|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
Information for Patients & Clients Questions commonly asked by patients:
Clinical Massage - sometimes referred to as orthopedic massage - is the clinical application of various soft tissue and manual therapy techniques designed to evaluate and treat soft tissue injuries. These include massage therapy, trigger point therapy, myofascial release, muscle-energy techniques, craniosacral therapy, deep tissue massage, and many others. Clinical soft tissue therapy can be effective in treating a number of conditions, which include but are not limited to: tendonitis and other tendon injuries, whiplash, low back pain, myofascial pain (pain due to failure of muscle and connective tissue to glide properly), sprains, strains, sciatica, painful trigger points, repetitive strain injuries, thoracic outlet syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, post injury or surgical rehabilitation, sports injuries, headaches, edema... The primary goals of orthopedic soft tissue therapy are to decrease pain, increase range of motion, and help restore normal function to the soft tissues of the body - primarily muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Clinical soft tissue therapy is normally performed with a specific goal for functional outcome. Clinical massage therapists generally have training and experience beyond Oregon’s 500 hour standard licensing requirement. We feel that this is a good thing. Evaluation and assessment, pathologies and contraindications, clinical and orthopedic massage techniques, medical terminology, documentation and communication, insurance billing, legal issues, HIPAA privacy rules, professional and medical ethics, and experience working in a clinical setting are all part of the experience and training Oregon Clinical Massage brings to the table. back to patient FAQs
Medical massage is clinical massage based on a physician's prescription, and performed with a specific goal for functional outcome. It is generally prescribed as a series of visits over a specified period of time - such as twice a week for six weeks, with work only to the diagnosed area. It is sometimes paid for by a third party, such as an insurance company. A good medical massage therapist is a good clinical massage therapist who also knows how to speak the languages of insurance companies, physicians, state and federal law, attorneys, etc. If you have been injured in an auto accident, this can be a HUGE benefit to you, letting you concentrate on getting better instead of having to deal with all of the billing issues that come with your prescribed course of treatment. back to patient FAQs
How is wellness massage different from clinical massage? Wellness massage, sometimes called Spa Massage, is great for relaxation, easing aches and pains, soothing tired muscles, improving circulation, and promoting a general sense of well being. It is commonly used with good results by those who are well and want to remain well. It is usually booked in 60 or 90 minute increments for a whole-body relaxation treatment. Wellness massage is the beginning of our training. back to patient FAQs
How can orthopedic massage benefit me? If you are recovering from soft tissue injuries or other conditions involving muscle tissue, clinical soft tissue therapy may benefit you. We commonly see patients recovering from automobile accidents in which they suffered whiplash or other sprain/strain injuries of the torso, arms, and legs, surgeries, athletes seeking to improve their sports performance, sports injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome and other outlet syndromes, scoliosis, headaches, unexplained chronic pain, and fibromyalgia, to name just a few. back to patient FAQs
How should I choose a therapist? Choose someone who has advanced training and experience dealing with injury cases, as well as sound knowledge of a broad range of appropriate therapies, evaluation/assessment, scope of practice issues, and insurance billing. Ask your therapist about their background, experience, and training. There is a Medical Massage National Certification Board (MMNCB), which offers an examination for massage therapists with certain advanced training. Those who have passed this exam are Nationally Certified Medical Massage Therapists (NCMMTs). This is by no means the only measure of a qualified orthopedic massage therapist. But we believe it is a good one. Oregon Clinical Massage is a teaching facility, which operates an intern program to train highly skilled, experienced LMTs, and prepare them to sit for the National Certification exam. If you are unable to find a medical massage therapist in your area, please call us. We will be happy to try to help you locate someone who can help you. back to patient FAQs
What should I expect from a clinical massage session at Oregon Clinical Massage? During your first session, your condition will be assessed. We will assess through palpation as well as by using a series of range-of-motion tests in which we will be looking for your passive (we move the muscle groups for you), active (you move the muscles yourself), and resisted (you move the muscles against resistance) range of motion. We will check for contraindications to clinical soft tissue therapy, assess your stage of healing, and formulate a plan of care based on the diagnoses your physician has given, the physician’s orders (if applicable), and the findings of the evaluation. At your first visit, you will also fill out paperwork relating to your case and, if applicable, your insurance information. Following the assessment, barring contra-indications, you will receive a treatment. Depending on your stage of healing and your physician's prescription, this may consist of regular massage, the application of hot or cold packs, trigger point therapy, assisted stretching, muscle-energy techniques, strain-counterstrain therapy, integrative manual therapy, or other soft tissue therapies. We are an instructional facility, and we do often have interns who are studying to become Nationally Certified Medical Massage Therapists. Your comfort level is important to us, so we will ask you if you are comfortable with having an intern sit in on your treatment or provide treatment. At the beginning of subsequent treatment sessions, you will fill out a simple update form to let us know about your current symptoms and any changes you have noticed since the previous treatment. back to patient FAQs
Wear or bring something loose and comfortable; something which allows you to move freely. During the assessment process we will observe your posture, looking at things such as the level of your hip bones and the position of your spine. The easier it is for us to see these "landmarks", the more accurate the evaluation will be. Shorts (and a sports-bra for women) would be ideal. Most clinical soft tissue therapy treatments require that only the area of focus needs to be accessible - you will rarely be fully undressed and draped on the table. At Oregon Clinical Massage, your comfort is very important, so please wear something that will help you feel at ease. back to patient FAQs
Bring in the prescription from your doctor (if applicable), and bring your insurance information. We will be happy to call your insurer to see if clinical massage is covered by your policy. If you have been in an auto accident, print out and bring your completed intake form. If you are able to do this before you come in, the first visit process will go much more quickly. Bring insurance information such as claim number, claim representative's name and phone number, and your insurance company's name, address, and phone number. A copy of the accident report will help us to determine how you were impacted and where your injuries are likely to be. back to patient FAQs
Will I always see the same therapist? Usually the therapist you see on your first visit will be the one that you see most of the time. Occasionally, your regular therapist will not be available for your appointment, or you may be in a place in your recovery where you would benefit more from the expertise of a different therapist on site. back to patient FAQs
Can I request a medical massage prescription if my doctor doesn't volunteer one? Yes. Print out the prescription form and take it to your doctor. You could also direct your doctor to this site if she or he has any questions about our clinic. back to patient FAQs
Do I have to use your form instead of my doctor’s regular prescription form? No. You can bring in any prescription for medical massage or manual therapy from your physician. Some physicians will prefer to use their own prescription pads, but we find that our prescription form saves time for our doctors and for us in the long run. It’s pretty simple and has all of the information we need to properly handle a prescribed case. With this form, we don’t have to call the doctor back and ask for clarification on diagnosis codes or procedures nearly as often, and it is much simpler for us to bill your claims with the insurance companies. back to patient FAQs
Is it a good idea to have clinical massage treatments at the same time I'm in physical therapy? That will be up to your doctor. We find that generally the thing that generates the most improvement is doing both at the same time. Just be sure that your PT appointments are not on the same day as your clinical massage appointments, or your insurance company may choose to not pay for one or the other, and it may be several months of regular treatment before you find out your insurance company won't pay. back to patient FAQs
Will my insurance cover medical massage? It depends on your insurance policy. All automobile accident insurance policies are required to pay for what your doctor finds medically necessary. This is called Personal Injury Protection, and the minimum legal amount you can have on an Oregon auto insurance policy is fifteen thousand dollars. Some other types of policies will also pay for medical massage. We would be happy to call your insurer and find out about yours for you if you would like. back to patient FAQs
Will my insurance premiums increase if I make a claim? Your premiums will not increase as a result of using the insurance coverage you have already purchased with your policy. back to patient FAQs Why don't you answer your phone? We are a small, locally owned company, and we do not have a receptionist or an answering service. We want the person who answers the phone to be able to answer your questions and know the right ones to ask. If you call us during regular business hours and we do not answer the phone, it is probably because we are in session with patients. When you come for your appointment, you can expect the same undivided attention. Please leave us a message. We will get back to you as soon as we can. You can also email us. We check our voice mail and email messages frequently during the day. back to patient FAQs |
|
|
©2007 Oregon Clinical Massage
