March 2003 [Volume 2, Issue 3]
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In this issue of To Your Health:
Is Increased Access to Massage on the Horizon?
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has approved a
demonstration project to test a new series of codes for billing complementary
and alternative medicine and nursing services. 
The
new codes, if approved, will provide massage therapists and other alternative
health care practitioners with more opportunities to bill insurance for
their valuable health care services.
The ABC codes, approximately 4,200 of which have been developed to date, have gained the support of a diverse group of health care organizations, including the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) and the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP). The codes are designed to fill the gaps in the American Medical Association's Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes and other areas of the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS), by describing certain integrative health care practices and practitioners more accurately. Currently, many services offered by CAM practitioners are not listed in the CPT codes, or do not conform with descriptions of those services. This is particularly true for massage therapists.
So, what's all this mean to the average consumer? It means more people may soon be able to enjoy the therapeutic and healing benefits of massage therapy! More reimbursement codes means more ways your massage therapist can bill insurance companies for services ... which in turn means, in all likelihood, that more insurance companies will cover massage. Considering the cost of a one-hour massage these days can range anywhere from $50 to $150, that's good news!
Reference: Testing of alternative medicine ABC codes authorized. Massage Today, March 2003:3(3). www.massagetoday.com/archives/2003/03/03.html.
What Is Swedish Massage?
Generally regarded as the most common form of massage, especially in the U.S. and other Western countries, Swedish massage involves manipulation of the muscles and connective tissues of the body to achieve relaxation or health maintenance.
Swedish massage uses five basic massage techniques to relax muscles and body tissues, using the hands, forearms and elbows. The five basic techniques are:
- Effleurage consists of long, gliding strokes from the neck down to the base of the spine or from the shoulder down to the fingertips.
- Petrissage generally involves kneading and compression motions - rolling, squeezing, or pressing the muscles.
- Friction consists of deep circular or transverse movements made with the thumbpads or fingertips.
- Tapotement consists of a series of briskly applied percussive movements, using the hands to strike or tap the muscles.
- Vibration consists of pressure applied to the back or limbs, and rapidly shaking them for a few seconds.
Swedish massage is credited to Swedish fencing instructor Per Henrik Ling, who invented the technique in the 1830s. This technique purportedly was brought to the United States from Sweden by two brothers in the 1850s. Regardless of who invented it, and how it came to America, the point is, it feels great, and it's effective!
To locate a massage therapist in your area who can provide you with more information on Swedish massage and other massage techniques, go to www.massagetoday.com/locator. To learn about the many other forms of massage therapy, go to www.massagetoday.com/aboutmt.
This Month's Massage Q & A
Question: I have seen a variety of therapists; most prefer to start my massage face-up if I complain specifically about back/shoulder/neck tension. My problem is that after feeling completely relaxed while on my back, my sinuses seem to have a tendency to drain after I roll over. This is annoying and distracting, to say the least. I have never had this problem starting face-down. Is there a distinct benefit to starting face-up when the focus is on the back/shoulder/neck area, or does my overall comfort outweigh any resulting benefit to that region?
Answer: You should be able to request from any therapist you go to to change some aspect of the massage, after all, it's your massage. Most therapists are flexible and will adjust their routine accordingly; if not, they should give you a reasonable explanation as to why they can't. It's extremely important to establish the kind of relationship with your therapist that allows you to communicate with her/him. That's why I would suggest having a regular therapist.
Question: Does massage therapy help patients suffering from breast cancer?
Answer: If you're asking whether it will help the cancer, the answer is no. However, if you're asking if it helps in other ways, the answer is a definite yes. General massage will certainly lower stress (and stress hormones, such as cortisol). If breast surgery has taken place (reconstruction, removal, etc.), breast massage can be extremely helpful in breaking up adhesions in the tissue.
Note: Information provided in the Massage Q & A section is drawn from comments posted on the "Ask a Massage Therapist" forum, where massage therapist James (Doc) Clay fields questions on the profession. The forum is located at https://www.massagetoday.com/ask/.
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