Medical massage

Medical Massage Therapy (MMT) starts with a referral from your provider and focuses on the specific diagnosis or injury identified by your referring provider.  This is NOT a full body massage.

Medical massage, also known as therapeutic massage, is a type of massage therapy that focuses on treating specific health conditions. It is part of a treatment plan for: pain management, improved range of motion, muscle tension release, soft tissue injuries, post-surgical scar tissue, and neurological conditions.

Medical massage involves a customized, result-oriented approach often part of a larger treatment plan and sometimes covered by insurance, whereas regular massage is more general and focused on immediate relaxation

• Goal: To address specific medical issues, injuries, or chronic pain, with a focus on healing and improving a particular condition. The focus is on addressing specific conditions and treatment outcomes
• Treatment plan: A structured, customized plan is developed to achieve a specific health outcome, such as reducing nerve compression or scar tissue. 

• Therapist’s training: Therapists have advanced training and certifications to work with specific conditions and may collaborate with other healthcare providers. 

Examples: Treating back pain, sciatica, post-surgical issues, or TMJ dysfunction. 

Regular massage

Regular massage is more general massage and is focused on immediate relaxation. 

• Goal: To provide relaxation, reduce stress, and promote general well-being.

• Treatment plan: A general, less structured session focused on overall relaxation, often with no specific medical end goal. 

• Therapist’s training: Therapists have foundational training and certification, often focused on techniques like Swedish or hot stone massage for relaxation. 

• Examples: A spa massage for unwinding, stress relief, or a general feeling of pampering.