In New Brunswick, massage therapy is making a move in the right direction as a health care profession. In 2004 massage therapy became recognized as a medical service under motor vehicle insurance policies, a positive step toward legislation in the province. Two associations are working together to ensure upcoming legislation to regulate the profession and the organizers are optimistic it will occur within the next couple of years.
Legislation is vital for all health care professions, as this serves as protection for the public where any issues should arise concerning the integrity of the professional or any treatment. As it stands today, any individual qualified or not, is able to set up a clinic and advertise as a massage therapist. The associations are working against this occurrence, but are not able to enforce a regulation without the law to protect it. Having legislation in place will eliminate the option for any unqualified individual to lead a client into a treatment that could potentially harm that client.
Stress reduction and relaxation are two very common goals for massage treatments, but these are merely the tip of the iceberg. It would be a more specific list to name the conditions for which massage would not be advised. High fevers, communicable diseases and advanced kidney failure are but a few. An educated therapist would know not to treat a person with such conditions which when combined with massage may put the client in danger.
The education standards in our province strictly follow those of Ontario, a province legislated since 1991. The minimum 2200-hour college certificate offers thorough training which covers extensive study of human anatomy, physiology, biology, pathology, neurology and pharmacology as well as practical courses, student clinic and community outreaches.
Massage therapy is suitable for all ages, ranging from pregnancy massage to geriatric massage. Additional training courses are plentiful and in fact are mandated by both associations.
In keeping with all health care professions, massage therapy is generally available during regular business hours. Some therapists opt to offer appointments after hours, in evenings and sometimes early mornings. Employers are encouraged to see massage appointments as productive absences from work. Visits are scheduled one client at a time so waits in the sitting room are short and minimal.
Most extended health care plans cover massage therapy. Depending on the insurance company and therapist, direct billing is a convenient payment method. Some health care plans require a doctor’s prescription before the initial treatment, others do not. The individual can contact their insurance provider for clarification. For motor vehicle accidents, a doctor’s prescription is a must.
The web site for the Association of New Brunswick Massage Therapists is www.anbmt.com and for the New Brunswick Massotherapy Association is www.nbma-amnb.ca . Readers are invited to visit these sites to seek a therapist in their area and enjoy a massage today.
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