SCOPE OF PRACTICE
The scope of practice of the sport & remedial massage therapist includes the assessment of the soft tissues of the body to help prevent and manage dysfunction, injury, pain or physical disorders. This is achieved by the physical, manual manipulation of the soft tissues with supportive advice on exercise and training. Sport & Remedial Massage Therapists practice within those fields for which they have been trained to a level of competence acceptable to the Institute of Sport & Remedial Massage. They operate as independent practitioners as well as members of health care teams.
Diagnosis and treatment of injury and medical conditions
The diagnosis and treatment of injury and medical conditions is the responsibility of the medical practitioner and not the massage therapist. But in the private sector people can go to a massage therapist without seeking a medical opinion first. This is acceptable in the majority of cases because sport & remedial massage has wide ranging benefits for people who do not have specific injuries. But we cannot expect people to self-diagnose and decide if massage is the right and proper treatment for them, and they may seek treatment when it is not. The massage therapist therefore has to deal safely and appropriately with any clinical situation they may encounter and, most importantly, must refer clients to a medical practitioner whenever necessary, or when in doubt.
What remedial massage can do
For many thousands of years massage has been used effectively to deal with minor soft tissue conditions (affecting muscles, ligaments and tendons), and its uses and benefits are no less today than they have ever been. The majority of general aches and pains that are caused by lifestyle stresses are minor soft tissue conditions. Although they may recover naturally over time this is often not the case and they can develop into more serious and complex issues. Remedial massage has shown over the years to be a fast and effective way of dealing with these minor soft tissue conditions by assisting the body's own natural repair processes.
As a complementary therapy
Even with more serious injuries there is nearly always some secondary soft tissue condition also involved. This is usually because the muscular system is protecting or compensating for the more serious problem. Remedial massage can have a vital complementary role to play, in support of the medical practitioner, dealing with these secondary problems which otherwise may prevent a good recovery.
Sports massage
