| Help Your Body Heal | | | | There are a variety of uses for massage |
| You may be able to help your body heal itself | | | | therapy, and more uses are being studied all of |
| with medical massage therapy. More and more | | | | the time. Some are to relieve chronic pain caused |
| doctors are beginning to prescribe medical | | | | by illnesses or pregnancy. Some may help with |
| massage as a way to aid your own body's natural | | | | bloating or constipation. Still others may help |
| ability to heal itself. They do this to minimize, or | | | | people who have been injured in an accident. |
| avoid, using high doses of prescription pain | | | | Patients who get treatment also tend to report |
| medications, and sometimes it can even help | | | | an improved mood, along with relief from pain. |
| avoid surgery. Sometimes the therapy can relieve | | | | Warnings About Medical Massage Therapy |
| pain. In some cases, it can actually aid healing. | | | | Keep in mind that doctors do prescribe the |
| Medical Massage VS. Relaxation Massage | | | | treatment. This is because the massage |
| It is important to understand the distinction | | | | therapists are not expected to diagnose a |
| between medical massage and relaxation | | | | problem, but simply to relieve it. For example, |
| massage. While both may have some medical | | | | some heart problems could present themselves |
| benefits, a medical treatment will be designed to | | | | as back or arm pain. But if this is the case, a |
| help with a particular problem. | | | | massage could be very dangerous. That is why a |
| You may call yourself to schedule relaxation | | | | medical professional must prescribe the |
| massage at a day spa, resort, or beauty school. | | | | treatment, and the patient cannot go out and |
| Lots of people enjoy these sessions in order to | | | | seek it on their own. |
| relax, improve their mood, or relieve sore | | | | Will Health Insurance Cover Medical Massage |
| muscles. A session will probably be applied to the | | | | Therapy? |
| whole body, or to whatever parts of the body | | | | Since this is accepted medical treatment, |
| you request. | | | | prescribed by a doctor, and performed by a |
| Compare that to a medical treatment. This will | | | | licensed professional, will health insurance cover it? |
| probably be applied to the part of your body that | | | | Many insurers do help pay for these treatments. |
| is affected. It is very specifically designed to help | | | | If you want to find out if your plan covers this, |
| treat a certain injury or illness. The treatment | | | | you need to do a couple of things. First you |
| should be prescribed by a doctor, and it should be | | | | should call your insurer to find out how they will |
| performed by a qualified therapist. | | | | handle payments. Secondly, you will need to make |
| A medical doctor will prescribe this treatment, | | | | sure the therapist is on your plan. Some types of |
| much as they might prescribe medication. And this | | | | health insurance, like PPO or HMO health plans, |
| type of treatment may actually reduce the need | | | | may have a list of network providers you can |
| for medication too. It can also relieve pain, relax | | | | use. This may actually be helpful because the |
| muscle spasms, and improve blood circulation. | | | | therapists will have to be qualified to make the |
| Sometimes one treatment will be enough, and | | | | network list. Other insurers may approve your |
| sometimes a patient need to schedule regular | | | | treatment, but require you to file your own |
| visits over a course of time. | | | | claims. |
| Common Massage Therapy Treatments | | | | |