Massage & Myotherapy Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. Formed in 2003, we’re the leading representative body for massage, remedial massage and myotherapists nationwide. Currently we service over 8,600 professionally qualified therapists and help them connect to the people who need them most.
Our organisation and its members believe it’s important that consumers of massage and myotherapy have access to credible information that's easy to understand. This information is central to making informed decisions about their health choices.
Massage & Myotherapy: In the media
Massage & Myotherapy Australia runs regular media campaigns to direct the public towards trustworthy and professional therapists. We accomplish this by releasing collateral that provides:
- Simple concepts and key messages,
- An awareness of quality assurance in selecting a therapist
- Information on how to search for a therapist specific to your health needs.
In fact in August 2017, Massage & Myotherapy Australia launched the first-ever national education campaign to help people find professional massage therapists and myotherapists in their local communities. With radio and digital media advertising, the campaign includes TV advertorial and social media advertising alongside educational social media activities.
Massage & Myotherapy Australia campaigns involve a range of mediums that incorporate a call to action towards the Association's directory of specialist professional therapists across the country.
What is Massage & Myotherapy?
Massage & Myotherapy Australia recognises therapeutic massage, remedial massage and myotherapy as manual manipulation therapies. These practices involve the deep or shallow soft tissues of the body including muscles, tendons and ligaments.
Massage and myotherapy are not cures, however they're an intervention that can help relieve the symptoms of pain and stress, and ultimately improve limitations to mobility caused by your condition.
An estimated 25,000 massage and myotherapists offer clinic-based, home-based or mobile massage services in Australia. As such, customers have a wide range of options when selecting their therapy of choice.
What conditions do people see a massage therapist, remedial massage therapist or myotherapist for?
- Neck/Shoulder Pain
- Back Pain and other Back Problems
- Health and Wellness for Maintaining, Improving Health or Functioning, and for Injury Prevention, including Stress and Tension Reduction
- Headaches or Migraines
- Sports Injury Management and Rehabilitation
- Arthritis
- Other Acute Injury or Pain Conditions
- Other Chronic Reduced Function, Disability or Pain Conditions, e.g. Fatigue
- Occupational Overuse Syndrome
- Other Psychological Distress, including Anxiety or Depression
- Cancer Treatment side effects, for example, Pain, Lymphedema, Anxiety
- Motor Vehicle Accident and Rehabilitation
- Diabetes Effects Management
- Addictions Rehabilitation Support.
What approaches are used?
There are three distinct approaches to massage and myotherapy methods. These are:
- Physical or direct: Involves deep pressure or direct application of a massage technique to soft tissue. This improves musculoskeletal health in order to address injury and relieve chronic patterns of tension.
- Integration: Combines various therapeutic options from a range of modalities. For example: Remedial massage with acupuncture, dry needling or cupping.
- Eastern: Stems from an alternative philosophical base to Western medicine, and focuses on using pressure points along defined energy meridians.
As with all health-related therapies, no two people respond exactly the same way. Qualified therapists generally use an integrated approach, drawing on a variety of techniques and adjunct services to address the specific condition to help the client.
What do you need to know before booking your service?
1) Determine what kind of treatment you’re looking for.
Keep an eye out for your therapist’s qualification, which should be displayed on their wall. When making a phone enquiry your therapist should also be open about what certifications they hold.
If you’re looking for a relaxing massage, your therapeutic massage therapist should hold a minimum qualification of a Certificate IV in Massage Therapy Practice. Worried about an old injury? Or perhaps you can't put your finger on what's causing that sore shoulder? Your massage therapist should hold a Diploma of Remedial Massage. A Remedial Massage Therapist can assess and treat muscles, tendons, ligaments and connective tissue.
However, if you’re living with chronic musculoskeletal pain or conditions, then consider a Myotherapy treatment. A myotherapist should hold an Advanced Diploma of Myotherapy or a Bachelor of Musculoskeletal Therapy/ Bachelor of Myotherapy. They employ a number of advanced assessment and treatment protocols for pain management, chronic musculoskeletal conditions, postural conditions, as well as sporting and occupational injuries.
2) Make sure you feel comfortable with your therapist when you meet for the first time.
Your therapist should ask you a series of questions and take notes. Part of this process means signing an 'Informed Consent' form, so you understand what kind of treatment you will receive; this is a legislative requirement. If you feel uncomfortable, or your potential therapist is not communicative, it may be a good idea to keep searching.
3) Wait for your therapist to explain disrobing.
You should only remove an item of clothing you feel comfortable removing. Massage & Myotherapy Australia recommends appropriate draping during any massage treatment and unless modality-specific, there is no requirement for any area other than that being treated to be exposed. Ask your therapist what draping technique they will be using. If your therapist can’t help, you may want to reconsider your decision and move on.
4) Ask your therapist and private health fund if you can claim.
Did you know that certain private health plans allow you to access a rebate for your treatments? Many therapists use electronic claiming terminals, so all you need to do is swipe your Health Fund card!
Customer rights: Dealing with ethics and complaints
Trust and respect are central to achieving a positive rapport between clients and therapists. This can only be borne out of high standards of client communication and massage and myotherapy practice.
That’s why a formal complaints process is provided for consumers and Massage & Myotherapy Australia members. As part of our commitment to upholding the integrity of the profession and protecting the wellbeing of clients we offer an effective and transparent method of managing complaints. The Complaints Guidelines provide the formal facility to lodge and record complaints against Massage & Myotherapy members.
As a touch-based therapy, the quality of interaction between therapists and clients is vital for the client’s wellbeing. Massage & Myotherapy Australia provides a public service by maintaining a register of qualified member practitioners for referral and for responding to enquiries and complaints from the public.