Frequently asked questions.
What is registered massage therapy?
Registered Massage Therapy involves the direct treatment of soft tissues to improve tissue health and physical dysfunction. RMT helps with injury recovery and the maintenance or improvement of chronic conditions. We perform thorough assessments and provide homecare for each patient as most of the recovery often comes from what you do at home. Techniques often encompass manual massage, joint mobilizations, stretching, exercises, and suggestions to modify biomechanics throughout your day.
RMT is a regulated profession governed by provincial regulatory bodies (CMTBC). We have to follow strict regulations around confidentiality, care protocols, and hygiene. Bylaws and ethics are near identical to those for Physiotherapists and Chiropractors.
does my extended health care plan cover massage?
Most plans include massage but you'll have to confirm with your plan specifically. It can be as high as 100% coverage or could instead be covered as a dollar amount towards each visit.
What is our cancellation policy?
We have a 24-hour cancellation policy wherein any appointment cancelled or rescheduled within 24 hours of its start time is subject to a fee equal to the cost of the appointment originally booked, as well as no-show absences. This ensures that appointments are made available to those patients in need and that our therapists’ is respected. RMTs often can only provide several treatments per day, thus a cancellation without reasonable notice can be difficult to replace and be costly to clinicians.
This fee is not billable to insurance and is the full responsibility of the patient. Should unforeseen circumstances, emergencies, or illness arise, we ask that you contact us through the web form, via phone, or connect with your therapist directly to ensure we are notified of any absence as soon as possible.
Credit cards on file may be used to settle balances related to such fees.
Massage and ICBC / motor vehicle accident claims.
ICBC automatically approves 12 massage visits within the first 12 weeks after an accident, covering $94.5 per treatment. You do not need a referral to take advantage of these treatments. That means that after you call the insurance company when you get in an accident, the next call you should make is to your Massage Therapist. We just need your ICBC case number to proceed with treatment.
Owen Giroux currently direct bills to ICBC.
What can massage therapy help with?
All sorts of things! From sports injuries to pregnancy related issues, massage can help the body repair damaged tissue and ease sensitivity and discomfort. These include, but are not limited to, headaches, posture-related pain, body or muscle aches, stiffness, poor range of motion, nerve pain and compressions, joint issues and arthritis, circulatory complaints, scarring and scar tissue healing, injury prevention, biomechanical rehabilitation, and the maintenance of systemic conditions like diabetes, COPD, or neurological issues like paralysis or numbness. Reach out if you have a question about a condition, or if you’re curious if we could help you with your concern.
Do i need a referral to see an rmt?
You do not! Medical doctors, physiotherapists, chiropractors, and other health care professionals will often refer to RMT, but it is not required in order to book a massage. However, some insurance providers require a doctor's note to unlock their massage benefits. This requirement sometimes renews annually, however it is only required by a small minority of insurance policies.
RCMP / Medavie Blue Cross / Veterans’ Affairs all normally like a Doctor’s note prescribing RMT for direct billing. Please check with your policy requirements if you’re hoping for direct-billing by your therapist.
How will I be covered while on the treatment table?
During the entire massage, you will be covered under sheets and often with a blanket, too. We will undrape a specific area of the body before treating it, such as an arm or leg, and then re-cover that area once complete. If you aren't comfortable having an area uncovered, please let your therapist know. We are always happy to accommodate and can easily avoid an area entirely or treat through the sheets as alternatives.
what should i wear to a massage therapy appointment?
Wear whatever is comfortable. You'll be covered under the sheets for the entire treatment, aside from the specific area we are working on which we will have already discussed in the assessment and agreed to treat. Most people choose to undress and leave their bottom underwear on, while some remain fully clothed. The biggest difference in how this will affect your treatment is whether or not we can use oil and utilize certain techniques with skin-to-skin contact. Every massage therapist has treated hundreds of patients fully clothed, it is not uncommon to prefer this, so please let your therapist know.
The weather is bad, are you still open?
Most likely, we are, but we understand the difficulties in wading through fresh snow. Our therapists will reach out to their patients individually if there are any changes to their booking, including cancelling due to severe weather. If you’re worried and wondering, feel free to call or send us an email, but if you haven’t heard from us, your appointment is almost certainly unchanged.
how often should i seek massage therapy treatments?
This varies greatly depending on the reason for seeking massage. Some find a monthly massage for relaxation or maintenance of pain to be very beneficial. Others have a specific issue, injury, or goal they wish to work on. The latter requires further assessment and discussion about a treatment plan. Generally, we like to address an acute flare up or new injury with more frequent treatments, once or twice weekly. When the tissue calms down and depending on your pain levels, we can move to every other week while we develop good homecare strategies. Ultimately, the goal is to reach independent care with good homecare routines, but most people enjoy regular maintenance every few months when soreness builds back up.
is it normal to be sore after a massage?
It is normal, but not common. Deeper pressure during a massage can be beneficial to access different tissues and to release certain areas, however, everyone's body reacts differently. It is possible that a manual technique could trigger a spasm, bruise fragile areas, exacerbate congestion, etc., but this is never the intention. It is crucial to communicate with your therapist to let them know if something hurts or feels intense. A mild soreness or slight amount of achiness after a massage is not necessarily reason for concern, but if you are incapacitated or in moderate to severe discomfort for several days, please reach out to your RMT.
Where can i learn more about registered massage therapy?
The governing body of Massage in BC is the CMTBC (www.cmtbc.ca) and they deal with legislature and complaints. The professional association for Massage Therapists of BC is the RMTBC (www.rmtbc.ca) and they deal with public education and resources for RMTs.