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.
  
• Encouraged to create "up sells" to increase revenue

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
​

How can I schedule an appointment?
How can I contact you?

Our Texting Number and Office Number is: (814) 873-6324
Our Email: [email protected]
Our Website: www.BATM2001.com (Go to the Scheduling Page from our HOME page.)

Aren't a Masseuse and Massage Therapist the same thing?

Simple put : NO however a more in-depth answer follows:

Referring to a Massage Therapist as a Masseuse often yields an unwanted emotional response.

The terms "masseuse" and "massage therapist" are often used interchangeably, but there are key differences between them: 

Training and Certification: 

• Massage Therapist:
  A licensed healthcare professional who has completed extensive training in anatomy, physiology, massage techniques, and ethics. (500+ Hours) .  They hold a state and/or national certification. 
• Masseuse:
  A person who provides massages but may not have formal training or certification. They may have acquired their skills through experience or self-study. 

Scope of Practice: 

• Massage Therapist:
  Can provide a wide range of therapeutic massages, including deep tissue, sports, and medical massage. They can assess clients' health conditions, design customized treatment plans, and work with other healthcare professionals.

• Masseuse:
  Primarily focuses on relaxation massages and may not be qualified to address medical issues or perform more advanced techniques.  May focus on more sexual based practices

Gender: 

• Masseuse:
  Historically, a female massage practitioner. However, this term is now considered outdated and potentially offensive. 

• Massage Therapist:
  A gender-neutral term that can be used for both male and female practitioners. 

Professionalism and Ethics: 

• Massage Therapist: Adheres to strict professional standards and ethical guidelines, ensuring client safety and well-being. As mentioned above, HIPPA guidlines may be followed.
  

• Masseuse: May have varying levels of professionalism and ethical practices, if any.

In summary, a Massage Therapist is a licensed healthcare professional with extensive training and a broader scope of practice, while a Masseuse may have less formal training and focuses primarily on relaxation massages. It's important to choose a qualified Massage Therapist if you're seeking therapeutic benefits or have specific health concerns

Great Website, BUT I could make it better....

2025 Carl D. Borecky States and is Responsible for:

WEB Tick Definition.
As stated above we adhere to strict professional standards and ethical guidelines.  In my opinion any person or company that cruises the internet to prey on small businesses do not have professional nor ethical guidelines. 

If they are so great at what they do, why aren't they overbooked for their time?

So they take a website that is done, tweak the SEO, maybe change a header or so and then charge the poor people Big $ per month to "maintain their site".  They are no better than the folks who used to "pave your driveway with extra stuff from a few doors down" only to spread some used motor oil and charge for complete asphalt.

Cold Callers with web fixes to problems you didn't know you had are:

{WEB TICKS - they attach themselves to you and suck out your business blood.}

As we accumulate "fixes" and "improvement" offers, I'll publish them so other businesses can avoid these Web Ticks too, if they want too.

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