Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) in British Columbia are trained in the assessment and diagnosis of soft tissue and joints of the body, and the treatment and prevention of injury, pain and physical disorders. We have 6 experienced Registered Massage Therapists at our Victoria Massage clinic offering daytime and evening appointments. It is important to ensure that your Massage Therapist is registered, as only Registered Massage Therapists are regulated by the College of Massage Therapists of BC and have a sufficient educational and clinical background to provide you with the best available treatment. Insurance health care plans will only cover Massage Therapy when performed by a Registered Massage Therapist. RMTs are healthcare professionals that are dedicated to treating your symptoms of pain and dysfunction, including the underlying causes. Massage Therapy involves many different manual treatment techniques which manipulate the soft tissues and joints of the body.
It is widely understood that Massage Therapy decreases stress and helps control pain. Perhaps less known is the effectiveness of Massage Therapy in treating deeper structures of the body such as ligaments, bones and joints, fascia, blood vessels, organs and other soft tissues of the body. Massage Therapy can provide relief for many common medical conditions such as migraine headaches, tendonitis, arthritis, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, sports injuries and various other soft tissue sprains and strains. A Therapeutic Massage can enhance your overall sense of emotional and physical well being. Massage Therapy is designed to improve blood flow and the movement of lymph throughout the body, stretch and loosen muscles, facilitate the removal of metabolic waste from exercise or inactivity and increase the flow of oxygen to the cells and tissue. Massage Therapy can also stimulate the release of endorphins which are the body’s natural pain killers.
A common misconception is that Massage Therapists provide only “hands on” therapy. Your Registered Massage Therapist is also well trained in rehabilitative exercises such as hydrotherapy, stretching, strengthening, posture and exercise prescription. Your RMT is committed to providing the very best in one-on-one patient care.
A significant rise in medical referrals for Massage Therapy in Victoria, BC can be attributed to higher educational standards, extensive research studies proving the efficacy of Massage Therapy, and an overall increase in public interest in non-surgical and drug-free treatment options. The most current research suggests that there is a direct link between our physical well-being and our mental or emotional state, which can be positively affected by Massage Therapy. Research also supports the use of Massage Therapy as an effective approach in injury management and rehabilitation, as well as part of a preventive care program.
Many people begin life with optimal posture and function which enables them to move effectively and efficiently. However, due to the years and years of exposure to our sedentary lifestyles, injuries, and improper movement patterns, our optimal posture has been lost. Do you ever wonder why you have more Chronic Pain as you age? Treatment by a qualified professional can reverses this breakdown by changing your alignment. You will gain rapid decreases in pain and eventually elimination. Along with the treatment, you also get an easy home-self care program for you to follow to help develop an active Pain-Free life.
Is Massage Therapy For You?
Our clients include professional athletes, collegiate athletes, amateur athletes, corporate business professionals, medical professionals, legal professionals, fire service, police service, nurses, teachers, retirees, homemakers, martial artist, dancers, actors, yoga practitioners, acrobats and manual trades people.
SOME OF THE COMMON TYPES OF PAINS TREATED USING MASSAGE THERAPY:
Chronic pain, back pain (herniations, bulging discs), sciatica, scoliosis, neck pain, tension headaches, migraines, joint pain, arthritis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, TMJ, Bursitis, Tendonitis, Fibromyalgia, Rotator Cuff Syndrome, shoulder pain, knee pain and hip pain.
Massage Therapy Education and Training
British Columbia’s Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) are among the most educated and highly trained professionals in the world. To become an RMT in B.C, students must complete at least 3,000 hours of training at an accredited Massage Therapy College. This can be compared to a university bachelor degree which typically averages 1,500 hours over four years. Victoria is lucky to have an accredited Massage Therapy School known as the West Coast College of Massage Therapy.
Standard educational requirements include comprehensive studies in medical health sciences such as anatomy, physiology, pathology, kinesiology and neuroanatomy. Other studies include clinical sciences such as manual skills, orthopedics, remedial exercise, hydrotherapy and patient education. The management of chronic diseases, injuries and the effects of long-term stress are also studied extensively. All of the Registered Massage Therapists at Shelbourne Physiotherapy have completed their 3000 hour training plus taken numerous post graduate courses and seminars.
Massage Therapy – A Regulated Health Care Profession
Massage therapy in BC has been a regulated health care profession since 1946 and is legislated by the government under the B.C. Health Profession Act. In 2001, the Health Professions Council (HPC) accepted a revised scope of practice definition proposed by the College of Massage Therapists of BC (CMTBC), the professions regulatory body. The proposed definition reads;
The practice of Massage Therapy is the assessment of soft tissue and joints of the body and the treatment and prevention of dysfunction, injury, pain and physical disorders of the soft tissues and joints by manual and physical methods to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment physical function to relieve pain and promote health.
British Columbians can be sure that they are receiving the highest quality of care available because RMTs in BC are governed by the College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (CMTBC). The CMTBC is the Massage Therapy profession’s equivalent to the College of Physicians and Surgeons and is the regulatory body for all RMTs in BC. The CMTBC ensures that the public receives safe and ethical care by establishing and enforcing standards of education, qualifications and the quality of practice for all RMTs.
In Victoria, British Columbia, over 75 percent of medical physicians regularly refer their patients to a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) – and they make these referrals because massage therapy is both accessible and effective in the treatment of their patients’ conditions. Today, RMTs use a blend of modern science and ancient philosophies, utilizing specific techniques and modalities to treat many conditions that may include, but are not limited to:
Conditions Treated
- Asthma
- Facet Lock
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Athletic Injuries
- Fibromyalgia
- Pes Planus
- Arthritis
- Fibrositis and Fibrosis
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Bronchitis
- Fractures
- Poliomyelitis & Post Polio Syndrome
- Buergers’ Disease
- Frozen Shoulder
- Postural Deformities
- Bursitis
- Gout
- Raynaud’s Disease
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Headaches
- Scars
- Cerebral Palsy
- Hemiplegia
- Sciatica
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Herniated back (disc)
- Scoliosis
- Chronic Pain
- Iliotibial Band Contracture
- Spastic Paralysis
- Constipation
- Impingement Syndrome
- Sports Injuries
- Contractures
- Insomnia
- Sprains
- Contusions
- Knee injury
- Strains
- Cramps
- Low Back Pain
- Stress-related disorders
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Migraine
- Synovitis
- Digestive Disorders
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Dislocations
- Muscle Tension / Spasm
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
- Dupuytrens’ Contracture
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Tendinitis
- Dysmennorhea
- Neuralgia / Neuritis
- Tenosynovitis
- Edema
- Osteoporosis
- TMJ Dysfunction
- Emphysema
- Osteoarthritis
- Varicose Veins
- Entrapments & Compression Syndromes
- Paralysis
- Whiplash
