Clarisa Vandenbussche RMT

FAQ's

Common Massage Therapy Questions and Answers.

Is Massage Therapy supposed to hurt?

Massage Therapy may be uncomfortable at times but you should never be in excruciating pain. With acute pain or hypersensitivity some patients may experience more discomfort during treatment than normal. This pain should not be so much that you are tensing your muscles and holding your breath. When your body tenses it is actually counterproductive as it makes it harder to work on the muscles. It is important to communicate with your therapist so they can modify their technique or pressure.

How is a Massage Therapy Treatment broken down?

A Massage Therapy treatment is actually more than just the hands on.

During a Massage Therapy treatment your therapist will:

- Review your medical history to ensure there are not any identified reasons massage may not be safe or that the therapist may need to alter treatment;

- Perform a intake to gain information about your concerns, an assessment is performed to determine which tissues are involves and rule out any conditions which are more serious;

- Develop a treatment plan to outline the goals of the treatments, frequency and duration of treatments, and reassessment schedule;

- Provide hand on treatment which can include exercises and other modalities; and,

- Provide self-care so that you can manage your symptoms once you leave the office.

Do I need to undress for treatment?

Patients can choose to undress to their comfort level, taking off or leaving on any articles of clothing. You will always be covered with a sheet and only the areas being treated will be undraped. Your therapist may recommend undressing to facilitate treatment but know that techiques can be modified and often applied through the sheets with some exceptions.

Do I need a doctors note?

No, Massage Therapists do not require patients to have a doctors note but your family physician may write you a script for Massage Therapy. Massage Therapists are primary health care providers who assess and treat people independently.

However, some insurance plans do require a referral, so you will need to check your policy to see if you need one in order to be reimbursed for your treatments.

If I am sick should I still come for my appointment?

If you are ill with a cold, flu or displaying possible COVID-19 symptoms please do NOT come in for your appointment. Please phone or email to cancel with as much notice as possible, so that an attempt can be made to try and fill the spot with a client on the wait-list.

Do I have to wear a mask for the whole treatment?

During the COVID-19 Pandemic the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO) requires all patients and therapists to wear masks when in close proximity. If the patient has a medical condition which would make wearing a mask worsen their condition the therapist has the discretion to determine the risks and make a decision based on the individuals condition. Although these restrictions have been removed our clinic has decided to keep masking in place for the time being.

283 Spadina Ave. 3rd Floor, Toronto ON M5T 2E3, Canada

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