Registered Massage Therapy

Pre-clinic Assessment

Your medical history and any concerns will be gathered to understand your health goals.

After receiving consent to perform a physical assessment, a registered massage therapist will assess your posture, body movement and muscle tone with their hands. You are usually dressed at this stage of assessment either standing, sitting or lying down on the massage table.

Following a physical assessment, your registered massage therapist will explain the massage procedure, which body parts will be massaged, at what strength and proposed treatment plan to a patient. We will then get your consent for the treatment plan.

During Treatment

You’ll have the choice to wear clothing or disrobe in a private setting and lie under the covered sheets.

The treatment will consist of an oil massage on the skin of the body parts previously discussed and consented to massage, such as the back, hips, legs, feet, shoulders, arms, hands, head, face, abdomen and upper chest.

Only discussed body parts are undraped during the massage, with the rest of the body always covered with sheets.

You’ll have the choice to lie face down, face up or in a side-lying position.

Pillows can be used to support your ankles, lower back, shoulders and chest. You may also use pillows to elevate your body to a slightly inclined position for blood pressure stability support.

 A warm heating pad can be used for added comfort, and calm music is usually played to relax the nervous system.

Patient safety and appropriate behaviour

Pregnancy massages are done in a side-lying position for safety precautions for a fetus.

For disabled clientele, a massage can be performed directly from the wheelchair. 

A patient can always stop a massage treatment at any given moment under the consent policy of registered massage therapy of British Columbia.

A therapist can stop the treatment if the patient behaves inappropriately, eg. hostile behaviour, abusive language, sexualizing a treatment, being intoxicated, etc.