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What is Massage?  What is Massage Therapy?

Massage is the intentional and systematic manipulation of the soft tissues of the body to enhance health and healing. Joint movements and stretching are commonly performed as part of massage. The primary characteristics of massage are touch and movement.

​Massage Therapy is a general term for health and healing practices involving touch and movement, which are based in massage and related manual techniques. (1)

1. ​Knaster, Mirka. Discovering the Body's Wisdom. Bantam 1996

What's the Difference between a Medical and a Spa Massage?

A spa massage is strictly for relaxation, usually no intake forms are necessary.  Spa Therapists are not typically trained to work with specific conditions, aches or pains.  Medical Massage therapists have a more advanced education and training in anatomy and bodily systems, require in-take forms and work on outcomes based on specific conditions.  Medical Therapists can provide a full relaxation massage, but if you have any aches or pains these can be addressed too.

More Completely:

SPA Massage:

• Modalities: In spa massage, the therapist is focused on the relaxation of the client. 
• Training: Basic massage education (often around 500 hours).
• Credentials: A therapist is required to be licensed in most states and carry liability insurance.
• Ethics: Documentation of time and place of a session is ethically sufficient.
• Benefits:  Reduction of stress and tension
• Draw-Backs: Not encouraged to address specific aches or pains.

MEDICAL Massage:

• Modalities: The ultimate focus is on functional outcomes. There is an evidence-based reason why a therapist applies one modality over another and most importantly, results must be measurable. Client satisfaction is often not assessed until the completion of a limited number of treatments or the achievement of a specific therapeutic outcome. (Relaxation is also a valid outcome.)
• Training:  A Medical Massage Therapist will have extensive training to achieve solutions to problems that exceed stress and tension, including pain, mobility, range of motion, sports injuries, posture and depression.  Medical massage therapists will take the time before your session to discuss what hurts and what you want to “fix.” In many cases, the massage therapist will explain the techniques they will use and recommend after care to get the best possible outcome.  This requires substantial continuing education to be qualified to practice in a clinical setting. Knowledge must be gained that includes assessment and proper documentation of functional pain, lifestyle and ranges of motion. Advanced understanding of pathology and kinesiology is important. 
• Credentials: Basic Massage education and additional credentialing is required such as National Certification, Board Certification, additional professional certificates, and continuing education hours.
• Ethics: Various details of ethics must be observed and practiced with care, like the HIPAA privacy requirements. Medical Massage is often practiced in team-based settings that include colleagues such as chiropractors, physicians and/or Team Trainers. Documentation - Intake, medications, treatments, recommendations and follow-up reports required.  In addition proper records of informed consent, contraindications and session SOAP notes is also required. 
• Benefits:  When you use Medical Massage, you are basically reaping all of the benefits of a spa massage while getting care that is tailored to your needs.  In addition to relaxing and reducing stress, you will also receive a massage that is uniquely designed to improve the way your body feels.

   1.  Massage Today. October, 2012, Vol. 12, Issue 10.Understanding the Difference Between Clinical and Spa Massage. By Christy Schumacher, NCTMB
     2.  UNM Truman Health Services. Medical Massage Therapy vs. Spa Massage. Posted on September 1, 2014 by admin_12632
​     3.  Beth Borecky LMT (PA:MSG006157;GA:MT011645;FL:MA86353), BCTMB(608087-11), MMMT. 2017,CPT:ACTION:209855
​

Whose panels are you currently on?

We are on the panel of providers for 60+ health plans.  Here's a few of them:  Advantra, Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield,  Health America, Health Net Health Plan, Coventry, UNICARE, and United Health.  Call us and we can confirm if we are on your plan or we can work with your provider - (888) 236-2754.  Note: there is a long pause, a click, and another pause between the first message and the answering machine/therapist ringing. Don't hang up, we'll be there shortly.

How can I schedule an appointment?
How can I contact you? 
​Where does my Health Care Professional FAX the prescription?

Our 800 number: (888) 236-2754. 
Our FAX number is (814) 446-7837
Our texting number is: (814) 873-6324
Our Email: [email protected]
Our Website: www.BATM2001.com
Or:  Book Online Right Here, Right Now.