Massage Therapy Massage therapy provides an alternative drug free health option to help alleviate the soft tissue discomfort associated with everyday and occupational stresses, muscular over-use, and many chronic pain syndromes. It can also greatly reduce the development of painful muscular patterning, if employed early enough after accidents involving trauma and injury.  What is Massage?  Massage therapy is the manipulation of the soft tissues of the body to gain a therapeutic response; soft tissue includes muscles, skin and connective tissue, tendons, & ligaments. Therapeutic massage is currently the most common form of therapy practiced. Who Qualifies as a Massage Therapist?  Education and examination of massage therapists is regulated by the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario. Students complete 2,200 hours of intensive anatomical, physiological, and clinical studies, including extensive practical instruction, at a government approved vocational massage therapy school. Graduation is a prerequisite to taking provincial examination; successful candidates then become licensed and registered under the Regulated Health Professionals Act (RHPA) which came into effect on January 1, 1994, renaming the Board of Directors of Masseurs as the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario. All current registered massage therapists (RMTs) are members of this College.  Registered massage therapists have photo ID cards issued by the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario, showing the therapist's registration number; you have the right to view this ID in order to be assured that your therapist is registered. How Can Massage Therapy Help You?  Many of today's health problems arise from stress. Because stress upsets the delicate integral balance of all your body's functions, regaining this balance requires a rehabilitative approach.  Massage therapy not only treats those parts of you which are a problem, but also affects the whole of your metabolism through normalizing your circulatory, muscular and nervous systems and their interdependent functioning.  Massage therapy is safe and effective if used for stress management, but it is also widely used to help patients obtain relief from many specific problems, including the following:  muscle spasm migraine headaches post injury rehabilitation whiplash injury muscle pain associated with: - arthritis -frozen shoulder - neuritis/neuralgia circulatory problems tendinitis/bursitis neck and shoulder muscle tension low back pain sciatica  Massage can benefit people of all ages and conditions-babies, children, pregnant women, the elderly, those in chronic care, and those who need palliative consideration.  Fee Schedule  30 minutes - $35.00 + GST 60 minutes - $65.00 + GST  24 hours notice is requested for cancellation of appointments or full fee will be charged. How Do I Book A Massage?  A 30 or 60 minute massage can be booked in person or by calling the office at (416) 499-5656.  We do not offer massage at our offices at this time, but we do have a number of Registered Massage Therapists that we can refer you to in our neighborhood. Please call us to give you a referral. If you are booking your appointment for the very first time, you will be asked to arrive 15 minutes early in order to complete a confidential case history form and consent form.  Will My Insurance or OHIP Cover the Cost?  While massage therapy is not covered by the Ministry of Health (OHIP), many private insurance companies provide full or partial coverage under extended employer/employee health care plans.  Under The "no fault" automobile insurance, potential coverage has increased from four years to ten years and from $25,000 to $500,000 for treatment of injuries sustained in automobile accidents. A physician's referral is required only for receipts required by health care plans. We can also help in filling out treatment plans for motor vehicle accidents.