Massage therapy has been widely used as one of the forms of complementary treatment for different diseases. Interestingly, many people are concerned about whether massage is a form of medical treatment that physicians can prescribe. The answer to this particular question wil be discussed in this article.

What is Massage Therapy?

Massage therapy is the treatment of the body by rubbing and manipulating the muscles and tissues of the body. A massage therapist will touch and apply pressure against the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and skin.

The goals of massage therapy include:

• This affects the relaxation of muscles and causes pain and stiffness.
• Enhancing blood flow and also the movement of the lymph.
• Reduced heartbeat and reduced blood pressure
• Promoting deeper sleep

There is a vast array of massage techniques and modalities. Today, it’s possible to distinguish between different forms of massage, such as Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, sports massage, trigger point therapy, and Shiatsu. Therapists must have specialized training in most regions and meet some licensing or certification criteria.

The Potential Health Benefits

Numerous investigations conducted in recent studies reveal several health promotion associations with this massage therapy.

Studies indicate massage may help:

• For treatment of low back, neck, shoulder, and knee pains
• In reducing stress, anxiety, and depression.
• Soothe headache pain
• Improve sleep quality
• Help with a fibromyalgia treatment plan
• Increasing the effectiveness of the immune system
• Improve freedom and space of operations
• Enhance post-exercise recuperation

Therefore, some of the signifying benefits gathered from the present studies lay the ground for asserting that massage therapy can be used as a supplemental form of treatment for physical and psychological disorders.

Can Doctors Prescribe It?

Well, now this leads us back to the question at the beginning of this article – is it legal for physicians and other medical providers to prescribe massage therapies? Sometimes, the tendency can indeed be pronounced. However, this primarily stems from more effective external promotion of domestic companies. Here are a few key points:

Prescribing Privileges Vary

Medical doctors (MDs) and doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) may prescribe any drug, for use in the practice of their profession. Further, this depends on the state’s laws and insurance for providing massage therapy.

Of the rest of the providers, only physician assistants (PAs), nurse practitioners (NPs), and physical therapists have prescriptive capacity but are less potent than physicians. They generally are unable to issue massage or other types of complementary therapies. 

Insurance Coverage is Inconsistent

Unfortunately, most health insurance plans today exclude specific massage therapy services. Other treatment techniques, such as Acupuncture, Chiropractic, and Massage, are considered complementary and alternative therapies.

But here and there, insurance firms are choosing to offer cuts, flexible expenditure structures, or even selective offers for massage therapy. These are also extended coverage, often with a prescription or a letter from the doctor.

Legalities Are Complex

Currently, federal and state legislation permits the medical prescription of massage, usually only from physicians or highly skilled professionals. The protocols, paperwork, and qualification standards differ significantly from state to state.

Possibly, doctors may be permitted to recommend massage therapy in some situations. However, there are very few possibilities due to the many legal aspects that authorities differentiate, which, in general, can be beneficial to patients.

Practical Steps to Take

If you are interested in trying therapeutic massage for a health condition, here are some practical steps you can take: 

1. Find out about the massage licensure regulations and policies in your state. Ensure your massage therapist is qualified before you get them to work on you.

2. The next step is to call the insurance company to see if they have any way of giving a discount, or as a matter of fact, would it be reasonable to get the massage therapy paid for through a flexible spending account?

3. Inquire from your doctor or specialist if you can be recommended to a licensed massage therapist or if they can prescribe if your health care plan or your region may necessitate this. Explain to them your concerns about your health requirements so that they can find out whether you are a candidate for massage.

4. If the limitations of insurance or the laws do not allow a doctor to give a prescription, use your money to go to a masseur if possible or seek schools with low costs.

Although referral to formal treatments is rare, doctors and massage therapists have noted a developing convergence of medical and massage practice in helping patients identify suitable body therapies. So, the first thing to do is to talk to your mental healthcare provider if you are interested in knowing if massage has some form of therapeutic value.

Key Takeaways:

• Massage refers to the use of touch to soothe and give comfort to bring about some form of health improvement.
• Massage can reduce pain and stress, enhance sleep, and assist in other areas of health.
• An M.D. or an osteopath may have partial authority to prescribe massage by virtue of the area and the insurance carrier.
• The rules of coverage and legal oversight for prescriptions of massages are different from one state to another and from one provider to another.
• Things a patient can do are; ensure that the masseuse is well certified and accredited, check with the insurance company if they cover massage, and always consult with the doctor or specialist on the kind of massage treatment to take.

The bottom line

Doctors have a restricted capacity to license massage therapists for the health of their patients. But whereas, those opportunities are still limited today because of obliterating laws and insurance restraints and emerging distortionary regulation. The currently available evidence on the therapeutic value of massages could mean that most individuals who require such services may have to pay for them out of their pocket in the meantime.