While television shows and instagram ads may portray massage therapy as a stereotypical spa experience for expensive vacations or for athletes who try to relax between high-intensity games, in reality, registered massage therapy (RMT) is a health and wellness treatment that involves the use of manual therapy to relieve tension and promote relief and healing in the body.
RMT can just be for relaxation, but it can also involve active elements throughout the session. Your key to fully enjoying and maximizing the usefulness of your treatment is to communicate with your practitioner. Communicate your boundaries, requests, and needs within the treatment. A professional registered massage therapist will always put you and your requirements above all else in a respectful manner.
Who is RMT For?
In short, RMT is for absolutely everybody! From babies to seniors and everyone in between, RMT treatments can alleviate aches and pains associated with everyday living, no matter who you are and what you do. Registered Massage Therapists are experts in the body and its functional mechanisms at all stages and ages. They study the joints, soft tissues, and the muscular system in order to properly assess and develop treatment plans. They are able to assess both acute and long-term conditions, and will factor in underlying conditions to treat your specific needs. Through their education and experience, along with the information you provide, your practitioner will be able to customize your session to work on the parts of your body that need the most care.
What Can RMT Treat?
From minor strains to recurring injuries to lifelong health conditions, RMT treatments can treat a variety of ailments. Some of the most common situations we see include the following:
1. Extended Sitting
An RMT session can help alleviate the tension in the neck and back for individuals who do deskwork or spend extended amounts of time looking at a computer screen, as well as those who have recently returned from traveling on long-haul flights or long road trips.
2. Motor Vehicle-Related Injuries
Being involved in a motor vehicle accident is an unpleasant experience. ICBC automatically approves twelve partially-covered massage therapy sessions for anyone injured in a crash, no matter who is at fault. These visits can help release tension and lessen the pain in any part of the body that has been injured.
3. Disorders, Diseases, and Conditions
There are a variety of short term and long term health conditions or diseases that can lead to muscle and joint related pain. Some of these include fibromyalgia, arthritis, plantar fasciitis, cancer, stroke, multiple sclerosis, frozen shoulder, and more. While RMT doesn’t cure these conditions or diseases, they can help keep your body as pain-free as possible while other treatments or medications are taken.
4. Injuries from Daily Living Activities
If you have a job or routine that includes repetitive motions like lifting, stirring, pulling, pushing, folding, or kneeling, chances are, you have a part of the body that is more sore and achy due to these repetitive actions. An RMT session can help assess the degree of injury, as well as releasing and relaxing those overworked muscles or joints.
What Can You Expect?
If it’s your first time attending an RMT treatment, here are some things you can expect.
- Introductions: your practitioner will start the session by getting to know you and your specific needs. This is the time to discuss your requests, boundaries, and ask any questions you may have.
- Undressing: while RMT is most effective on bare skin using oil or lotion, you can undress to your comfortability level and have your practitioner adjust their techniques according to your needs.
- Massage Techniques: Depending on your assessment, your practitioner will use a combination of techniques including but not limited to deep tissue massage, cross-fiber massage, myofascial/trigger point release, muscle attachment release, stretch massage, neuromuscular therapy and craniosacral therapy.
- Tipping: While it may seem customary to leave a tip for your registered massage therapist, at Evolve Therapeutic, we do not take tips. We instead, ask our patients to express their gratitude through writing a Google Review or spreading the word about our clinic through word of mouth.
- Soreness or Discomfort: It is important to remember that the effects of RMT may take a day or two to set in. You may feel soreness and discomfort in the areas that have been worked on during your treatment. Ask your practitioner for how to handle these minor aches and pains in the time following your treatment before the relief kicks in!
- Booking Follow-Ups: Some injuries, conditions, or areas of discomfort may require another session to fully treat or release. We suggest getting your practitioner’s advice on when to book in a follow-up session.
At Evolve Therapeutic, we are dedicated to providing the highest standard of care to all of our patients. We have a team of highly skilled and experienced registered massage therapists who have graduated from accredited colleges in BC. If one therapist’s techniques are not exactly what you need, we encourage you to try another! We are committed to collaborating with you to give you the relief and relaxation you deserve. No matter who you are, we encourage you to drop in and book a session with us so that we can help you through your health and wellness journey!
