Registered Massage Therapy

Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) in British Columbia are trained to: evaluate your health needs; provide an assessment of your specific soft tissue or musculoskeletal condition; predict the likelihood and/or timeline of your recovery; provide active (intense) or passive (gentle) hands on therapy; and through research, provide evidence-based patient education and remedial exercises.

In British Columbia, massage therapists are registered with the College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (CMTBC) to provide massage therapy services. Most are also part of the Massage Therapists’ Association of British Columbia (MTABC).

Always tell your doctor if you are using an alternative therapy or if you are thinking about combining an alternative therapy with your conventional medical treatment. It may not be safe to forgo your conventional medical treatment and rely only on an alternative therapy.

People use massage to promote relaxation and relieve pain. It can also relieve muscle tension and may improve blood flow, relieve pressure on nerves, and restore normal joint movement.

When done properly, massage is considered safe. But talk to your doctor before you get a massage if:

• You have open wounds, bruises, or areas of weak skin.

• You have a blood clot in a vein.

• You have a bleeding disorder, have low blood platelet counts, or take a medicine (called a blood thinner) that prevents blood clots.

​

Choosing a massage therapist who has received provincial certification ensures that your massage therapist has a certain level of training and uses certain practice guidelines. Keep in mind that massage requires a time commitment and may be expensive. The cost of massage therapy is generally not covered by provincial health plans but may be covered by private health insurance.