“What is an RMT?” I find myself answering this question more often than you may think, so I thought a post would be a good opportunity to let readers know a few facts about RMTs and what they can do to help improve your health and wellness.
The term RMT is short for Registered Massage Therapist – a term only used in British Columbia for therapists that have met and satisfied the current registration standards set by the governing body, the College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia.
To become registered, a 2200hr diploma program must be completed at an accredited college in BC. This program covers a wide range of topics including (but certainly not limited to) anatomy, physiology, neurology, kinesiology, pathology and orthopedic assessment, along with many practical skills and treatment modalities. It is an intense yet rewarding program enabling BC therapists to be known as some of the most highly educated massage therapists in our field (please excuse me whilst I high-five myself and my incredible peers and colleagues!). Completion of this course qualifies the candidate to sit the provincial registration exams, simply known as ‘the boards’ – a term that will lead to sweaty palms of any current massage therapy student or recently qualified therapist. Successful candidates of ‘the boards’ then go on to become Registered Massage Therapists in BC.
Massage therapy uses hands-on manipulation and other modalities, such as hydrotherapy, stretching techniques and strengthening exercises, to treat many conditions (too many to list here; I tried honestly) relating to soft tissue dysfunction, injuries and/or postural imbalances. Whether you are an elite athlete looking to improve your performance, a hard worker wanting to get through the day without the same nagging pain or headache bothering you, a weekend warrior needing some help taking care of your body, or even if you just want a good nights sleep – massage therapy could be for you.
Check out the Registered Massage Therapists’ Association of British Columbia website for more info, and links to current research. There are some useful links on this page explaining how massage therapy can specifically treat a selection of conditions.
If you are interested you can also find the official definition of massage therapy as stated by the Health Profession Act here.
If you would like any further information or have a question I would be happy to help – email me at info@fionaduncanrmt.com and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Happy Thursday everyone! 🙂