The Discernment of an RMT - Who, When and How to Give the Best Massage
The Discernment of an Registered Massage Therapist (RMT)
Join RMT and Wolseley Wellness co-owner, Holly Behringer, as she discusses the who, when and how RMTs give the best massage.
Everybody is different. Every BODY is different.
It seems obvious to say that not all massages are the same. They of course are not. Each massage treatment is so uniquely different depending on many factors. A massage therapist will consider if the condition is acute or chronic and if the dysfunction is structural, functional or related to the nervous system.
So, how do we know who to treat how and when? Let’s explore some of the factors your RMT is considering when discerning your best care.
All treatments can be categorised into three areas of care depending on the desired outcomes:
1. Palliative Care
2. Therapeutic Change
3. Condition Management
Palliative Care Massage
Palliative care massage is about comfort. Nobody is changing or fixing anything. It is used to reduce the intensity of uncomfortable symptoms or simply to incorporate the power of positive and nurturing touch into the treatment of the terminally ill. Palliative care massage is beautiful and I hope to feature it in a post soon
Therapeutic Massage
Therapeutic change is the opposite of palliative care. Therapeutic massage is all about changing and fixing the body. Whether or not the purpose of the massage treatment is to prepare a person for a sporting event or procedure, or to repair an injury, therapeutic change is about just that, CHANGE
Condition Management Massage
Condition management. Most massage treatments will fall somewhere within condition management with leanings towards both therapeutic change and palliative care, sometimes both in the very same treatment. Sometimes the therapeutic change we aim for is stress reduction and the palliative approach is to only gently “say hello” to an area of dysfunction because the client is having a really hard day and it would be inappropriate to do anything more than treat the primary symptoms of the nervous system. Sometimes the client is having a great day and would love for this massage to fix some truly troubled tissue but the injury hasn’t reached the point in rehabilitation to warrant aggressive therapeutic change.
“The best massage your RMT can give you is the one they feel is the safest and most appropriate for your body on a given day.”
Knowing when, where, who, and how to massage takes discernment and practice. The best care your RMT can give you is the one they feel is the safest and the most appropriate for that day, that tissue, that treatment. Be open and honest with your RMT about your desired outcomes and current state of wellbeing so that they can provide you with the best care possible. Massage therapy is health care and you are your best advocate for getting the care you need and deserve.
Holly Behringer is a Registered Massage Therapy and co-owner of Wolseley Wellness Centre. She is a graduate of Evolve College of Massage Therapy (formerly the Massage Therapy College of Manitoba). She believes that it is important to treat the person as a whole, and that the calm, supportive, and safe treatment environment of her treatment room is conducive to better health outcomes for both mind and body. She seeks to build trusting relationships with her clients, inviting them to be active participants in their own health and well-being.