Whether you have had previous massage therapy or are new to this type of health care, we are glad you are here! We are committed to offering you quality effective treatment which addresses your concerns and progresses toward your wellness goals.
The Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) will be ready to greet you at the beginning of your appointment. If this is your first time booking a massage therapy appointment at the WOMB, the RMT will be required to ask you some questions to clarify the Health History Forms you have completed, as well as to establish your goals for the treatment. It is customary for time to be spent assessing your condition, through questioning or orthopaedic testing where appropriate. This is done to ensure that you will receive an effective treatment which addresses the concerns you have shared with the RMT, and to adhere to the Regulated Health Professions Act (1991) and the Massage Therapy Act (1991), as well as in compliance with the Standards of Practice outlined by the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario. In addition to answering any questions you may have, the Health History, assessment, and determining a treatment plan are necessary to establish informed consent and must be done prior to beginning th
e hands-on portion of the appointment.
If you are a client who has many symptoms you can expect to spend more time in discussion with the therapist than would a client who has presented with one or few symptoms. For example, if you are coming for an appointment to address neck pain you may spend a minute or two in discussion with the RMT about this. Alternately, if you are coming for an appointment to address neck pain, jaw pain, pregnancy-related symptoms, and foot pain, you can expect to spend more time in discussion with the RMT before the hands-on portion of the appointment begins.
Once you and the RMT have determined a treatment plan and you have consented to the proposed treatment, you will be given time in privacy to prepare for the hands-on portion of the appointment. This may involve removing some articles of clothing and settling on the massage table under sheets and blankets. The positioning and amount of clothing removed will not exceed what is comfortable for the client, and this will be discussed while establishing the treatment plan.
The RMT will be ready to begin the hands-on portion of the massage therapy appointment when you are settled and covered on the massage table. While you are settling in for this part of the appointment you can expect that the RMT has been using the time to begin treatment notes for the session, as well as taking time to wash hands. The RMT will knock on the door before entering, to ensure that you are settled and ready for them to enter the treatment room.
The hands-on portion of the treatment will follow the RMT’s scope of practice, which is outlined in the Massage Therapy Act as, “the assessment of the soft tissue and joints of the body and the treatment and prevention of physical dysfunction and pain of the soft tissues and joints by manipulation to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment physical function, or relieve pain”.
During the hands-on portion of the appointment the RMT will inquire about your comfort level and may ask follow-up questions. Some clients like to silently relax during this part of the appointment, while others prefer to converse with the RMT, and either option is appropriate. It is your right, as a client, to request a change to the treatment or even decide to end the treatment at any time.
Following this part of the appointment you will be given privacy to reclothe. During this time you can expect that the RMT will be washing their hands and continuing with the treatment notes for the session. RMT’s are legally required to maintain accurate treatment notes for each appointment so that your care can be consistent and effective. For clients who require more time to prepare for the hands-on portion or to reclothe, this will be accounted for within their scheduled appointment. Once you are finished reclothing, the RMT may share some instructions for home care, remedial exercise, or recommendations for other types of care. Your appointment will finish with the RMT offering suggestions regarding timing and duration of future massage therapy appointments.
During subsequent appointments you can expect that Health History clarification and assessment/reassessment will account for less of the appointment time, which will allow more time spent on the hands-on portion of the appointment. Whenever you experience a change in your health please share this with the RMT, and you can expect that care will be given to clarify and address the new condition(s). It is our priority to provide knowledgeable, effective, and consistent care which promotes the wellness of each unique client. We will do our utmost to ensure that your experience with Registered Massage Therapy is both pleasant and helpful.
