Therapeutic Medical Massage
What Is Therapeutic Medical Massage?
Therapeutic Medical Massage is a results-oriented form of bodywork designed to address specific conditions diagnosed by a physician. Treatment is directed toward resolving those conditions through focused, evidence-based manual therapy.
Unlike general relaxation massage, Medical Massage concentrates only on the areas of the body related to the diagnosis or prescription. Therapists may use a variety of modalities during a session, but each technique is selected with a clear therapeutic goal in mind.
Medical Massage is typically billed in 15-minute increments using current procedural terminology (CPT) and follows usual and customary reimbursement guidelines.
Benefits of Therapeutic Medical Massage Therapy
Therapeutic Medical Massage offers a wide range of benefits, including:
Relieves Muscle Tension and Ischemia
Releases tight, sore muscles that restrict blood flow (ischemia), reducing hypersensitivity and helping prevent further tissue injury.
Reduces Nerve Compression
Helps relieve nerve entrapment caused by pressure from soft tissue, cartilage, or bone—conditions that can contribute to muscle atrophy, referred pain, tingling, numbness, and syndromes such as pseudo-sciatica or piriformis syndrome.
Deactivates Myofascial Trigger Points
Trigger points—areas of heightened neurological activity—can refer pain to other areas of the body. Research suggests trigger points may account for up to 74% of everyday pain.
Decreases Pain and Inflammation
Massage restores muscle suppleness and strength, improves overall function, and helps release metabolic waste such as lactic acid that accumulates during muscle activity.
Improves Circulation and Reduces Stress
Healthy circulation delivers oxygen and nutrients to cells while removing waste. Massage enhances blood and lymphatic flow, supports cellular regeneration, and promotes detoxification—key components of long-term health and stress reduction.
Supports Digestive Function
Massage can improve digestive motility and support overall gastrointestinal health.
Increases Flexibility and Range of Motion
By reducing muscle hypertonicity (tightness) and hypotonicity (weakness), massage restores normal movement patterns, reduces joint stress, and lowers the risk of joint and disc degeneration.
Calms the Nervous System
With millions of touch receptors in the skin, massage naturally signals the nervous system to relax. It has been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce heart rate, and stimulate the release of endorphins—your body’s natural pain relievers—supporting overall neurological balance.
Improves Posture and Coordination
By correcting muscular imbalances and movement dysfunctions, Medical Massage enhances postural alignment and neuromuscular coordination.
Cost-Effective Care With Long-Term Benefits
Medical Massage helps clients recover more quickly from headaches, neck and back pain, muscle strains, and sprains—allowing a faster return to normal, productive life.
By addressing the root cause of pain rather than only symptoms, Medical Massage can also help prevent chronic conditions. Scientific literature indicates that over 80% of pain originates in soft tissue, with a significant portion attributed to trigger points.
This approach often results in meaningful cost savings for clients, employers, and society as a whole.
Are There Any Contraindications?
While Medical Massage Therapy is highly effective, certain conditions may make treatment inappropriate. Always consult your physician or healthcare provider to determine the safest and most appropriate treatment plan.
Is a Prescription Required?
Massage therapists do not diagnose medical conditions. When treatment is directed toward a specific diagnosis, a physician’s prescription is required.
Non-prescribed massage may still be provided when assessment reveals soft-tissue imbalances or movement dysfunctions.
Collaboration with physicians strengthens patient outcomes. We work closely with neurologists, orthopedists, general practitioners, psychiatrists, podiatrists, oral surgeons, osteopaths, and chiropractors to provide comprehensive care.
Do I Need an Injury to Receive Medical Massage?
No. Our therapists specialize in the musculoskeletal system and are trained to identify movement dysfunctions and imbalances that may contribute to pain or future injury.
In addition to injury rehabilitation, we offer performance-based therapy, combining hands-on manual techniques with corrective exercises to optimize movement and enhance physical performance.
Do I Need to See a Doctor Before Starting Therapy?
No referral is required to begin care. You may see a Medical Massage practitioner directly, often saving time and money. If needed, we will recommend physician involvement to ensure the best outcomes.
Do You Accept Insurance?
We are an out-of-network provider, which allows us to deliver higher-quality, individualized care without the limitations imposed by insurance companies.
Many clients use HSA or FSA accounts, and some receive partial or full reimbursement—especially those with PPO plans. We provide detailed receipts and documentation to support reimbursement claims.
This model allows for longer, one-on-one sessions and often fewer visits overall—saving time and money when compared to traditional rehabilitation settings.
What Types of Massage Are Considered Medical Massage?
Medical Massage is not limited to one technique. Any form of massage can be therapeutic when applied skillfully and appropriately.
Our sessions may incorporate:
Muscle Testing
Neuromuscular Therapy
Myofascial Release
Positional Release
Trigger Point Therapy
Rehabilitative Stretching
While often underestimated, relaxation-based massage plays an important role in regulating the stress response—an increasingly recognized contributor to disease. Cardiologists and psychiatrists frequently recognize its value.
The true art of Medical Massage lies in combining scientific knowledge with intuitive skill to support the body’s natural healing processes.
Book your massage now and let’s make your body work with you—not against you.
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