Staying Within Our Lane: Why Scope of Practice Matters in Massage Therapy
At A Better Body, we’re passionate about helping you feel your best through safe, effective, and ethical massage therapy. But along with skillful hands and a caring approach, we also follow an important set of guidelines called our scope of practice rules that outline exactly what massage therapists are trained, licensed, and legally allowed to do.
Understanding these boundaries isn’t just important for therapists it also protects you, the client. It ensures that the care you receive is safe, ethical, and based on our expertise.
What Is “Scope of Practice”?
“Scope of practice” refers to the professional limits defined by our training, licensing, and the law. In massage therapy, this means we can perform certain techniques and offer advice related to muscular health, relaxation, and stress reduction but we cannot diagnose, treat, or prescribe for medical conditions.
What Massage Therapists Can Do
As massage therapists, we are qualified to:
Assess and discuss muscle tension, posture, and movement patterns
Suggest self-care stretches, relaxation techniques, or body mechanics tips
Use massage to support circulation, mobility, and stress relief
Work alongside other healthcare providers as part of your wellness team
What Massage Therapists Cannot Do
To stay within our legal and ethical boundaries, massage therapists cannot:
Diagnose medical conditions (e.g., “This is definitely a torn rotator cuff”)
Prescribe medications or treatments (e.g., “You should take this supplement”)
Promise to cure a disease or injury
Offer medical advice outside of muscular and relaxation-related suggestions
Manipulate bones or perform chiropractic adjustments (unless also licensed to do so)
Why These Rules Protect You
Staying within our scope of practice ensures that:
You get accurate medical information from licensed healthcare providers
Your massage is safe and tailored to your needs without unnecessary risks
You have a clear understanding of what massage therapy can and cannot achieve
By honoring these boundaries, we help maintain a trusting, professional relationship so you know the care you’re receiving is both responsible and in your best interest.
Bottom line: Massage therapy is a powerful tool for stress relief, pain management, and overall well-being, but it works best when paired with appropriate medical care. At A Better Body, we respect our scope of practice so we can give you the highest quality service while keeping your health and safety at the center of everything we do.
Book your next session today HERE and feel the difference that comes from care you can trust.
