FAQ
FAQ
What is massage therapy?
Massage therapy is hands on treatment to muscles, tendons, ligaments and connective tissue. Massage therapy can help with the every day aches and pains and injuries associated with repetitive strain injury, sporting activities, poor posture and more.
Do I need to disclose all health conditions/previous injuries even though they are not related to my complaint?
It is helpful for your therapist to know what conditions or previous injuries you have had. Some conditions will have precautions that we need to put into place to make sure there is no harm to you (ie change the pillowing or positioning on the table, decreasing pressure, avoiding working on certain areas of the body etc). Previous injuries can cause scaring and your body may be compensating to avoid reinjuring the area.
What should I expect when I go for my first appointment?
You will be brought into your treatment room by your Massage Therapist. They will go over your intake form and ask any questions that they find will help better your treatment. With certain complaints an assessment may be preformed to see where your complaint is stemming from. This will give the Massage Therapist a better understanding on what they should be treating in order to help you feel better. They will explain how to get on the table, how you will be covered, and discuss undressing to your comfort level. After the massage, your therapist will leave the room, and you are able to get dressed. After the massage, your therapist may give you home care exercises to help you get back on your feet and feeling better faster!
What is informed consent?
Massage Therapy is a great way to get rid of aches and pains. Our therapists will discuss the treatment and the possible side effects of the treatment, what to expect in the treatment, and at any time, you can tell them to STOP. Registered Massage Therapists need your consent to do your treatment. We also need a signed consent to work on what is called "Sensitive Areas". These areas include working on your chest, breast, inner thigh and buttocks. At anytime, if you are uncomfortable you can withdrawal your consent and they will stop treating that area.
Do I have to take my clothes off if I am uncomfortable?
Absolutely not! Massage works best skin on skin with lotion or oil applied. It warms up the tissues faster. BUT, if you are uncomfortable removing an item of clothing, you can keep it on and your therapist will work over your clothes. It is normal to feel nervous the first few treatments. We want you to be as comfortable as possible receiving treatment.
Am I expected to talk during my treatment?
Our therapists are great at following your lead. If you would like to talk during your treatment, they will carry a conversation. If you would like peace and quiet, unless it has something to do with the treatment, your therapist will avoid conversation so you can relax and listen to the music!
What is included in my appointment?
For your first appointment, expect to discuss your intake form, assessments if needed, massage, reassessment and homecare. After the first appointment, its mainly a quick conversation about how you are feeling, your massage and any added homecare, if necessary.
Am I supposed to tip my Massage Therapist?
At West Pointe Massage Therapy, we like to consider ourselves health care practitioners. You don't tip your dentist, so there is no need to tip us! We are thankful if anything comes our way, but we do NOT expect any tips.
Do you offer direct billing?
Why, yes we do! Direct billing is a great way for people to not have to pay their entire massage out of pocket. We submit your claim to your insurance company, and depending on your policy, the insurance company will pay us so you don't have to.
We are currently set up with:
Veteran's Affairs
Greenshield
SSQ
Empire Life
Canada Life
Chambers of Commerce
CINUP
Claim Secure
Desjardins (please contact insurance company to see if they offer direct billing under your policy)
GroupHEALTH
GroupSource
Industrial Alliance
Johnson Inc.
Johnston Group Inc.
La Capitale
LiUNA Local 183
LiUNA Local 506
Manion
Manulife
Maximum Benefit
People Corporation
RWAM
Sunlife
Union Benefits
Does OHIP cover massages?
Massage Therapy is not covered under OHIP, regardless if you have a doctor's note or not.
Do I need a doctor's note in order to get a massage?
Some insurance companies do require doctor's notes. Please contact your insurance company to see if you need a doctor's note in order to be covered.
What length of massage should I book?
We recommend for your first treatment to be a minimum of 45 minutes. Because we go through your intake form and assessments, 45 minutes still gives you ample of time on the table for treatment. After your first massage, your therapist will come up with a treatment plan that will guide you on length of treatment and frequency of treatments that they believe will benefit you.
How often should I book a massage?
We do not cookie cutter our treatment plans. It is best to talk to your therapist to see what would work best for you. We also take into consideration that not everyone has amazing benefits. We will work out a treatment plan with homecare to try and stretch your benefits as long as we can.
At what age can someone get a massage?
Any age can come in for a massage! Typically, we recommend a half hour treatment to anyone under the age of 12 unless they are in sports or are suffering from an injury.
Will massage fix me?
Massage is meant to aid in healing. We encourage the body to heal itself and that the healing time will depend on injury, level of activity used after the injury and dedication to home care.