Medical Massage In Provo
There are many different types of massages for people to enjoy today. You may have found yourself wondering about the differences between some of the main types of massages. On this page, we provide assistance for anyone interested in a medical massage in Provo. But what is the difference between a spa-like massage and a clinical one? While both involve adding pressure to the body, they have a number of important differences. With that being said, continue reading to discover everything you need to know.
It’s all about the outcome
The key difference between a medical massage and a spa-like massage is the purpose. The end goal can differ for each type of patient. Usually, when visiting a spa for a massage, your only outcome is relaxation and maybe to undo a bit of tightness you are experiencing. However, when it comes to medical massages, this is a type of treatment that is designed to target a specific problem. This is where the main differences lie. With a medical massage, the massage is going to be provided to try and help you recover from a specific illness or condition, or to at least alleviate the symptoms that are associated with it. For standard spa massages, the goal is usually to de-stress and relax so that you can go home feeling rejuvenated.
So, what is a medical massage?
Medical massages relate to massages that are very much outcome-based. This means that the treatment is applied to target a specific issue the patient is experiencing. This is after the professional has been presented with the diagnosis and it has been determined that a medical massage is the right treatment to be administered. It is also known as a treatment massage or clinical massage.
There are a lot of different massage programs and schools that teach medical massage as a technique. However, there is not one specified technique. This is because medical massage is used to treat a number of different medical conditions and so a different technique may be needed depending on the specific issue. Medical massage involves the practitioner taking any style of massage they know and applying this technique to certain conditions with the aim of bringing specific outcomes.
Targeting your needs with different techniques
In some ways, medical massages and spa massages are the same. However, when you consider the fact that the purpose differs between the two massage types, you will probably not be surprised to hear that the technique can be different too. For example, you will usually enjoy a regular, Swedish massage during a spa trip. However, some spas today have introduced different and more innovative methods. Nevertheless, the standard Swedish massage has been the go-to option for quite some years now. This is a more basic style of massage, which is purely focused on relaxation. On the flip side, during your medical massage, you may find that the professional utilizes a wider range of modalities, for example, Myofascial Release and Trigger Point Therapy, for the purpose of aiding in muscle health recovery.
History
Now, let’s take a look at the history of medical massages. As a medical treatment, massages have a very long history. In fact, there is evidence tracing them as far back as more than 5,000 years in China. More recently, though, a neurologist in Philadelphia who went by the name of Professor Silas Weir Mitchell (1829-1914) is believed to be the first individual to bring massage treatment to the attention of the medical community in the United States.
Since then, there has been further exploration into the benefits associated with massages from a medical standpoint. For example, A Practical Treatise on Massage was written by Douglas Graham, MD of Boston Massachusetts, in 1884. This focused on specific disorders and diseases being treated by the use of massage. Only a year later, the classic textbook The Art of Massage, Its Physiological Effects, and Therapeutic Actions was published by Dr. Harvey Kellogg.
Qualifications
A medical massage can be carried out by any Licensed Massage Therapist, so long as they have received training on treating specific medical issues. For massage therapy, State Licensure is the only qualification needed. In some states, for example in Washington State, part of the state licensure will incorporate some training into treatment massages. However, the amount of training required does differ considerably from state to state.
Because of this, it is important that any customer looking to get a medical massage asks the therapist about the experience and training they have in providing treatment for certain conditions, especially the condition you are experiencing. Currently, only Florida and Washington State mandate that massage therapists are in a position where providers can contract with medical insurance businesses. At the moment, there are no provisions for each type of provider to be covered in insurance policies as per the Affordable Healthcare Act of 2010. Despite this, though, it is possible that your medical massage will be covered by insurance under this Act.
We hope that you now have a better understanding of medical massages and how they differ from traditional massages. Not only does the purpose of the massage differ, but the person carrying out the massage may differ as well. It is certainly worth making sure you choose someone who has the required experience in medical massages, as this is not a service whereby you will want to take any sort of risk.
Call us today to ask about our qualifications, experience, and to book an appointment.