| Medical massage therapy is recognized as a health | | | | you should seek out a massage therapist with skill, |
| care provision under rehabilitation outpatient coverage | | | | training and experience compatible with the injuries |
| under most major medical plans. Specific plan | | | | and sustained ailments that you have. For instance, |
| coverages vary according to the benefit package | | | | you would not want to seek out a massage |
| your plan and/or employer offer. Medical massage | | | | therapist who specializes in spa massage. Injury |
| therapy definition is the ability to heal, restore and | | | | treatment is specialized and has specific protocol and |
| improve function which was other wise compromised | | | | training, whereas spa massage does not. Insurance |
| due to illness,injury,disease or surgery. It must be a | | | | companies WILL NOT recognize a "feel good" spa |
| part of a treatment plan your primary care provider | | | | approach as a medical procedure. |
| recommends as medically necessary to restore lost | | | | A consumer should also ask about how is the facility |
| function. | | | | or practice run, what kind of specialized training do |
| Provisions are also given towards motor vehicle | | | | they have, what kinds of clinical and/or experience |
| accident (PIP)and workers compensation-labor and | | | | have they have in treating specific dysfunctions. |
| industry (L&I), job injury recovery care claims. Like | | | | Recommendations from your primary health care |
| wise, verification and preauthorization must be met | | | | provider, local hospitals are a good resource to find |
| prior to starting care. | | | | an experienced therapist. There is also a number of |
| The variation of massage therapy are vast, according | | | | organizations such as the American Massage Therapy |
| to the training and experience of the licensed | | | | Association that has a referral source of massage |
| massage therapist. State laws are in place for | | | | therapists available at |
| licensing and certification. Further education and | | | | For the best results, advocate self-education and |
| experience on the massage therapists part, when | | | | consumer awareness. As well as have a proactive |
| looking for a therapists is always a good consumer | | | | approach. Be a willing participate in your healing and |
| judgment call when seeking out care. When injured | | | | recovery will happen. |