About RMTs

Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) in British Columbia are health care professionals committed to restoring and maintaining optimal health and pain-free function of the body. They are educated and trained to accurately assess, diagnose, and provide treatment with techniques which include, but are not limited to, massage and manual therapy, joint mobilization, hydrotherapy, and rehabilitative exercise such as stretching, strengthening, postural exercise as well as patient education as new research emerges.

Massage Therapy is an effective approach to pain management and rehabilitation with a broad number of applications. RMTs are effective in treating and providing relief for a wide range of disorders such as migraine headaches, tendinitis, arthritis, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, and sports injuries, as well as many other common conditions related to soft tissue and joint dysfunction.

History of Massage
Therapy

The practice of massage is woven throughout history into the Egyptian, Chinese, Indian, Greek, Roman, French, Swedish, and English cultures. Hippocrates, often considered the “father of western medicine”, referenced massage in his “terrain cures” in 460 BC.

In early history, massage was often considered an art form rather than a medical practice. However, in recent times science has taken massage to a new level and redefined it as an evidence-based practice now referred to as “massage therapy”.

In contemporary times, the advancement of massage therapy can be credited, in part, to Per Henrik Ling (Sweden) and also Johann Mezger (Holland), who developed a system of medical gymnastics that combined massage and exercise. This led to the formation of the Society of Trained Masseuses in Britain, which in 1894 established the first standards for training and education of massage therapy.

In BC, the practice of massage therapy has a rich tradition that dates back to the early 1900’s. The grassroots of the massage therapy profession can be best traced from 1946 when nurses and remedial gymnasts founded the Association of Physiotherapists and Massage Practitioners of BC. (APMP). Their treatments were focused on rehabilitating and restoring patients to optimal health.

Massage Therapy Today

In British Columbia, the massage therapy profession has evolved from the massage techniques described by Hippocrates, Ling, and Mezger to an evidence-based system of scientifically supported manual therapy (hands-on), activation (exercises) and patient education practices.

Over the past decade, there has been a significant rise in demand for massage therapy in British Columbia.  The rise in massage therapy use can be attributed to higher educational standards, research studies showing the efficacy of massage therapy, and an overall increase in public interest in non-surgical and drug-free treatment options for musculoskeletal conditions and pain. Increasingly, scientific research supports the use of massage therapy as an effective approach in pain and injury management, rehabilitation and prevention.

In British Columbia, over 75 percent of medical physicians regularly refer their patients to a Registered Massage therapist (RMT), and they make these referrals because massage therapy is both accessible and effective in the treatment of their patients’ conditions.

Today, RMTs use a blend of ancient philosophies and modern science. Committed to providing quality health care services, improving health outcomes, and being there when needed, RMTs are an integral part of the health care fabric of BC. Whether someone is suffering from disease, acute or chronic injury, or those facing a crisis, the RMTs of BC are there.

What Registered Massage Therapists Do (Scope of Practice)

Massage therapy has been a regulated health care profession in BC since 1946. British Columbians can be sure that they are receiving the highest quality of care available. This is because the RMT designation means that the therapist adheres to strict practice and ethical standards. It also guarantees that a therapist trained in BC has met the most challenging and comprehensive educational standards in North America.

Since 1994, the standards of the profession have been enforced by the College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (CMTBC), which came into being in accordance with the provisions of the Health Professions Act. The CMTBC’s primary role as defined by the legislation is to serve and protect the public.

As the regulatory body for the profession, the CMTBC is responsible for many important functions including:

• Superintending the practice of the profession,

• Governing registrants in accordance with the Health Professions Act and all other related legislation,

• Establishing, monitoring, and enforcing standard of education, qualification and the quality of practice.*

*to see the full extent of CMTBC activities and for other information see their web site at www.cmtbc.bc.ca

Note Bene as of November 2022 there are changes happening as regulated provinces join to form a Canadian Alliance for Massage Therapy. I submitted my application January 3, 2023 so that I a chance to be involved in what this means. I’d be so happy to continue to collaborate with great healthcare people so don't hesitate to be in touch with me if you have any questions or comments…

Medical Coverage

Massage therapy is highly accessible in BC. This is due to its representation in every health region, its recognition by other health care professions, and to its coverage under MSP, ICBC, DVA, RCMP, WCB, and extended health care plans. RMTs are primary contact providers, therefore referrals are not required for MSP coverage of their services.

What Type of Education do Massage Therapists (RMTs) Receive?

RMTs in British Columbia are unique. They are world leaders in the development of massage therapy as a regulated health profession. RMTs in this province must meet the most stringent educational and professional standards in North America.

To become an RMT in BC, Bree completed 3,000 hours of training over three years at West Coast College of Massage Therapy in New Westminster. Compare this to a university bachelor’s degree, which typically averages 1,500 hours over four years.

Standard course requirements include comprehensive studies of the basic health sciences such as anatomy, physiology, pathology, kinesiology, and neuroanatomy. Clinical Sciences include areas such as manual skills, orthopedics, remedial exercise and hydrotherapy. Practical training in the effects of long-term stress is also extensively studied. In addition to these requirements, students receive vigorous training in all professional and regulatory standards affecting the profession.

Upon completion of the 3,000-hour program, students must then pass provincial licensing exams in order to become an RMT recognized by the Ministry of Health, CMTBC, MTABC, Insurance Corporation of BC (ICBC), Workers Compensation Board (WCB), Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA,) and extended health care plans. Post-graduate education is mandatory for RMTs in BC in order to maintain licensure.