At this time Family Center Massage Therapy does not have clinic space.
The staff at Family Center Massage Therapy are offering home visits and hospital/health care facility visits within Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. Some staff are currently practising at other clinic locations. Please click on Resources, then Links, for more contact information.
Please e-mail for more information.
Does MSP cover Massage Therapy treatments?
Massage Therapy is only covered by MSP if you have premium assistance. If you are on premium assistance MSP will cover 10 combined treatments (massage therapy, physiotherapy, chiropractic, etc). Otherwise you are not covered for massage therapy. Many extended health care insurance companies do cover massage therapy. Check with your employer or insurance company to see if you have coverage.
How do I find out if I have coverage?
You can find out a few different ways. If you have an employee handbook, it may indicate whether or not you have coverage. You can also ask your employer. Another way is to phone the insurance company directly. Be sure to have your Group or ID numbers and access codes handy. Ask them:
• How much coverage do you have, if any?
• Is there any deductible? Is it per calendar year (ie: January-December)?
• Do they cover a certain amount per visit or up to a maximum per year?
• Do they cover a percentage up to a set amount or a maximum per year?
• Is the maximum combined with any other therapy (ie: physiotherapy)?
• Is a medical doctor’s note required?
You could also call our clinic. We may have treated someone who works at your company, and know how much coverage they have.
Examples of companies we know have coverage:
• University of BC employees have $750 per year.
• Simon Fraser University employees have 80% coverage that is unlimited.
• Public Service Health Care employees have 80% with a $300 per year maximum per participant.
• BC Hydro employees have a $10 reimbursement for the first 12 visits and unlimited for the rest of the calendar year.
This list is only a guide. You should confirm with your insurance company if the coverage applies to you individually. Check to see if your spouse or children also have coverage under your plan.
If my spouse has coverage, could I be covered under their plan?
If your spouse is covered and you are listed on their plan, then you generally have coverage. If you also have coverage through your own employer, you must use it up first before claiming on your spouse’s plan. If you have no coverage at all, and your spouse does, you cannot claim it in their place.
I was recently in a car accident, will my car insurance pay for massage treatments?
Your car insurance will pay for accident related injuries upon approval of a treatment plan filled out by a Registered Massage Therapist. On your initial visit you will need to bring the following information:
• Adjusters name, address, phone, fax number
• Policy and Claim numbers
• Names of medications you are taking
• Extended health insurance information (if you have coverage)
Your initial assessment visit will usually take one to one and a half hours. ICBC will only pay for the first 12 treatments for up to 8 weeks after your accident. You will be required to pay for the remaining treatments from your own pocket. Keep your receipts for your claim.
How do I pay for massage therapy treatments?
You may pay by cash, personal cheque,Visa and MasterCard.
Please e-mail for more information.
What does R.M.T. stand for?
R.M.T. stands for Registered Massage Therapist. Some therapists use the designation R.M.P. for Massage Practitioner. All massage therapists must be registered with the College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (CMTBC). This means that if a therapist is registered and in good standing with the college then they are regulated and have met the educational guidelines, agree to the Health Professions Act, follow the Massage Therapy regulations, uphold ethical practice, carry a minimum liability insurance and agree to continuing education.
What is the difference between a masseuse and a R.M.T.?
Masseuse and masseur are names that were used by some people before we became regulated by a government body. Massage Therapy has been regulated in British Columbia since 1946. Originally massage therapists and physiotherapists were regulated together and separated in 1994. If someone does massage and calls themselves a masseuse, then they are not registered and may not be providing therapeutic massage treatments.
What is the difference between someone who is “licensed”, “certified” or “registered”?
Someone who says they are “licensed” or “certified” are not the same as someone who is “registered”. They generally do not possess liability insurance and may have trained for only 500 hours. They are not covered by extended health or car accident insurance and are not regulated by the CMTBC. It is illegal for some who is not registered to use the name or designations R.M.T. or M.T. Recently, some people trained in “myomassology” have adapted the designation Registered Myomassology Practitioner or R.M.P. They have also referred to themselves as Registered Aroma-Massage Therapists (R.A.M.T.) in the past. Please note that they are not registered by the College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (CMTBC) and are not the same as an R.M.T. An R.M.T. is bound by the Regulated Health Professions Act and the Massage Therapy Act. A R.M.T. has a Certificate of Registration from the CMTBC (with a valid annual sticker applied) and a membership card with their registration number on it. Always ask to see it if you are uncertain of the person’s credentials. Please see Services for more information on our training.
Please e-mail for more information.
Massage Therapy
| Massage therapists in British Columbia receive 3000 hours of education in a 3 year full time program. British Columbia has the highest level of education in massage therapy in North America. We are educated in thorough anatomy, physiology, manual skills, remedial exercise, hydrotherapy, systemic pathologies, and orthopedic pathologies. We are trained in a variety of techniques (see Services Page). All of Family Center’s staff are Registered Massage Therapists. We are in good standing with the College of Massage Therapy of British Columbia. All the staff have the enthusiastic commitment to provide excellence in the massage therapy profession. | ||
| More that 150 articles about massage therapy have been published in scientific, medical, nursing and popular journals since 1980. (source: MTA Literature Review, 1997) |
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| Massage Therapy has been part of BC’s health care system for over 50 years. (College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia 2001) |
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| Sixty-Seven per cent of physicians make referrals to registered massage therapists. In 1996, over 200,000 referrals were made. (British Columbia Medical Association) |
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Pain & Rehabilitative Management
| Fifty-two patients with back pain, most of whom had tried other therapies without success, received eight massage therapy treatments over a one month period. Eight-six percent said they felt dramatically better following treatments. (Weintraub, 1994) |
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| Patients with cancer who received massage therapy experienced less pain, improved mobility and less swelling. (Wilkinson, 1996) |
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| Massage therapy is more effective than drugs when treating back pain for fibromyalgia. Over 40 per cent of patients who used deep-tissue massage said it helped them feel better, in comparison to on 35 per cent said prescription drugs were effective. (Consumer Reports magazine, 2000) |
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| Daily massage treatments reduced the pain and stiffness of people with fibromyalgia. (Field, 1996) |
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| Massage therapy is more effective than acupuncture for treating chronic lower back pain. Patients who received massage therapy used less medicine and had the lowest costs for subsequent care. (Archives of Internal Medicine, 2001) |
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| A vigorous sport massage treatment two hours after a vigorous exercise reduced muscle soreness. (Smith et al, 1994) |
Stress Reduction
| Young psychiatric patients who underwent massage therapy had lower stress hormone levels, better sleep patterns and less anxiety. (Field, 1995) |
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| Massage therapy resulted in lower anxiety and stress among children with conditions such as autism and children who were victims of physical and sexual abuse. (Field, 1995) |
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| Female patients suffering from chronic tension headaches who received 10 massage therapy treatments in two and a half weeks experienced a significant long term improvement of their headaches and moods. (Puusjarvi et al, 1990) |
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| Massage therapy promoted relaxation among patients between 56 to 96 years of age and reduced blood pressure. (Fakouri and Jones, 1987) |
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| Corporate Massage | |||
| In 1988, Baxter Corp., an Ontario pharmaceutical company, implemented a massage therapy program for employees. Over the next four years, the time taken off by employees for work-related injuries decreased by 25 per cent. Between 1988 and 1990, compensation claims at the company dropped by $200,000. (Financial Times, 1992) |
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| Employees who were given a 15-minute massage treatments twice-a-week for five weeks were more alert and exhibited positive changes in brain waves. (Field, 1997) |
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| Pepsi, Apple Computers and Merril Lynch and Co. are just a few of the major corporations that offer employees massage therapy as part of their benefits program. (Financial Post, 1989) |
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| Adults who were given 15-minute massage therapy treatments twice a week for five weeks, showed increased speed and accuracy on math questions and their job stress scores were lower. (Field et al, 1996) |
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Children with rheumatoid arthritis who were given massage therapy treatments had much greater reduction in pain than those involved in progressive muscle relaxation therapy.
(Field et al, 1997)
Young girls suffering from bulimia had lower depression scores, lower stress hormone levels and improved attitudes about eating and their bodies following 10 massage therapy treatments over five weeks.
(Field et al, 1997) Infant Massage Premature babies who received daily massages gained 47 per cent more weight and went home an average of six days sooner than those who did not receive massage therapy. The early return home saved about $3,000 (US) per infant in hospital costs.
(Field et al, 1986) Cocaine-exposed premature babies who received massage therapy gained 28 per cent more weight and developed significantly faster.
(Wheeden et al, 1993)
Women who received massage therapy during childbirth reported less pain and anxiety.
(Field et al, 1997)
Women that received 20 minute massage therapy treatments for 5 weeks had decreased production of stress hormones and fewer complications during labour compared to the relaxation therapy group.
(Field et al, 1998)
Doula Services
When women had doulas during labor, their “mother-infant affectionate interaction scores” at a home visit two months later were significantly higher than for women who did not have a doula.
(Hofmeyret al, 1991 and Kennell JH et al1998.)
A recent randomized controlled trial reported that the cesarean rates in induced labors were reduced from 64% to 20% if a doula was present.
(McGrath et al, 1998.)
Family Center Massage Therapy community page is for the benefit of education, socialization and information. Parent and baby groups can also check with your local health units and your local community centres in your blue pages.
Movies 4 Mommies
New releases on a weekly basis. All new parents and babies invited.
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Our attractive Gift Certificates are a great way to show you care. Gift Certificates are available in a variety of denominations. This gives flexibility for your recipient to choose what they would like to receive.
Perfect for happy birthdays, showing appreciation, thank-yous and special occasions. If you are short on time, we can mail them out for you. The gift of health is a great choice.
Please e-mail for more information.