Have you been waiting day after day for this pandemic to just end, so that you can head back into the life we took for granted back in 2019? Many small businesses have been impacted in various ways - financially especially.
Registered Massage Therapists were not allowed to practice from Mid-March 2020 to Early June 2020.
But are Massage Therapists open in Ontario in 2021? Well since then June of 2020, RMTs have been rightfully recognized once again as Essential Health Care Workers and could openly practice.
Hey You! Looking for a certain part in the post? Use this table of contents to help guide you to where you want to be!
Table of Contents
Massage Therapy as a Health Care Profession.
Not many people know this – but Massage Therapy is a Health Care Profession.
An act called the RHPA or Registered Health Professional Act of 1991 regulates who is considered a Health Care Professional in the eyes of the Provincial Government – and what they’re entitled to.
Professions such as Chiropractors, Dentists, Nurses, Pharmacists, as well as Massage Therapists are all regulated by this Province-wide act.
Since Health Care Workers are allowed to operate – Massage Therapists are therefore still allowed to have their doors open to the public.
Are there any restrictions to getting a Massage from a Massage Therapist?
Of course, just being allowed to open as a Registered Massage Therapist doesn’t mean that everything’s going to be the same as pre-pandemic.
Like anywhere indoors, you’ll need to be wearing a mask, whether you’re a practitioner or a patient.
You’ll also be asked to perform a COVID-screening prior to every Massage Therapy Visit you make.
This has been made very clear to practitioners of Massage Therapy that some form of COVID screening must be done – and those that don’t pass it must wait 14 days before coming in for another appointment.
Is it safe to get a Massage from a Massage Therapist right now?
Yes it’s perfectly safe to get a Massage from a Massage Therapist right now, provided that all preventative guidelines and health & safety measures are being met.
Despite being in close contact with someone, and essentially having someone coming into direct contact with your body, namely skin-to-skin – there’s not a huge amount of risk.
How you may ask?
It’s variable on which practitioner of course – some may be meeting the standards, others may be falling short of it, and the rarest of them all will be superseding those standards!
At our clinic we’re doing our part in keeping both our practitioners and patients safe – you can read more about it by clicking here.
Is my Massage Therapist following health guidelines?
If you’ve decided you need a massage, and that outweighs the risks of contracting infectious disease (specifically COVID-19), then you should also be sure your Massage Therapist is following the appropriate guidelines in sanitization and cleanliness.
This is the minimum standard expected by Registered Massage Therapists in Ontario:
RMTs providing in-person treatment are expected to follow infection prevention and control
practices at all times, in all practice settings. RMTs must also follow and comply with
requirements in the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Operational Requirements: Health Sector
Restart; consider the principles of proportionality, minimizing harm to patients/clients, equity,
and reciprocity (as defined in the Chief Medical Officer of Health’s Directive #2); and adhere
to CMTO’s COVID-19 Pandemic – Practice Guidance for Massage Therapists.
However, these links are a little bit tedious to read through, so let’s shorten up what you’d probably be looking for in the next section!
What should I specifically look for from my Massage Therapist to ensure cleanliness and sanitization?
Here are some key things to look for from your Massage Therapist the next time you’re due for a massage:
- Updates to infection prevention and control (IPAC) requirements (hand sanitizer alcohol
concentration now 70%-90%, providing tissues and lined garbage bins for use by staff
and clients) - Updates to client screening (requirement to provide a surgical/procedure mask if screen
positive at practice setting) - Clarification on client screening (clients must be screened twice – once before arriving
for their appointment, and again upon arrival) - Clarification on Massage Therapist mask use (all levels of surgical/procedure masks
acceptable, best practice to change after each client but must change when wet, soiled
or damaged) - Recommendation for all staff at practice setting to wear surgical/procedure masks when
present - Tool: Public Health Ontario’s Performing a Risk Assessment Related to Routine Practice
and Additional Precautions (for conducting individual risk assessments to determine if
additional PPE is warranted) - Recommendation to engage with landlords to ensure cleaning of common spaces
- Additional information about what needs to be documented in the client health record
- Information on self-monitoring requirements for RMTs
So are Massage Therapists Open in Ontario in 2021?
If your Massage Therapist hits the hammer on the nail with all the points above, then you can be sure as heck that you’re in good hands and safe when it comes to disease & infection control!
So to summarize – Yes, Massage Therapists are open in Ontario in 2021 as of writing this article. However, this comes with some restrictions and safety measures that need to be taken into account.
Have more questions or perhaps looking to book an appointment with a Massage Therapist? Keep on reading!
F.A.Q.
Have some questions about any procedures, guidelines, etc., that we’re utilizing during the global pandemic? Let us know! You can Contact us through email, phone or even through social media about any questions you may have.
Vital Wellness Centre is a clinic that currently focuses on Massage Therapy –a health care service that is considered essential.
As such, we’re committed to helping our patients when we find that the benefits of treatment outweigh the potential risks, especially due to our extensive cleaning procedures and preventative measures.
Yes, as mandated by our local government, wearing a mask in a public space indoors is mandatory – with exception only to those who have trouble breathing, are under the age of 2, or are unable to remove their mask on their own.
Both practitioners and patients must be wearing a mask at all times while in the clinic.
If you do not have a mask, you will be asked to find one and wear one. If you cannot, you may purchase one from us.
If you’re not feeling well before an appointment, especially if you have any symptoms of COVID-19, please call us and let us know. We’ll rebook you after the 14 days of your self-isolation, and you will not be charged a cancellation fee.
If you’re not feeling well before an appointment, especially if you have any symptoms of COVID-19, please call us and let us know. We’ll rebook you after the 14 days of your self-isolation, and you will not be charged a cancellation fee.
If you’ve been made aware of all the precautions and preventative measure that we’re taking here – and you still feel uneasy, be sure to contact us 24 hours before your appointment, and we’ll be more than happy to rebook you when you’re more confident in undergoing therapeutic treatments.
We have decided not to reduce hours in response to the lockdown, as that gives patients the opportunity to choose a time most convenient for them. This will also decrease the probability of overlap in patient appointments, thereby decreasing opportunities for physical contact and potential transmission of any sort of diseases/illnesses between patients – keeping both our practitioners and our patients safe.
No – You will not be charged a cancellation fee if you have to cancel an appointment if you have tested positive for COVID-19 or if you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Please let us know at your earliest convenience, and we will make sure that you are not charged a cancellation fee, and will rebook you at the earliest, 14 days from your quarantining/self-isolation.
Need a little help?
Looking to have treatment with a health care professional about a pain problem or functional issue you have, and happen to live in the Greater Toronto Area, specifically Mississauga. You’re always welcome to come see me in person! You can book online with a click of a button!
Book an Appointment!
Richard Lam
Richard is the owner of Vital Wellness centre and practices as a registered massage therapist with a specialty in therapeutic massage, utilizing techniques including manual therapy, contemporary medical acupuncture and PDTR.
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