According to the American Medical Massage Association (AMAA) Medical Massage is:
"A system of manually applied techniques designed to reduce pain, establish normal tissue tension, create a positive tissue environment to normalize the movement of the myoskeletal system. Medical Massage is scientifically based method of manual therapy that seeks a clear understanding of the scientific principles of physiology that affect connective and soft tissue healing and treatment." What is the difference between "Medical Massage" and "Therapeutic Massage"?
Therapeutic Massage is a key method of preventative therapy as well as an important part of the Medical Massage treatment. Therapeutic Massage has numerous positive effects on the various functions of the human body. It reduces muscular tension, improves peripheral blood circulation and lymph drainage, unloads the cardiac system, normalizes pulmonary function, supports the digestive system, etc. It also stimulates or sedates the central nervous system and therefore affects the patient's mental and emotional status.
In many cases, Therapeutic Massage is part of a Medical Massage session. It can be used as preparation for special treatment, for example before ischemic compression or muscle energy techniques. Therapeutic Massage is also an important independent method of treatment of many visceral and somatic disorders.
Therapeutic Massage is a more sophisticated method of massage treatment compared to Relaxation Massage. The full arsenal of massage techniques is used during a session of Therapeutic Massage. A massage practitioner can give a full body massage or concentrate on the affected area or part of the body.
Medical Massage is not a method of preventative therapy. It is a highly effective method of treatment and an important part of modern medicine. Methods of medical massage are special procedures which were designed by scientists in different countries for the treatment of various pathologies of the human body. Medical Massage is results oriented and the treatment is specifically directed to resolve conditions that have been diagnosed by a physician. The therapist may use a variety of modalities or procedures during the treatment, but will focus that treatment only on the areas of the body related to the diagnosis. Medical Massage is generally billed in 15-minute segments using current procedural terminology and adhering to the usual and customary reimbursement fee schedule.
