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Medical
Massage
If you have
been injured in a car accident or on the
job, or if you have another injury or
condition for which massage is medically
necessary, your doctor may give you a
prescription for massage.
I work with medical doctors, naturopaths,
physical therapists, chiropractors, and
other health care practitioners, providing
massage care when it is medically indicated
for their patients.
What is Medical
Massage?
Medical massage is therapeutic bodywork
delivered in a medical setting - that is,
under the direction of a doctor or other
health care provider.
Delivering medical massage care requires
advanced training (beyond the state's basic
500-hour licensing requirement) in clinical
and orthopedic massage techniques, pathology
and contraindications, medical communication
and documentation, insurance billing,
professional ethics, and legal issues.
I have over 1,500 hours of basic and
advanced massage training and education, and
I have a strong commitment to ongoing
professional development and lifelong
learning.
In the massage profession, we have only
recently begun to clarify the differences
between medical massage and wellness
massage. For my take on this, please see my
article, Medical Massage vs. Wellness
Massage.
Medical Conditions
that Massage Can Help
Medical massage can be an effective
treatment for a number of conditions:
• whiplash
• neck pain
• low-back pain
• tendonitis, tenosynovitis, and other
tendon injuries
• myofascial pain
• sprain/strain
• fibromyalgia/fibrositis
• trigger points
• osteoarthritis
• repetitive strain injuries
• athletic injuries
• post-injury rehabilitation
• sciatica
• carpal tunnel syndrome/CTS
• thoracic outlet syndrome/TOS (especially
when musculoskeletal issues cause the
problem)
• temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction
• headaches
• migraines
• edema
• insomnia
• anxiety
• emotional stress
I am well-versed in the
administrative side of medical massage,
including insurance billing and dealing with
the legal and other aspects of personal
injury (PIP) cases.
Insurance Billing
I bill most insurance companies, and I am a
preferred provider for most managed care
organizations and health plans refer to the
insurance page of this site for a list.
Medical Massage Rates
My medical massage rates are based on
an analysis of both usual, customary, and
reasonable (UCR) charges for the Seattle
area and of RVU (relative value unit)
pricing. Current rates are $30 per 15-minute
unit for CPT code 97124 (massage), $35 for
97140 (manual therapy techniques), $30 for
97110 (therapeutic exercise), and $15 for
97010 (hot and cold pack application). I
offer a 25% discount for payment at the time
of service.
Copies of medical records are available
(with consent of the patient) for 91 cents
per page for the first 30 pages, 69 cents
per page for additional pages, and a $21
handling fee. (See the amended Washington
State Register and RCW 70.02.010 (12) for
more information on these fees.)
Wellness Massage
My wellness massage clients typically come
to me to help manage stress, to increase
their body awareness, to address minor
injuries from dance classes, hiking, or
other activities, or to just chill out for
an hour or so.
My offices are a quiet, calming oasis in the
heart of Bellevue. A relaxing massage
session can help undo the stress of
day-to-day life and generally make you feel
better about the world. And where else can
you get an hour of peace and quiet and a
highly trained professional's undivided
attention?
Relaxation
Our hectic 21st-Century lives leave little
time for just chilling out and relaxing.
There's nothing wrong with just checking out
from the world for an hour or so and
enjoying a soothing therapeutic massage.
Stress Management
Maybe it's your boss. Maybe a co-worker.
Maybe it's all that time you spend in
traffic. Or concern about how to put 35
hours of life into each 24-hour day.
Whatever the cause, massage can help you
manage the stress in your life. Turn off
your cell phone, forget your obligations,
and let yourself relax for an hour or so.
Body Awareness
Much like dance classes, a tai chi practice,
or a daily yoga routine, massage can remind
you that you have a body and that it is
designed for more than sitting in a car or
hovering over a computer screen all day.
Injury Treatment
Many of my clients are very active. Whether
it's hiking, running, rock climbing,
dancing, or some other physical activity,
vigorous activity can bang up muscles,
tendons, and ligaments. I use sports massage
and injury treatment techniques to help my
wellness massage clients stay in shape.
Computers and Desk
Work
A massage friend once said, "I'm not sure I
know what human beings are designed for, but
I know what they're not made for - sitting
at a desk all day." Sitting in a chair (no
matter how comfortable it is), peering into
a computer screen (no matter how high-res it
is), and using a mouse (no matter how
"ergonomic" it is) all day can leave you
with aches and pains and stiffness in your
back, neck, shoulders, wrists, and hands.
information
on this page is courtesy of Larry Swanson.
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