provided by a physician to the LMT, when necessary, for insurance claims to be processed. The work didn't, and, for me, doesn't change just because of the the Rx or diagnostic code. What I learned and what I still practice are as medical as they are therapeutic. They cannot be divorced from one another just because there are now schools that claim the education you will receive from their curriculum is somehow superior to that of other schools because they have tacked the word "medical" into the name of the school and/or its curriculum. The "proof in the pudding" [as Grandma would say] is in what you are actually able to do when you get the heck through school and get out in the real world.

To my way of thinking it's just one more devisive way to splinter the profession into groups of "I'm better than you are because I can do..... better than you can....." If you want to do spa work, great, be the best you can at that, and more power to you. If you want to do work with people with physical concerns, find the school that teaches you that and go for it!!! There are schools for whatever you want to learn. Visit the ones in and around Columbus [since I see you are in Central Ohio] and see what their curriculums are like. Visit the student clinics and see what kind of work the students are capable of as they near the end of their formal schooling.... by my count there are at least 3 schools within Columbus proper ..... American Institute of Alternative Medicine, Columbus State Community College, and Central Ohio School of Massage.... Investigate schools outside of your area to see if their curriculums suit your needs and vision for your future better. Check out the school at Hocking Hills Community College, or the schools in the Akron/Canton area, the school in Lima, or near Bowling Green, Cincinnati, or even Lebanon. There are a lot of really good schools in the state...... check them out personally, and then take a look at their statistics with the medical board for the number of graduates that successfully pass the boards each year....... you will find the school you want if you just look around and explore what each school has to offer rather than looking for a school whose name sounds like it is better than another's.

Good luck in your search.

J

 

[Allan]

Medical massage is therapeutic and therapeutic massage can be medical.

What I learned and what I still practice are as medical as they are therapeutic. They cannot be divorced from one another just because there are now schools that claim the education you will receive from their curriculum is somehow superior to that of other schools because they have tacked the word "medical" into the name of the school and/or its curriculum.

To my way of thinking it's just one more devisive way to splinter the profession into groups of "I'm better than you are because I can do..... better than you can....."

:iagree:

I was going to post a reply yesterday but hesitated since I wasn't sure if in your state (Ohio) there was a legal designation between the two terms. Here in Florida an LMT is an LMT is an LMT no matter what your school called itself. All LMTs practice within the scope of their individual training. If you've been trained in only relaxation massage, then you'd work in a place that only offered that. If you've been trained in therapeutic modalities then you'd be able to offer those skills. All LMTs are treated equally as far as ability to bill insurance but if you bill that you are doing MFR or NMT then you have to have the paper to back it up that you are qualified to perform those modalities.

To my way of thinking medical and therapeutic are two terms for the same thing. Both terms imply that you are "treating" a particular problem. I fail to see any difference between the two.

All schools are not equal though. You need to research them to find the one that offers the curriculum that interests you the most. And also keep in mind that school is not the end of your training. There are tons of different things to learn for your CEUs.

Angie

 

[Camellia A]

Moogie -

In Ohio an LMT is an LMT is an LMT when you pass the Medical Boards exam. A massage tech is a massage tech is a massage tech when you take the course work and whatever other qualifications there are for that work - to my knowledge it's a lighter course load, and focuses primarily on relaxation work, not the medical side of the profession.

Either way, when you are licensed as whichever one you studied to be, that's what you are in this crazy state. Techs can't claim to be LMTs - that's a "protected" designation denoting the education, etc..... that's about it...............

 

[Caterpuff]

To my way of thinking it's just one more devisive way to splinter the profession into groups of "I'm better than you are because I can do..... better than you can....." If you want to do spa work, great, be the best you can at that, and more power to you. If you want to do work with people with physical concerns, find the school that teaches you that and go for it!!! There are schools for whatever you want to learn. Visit the ones in and around Columbus [since I see you are in Central Ohio] and see what their curriculums are like. Visit the student clinics and see what kind of work the students are capable of as they near the end of their formal schooling.... by my count there are at least 3 schools within Columbus proper ..... American Institute of Alternative Medicine, Columbus State Community College, and Central Ohio School of Massage.... Investigate schools outside of your area to see if their curriculums suit your needs and vision for your future better. Check out the school at Hocking Hills Community College, or the schools in the Akron/Canton area, the school in Lima, or near Bowling Green, Cincinnati, or even Lebanon. There are a lot of really good schools in the state...... check them out personally, and then take a look at their statistics with the medical board for the number of graduates that successfully pass the boards each year....... you will find the school you want if you just look around and explore what each school has to offer rather than looking for a school whose name sounds like it is better than another's.

Good luck in your search.

J

Thanks AnastasiaB

I have actually atteneded Hocking college for nursing school but was unable to finish, wonderful school btw. I have yet to visist the central ohio schools but will as soon as i'm able to.


My other big concern is the sheer amount of mt's in the cetral ohio area, lot of competitionout there lol.

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Abby]

My other big concern is the sheer amount of mt's in the cetral ohio area, lot of competitionout there lol.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Dont worry so much about competition. Becoming an MT is relativly easy compared to becoming a doctor. It takes more than just attending school and passing a national test to be a good MT.

The schooling and test dont make an MT. Some have the touch before they go to school. For these, school helps to develop these skills even more so. For those that dont have the innate skill of touch, they may learn it, then again they may not. Then there are people skills, some have it and some dont. Just becuase you are an MT doesnt mean people are going to beat down your door to get a massage from you.

Everyone who is in this field has unique skills. Some MT's will rise to the top even if there are many other MT's in your area. If you are good, it will show and your business will blossom.