Why Massage Therapy? ™ - Massage Therapy Scope of Practice

The scope of practice of a profession refers to what a licensed and qualified professional is allowed to do within a professional capacity.In Canada, the massage therapy scope of practice is generally accepted to be based on the definition in the Ontario, Canada Massage Therapy Act (1991), and is as follows:

The practice of massage therapy is the assessment of the soft tissue and joints of the body and the treatment and prevention of physical dysfunction and pain of the soft tissue and joints by manipulation to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment physical function, or relieve pain. (Massage Therapy Act, 1991)

Due to the fact that this is a rather broad definition of the profession, the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario has clearly specified what types of modalities do not fall within the massage therapy scope of practice, based on the Massage Therapy Act of 1991 and the Ontario Regulated Health Professions Act.

The Ontario Regulated Health Professions Act defines controlled acts for the purpose restricting the professional scope of practice for health professionals.For example, providing a diagnosis is a controlled act, and is not within the Massage Therapy scope of practice. A physician, however, may provide a diagnosis, as it is within their scope of practice and permitted by their professional qualifications.A massage therapist in Canada may also perform low-grade joint mobilizations, but it is not within the massage therapy scope of practice to perform low-velocity, high-amplitude thrust (Grade 5) mobilizations. In this instance, a low-velocity, high amplitude thrust is permitted within the Chiropractic scope of practice.