Medical Foundations

Medical Restorative Massage Therapy® (MRMT) specializes in treating patients with chronic pain, who have been through all types of treatments ranging from invasive to non-invasive approaches, including traditional massage, without resolving their pain and/or limited physical function. They are often referred to us as a last resort by their physician, therapist, friend or family member. 

MRMT is an innovative and emerging discipline, providing a comprehensive approach to treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain.  As a collection of multimodal approaches from various disciplines specialized in rehabilitation, MRMT is the advanced practice of:

Medical Restorative Massage Therapy is based on a few central tenets:

• Through an in-depth understanding of the human body, including anatomy, physiology, pathology, proprioception and kinesthesiology, Certified Medical Restorative Massage Therapists will have the knowledge and awareness of the physiological response to each specific therapeutic technique, on and off the table.
• The blended application of passive pain management techniques and Active Restorative Function Techniques^TM will help reduce pain and restore physical function.
• To be effective, MRMT must rely on a medical model, which involves:
• Thorough assessment to identify the underlying cause of dysfunction and pain,
• Treatment protocols, customized for each patient,
• Provision of patient education and prevention methods,
• Focus on restoration of the patient's function and improving quality of life,
• Communication with collaborating medical professionals,
• A non-competitive, team approach,
• Continuous research and development of MRMT® treatment protocols.

Like most medical practices, our core philosophy concentrates on patient care.  We believe our care should do no harm to the patient.  Our therapists will work with patients, providing the customized care they truly need. We also stress assessment and planning, so that we always have an individualized Plan of Care for each patient and have gathered sufficient data to provide the best and safest care possible.  Our goals for patients are improvement in balance and symmetry in posture, mobility, and range of motion, not relaxation.

Medical Restorative Massage Therapy treatment is designed for chronic pain patients (though we regularly see all types of patients), and requires specific skills to help treat their dysfunctions, including: 

• Rigorous and comprehensive training in Medical Restorative Massage Therapy and healthcare delivery in a clinical setting,
• Leadership skills,
• Interpersonal skills,
• Active listening,
• Clear and effective communication,
• Adaptability and critical thinking,
• Accurate and complete assessment,
• Use of logic in problem solving.

M. T. Wellness therapists use a variety of techniques to treat a dysfunction.  No single massage modality effectively treats all of the diverse pain and injury conditions.  Our therapists have a broad and diverse set of techniques to draw from when addressing a patient's pain complaints.  We match the physiology of the injury to the physiological effects of the treatment, to improve outcomes and to ensure patient safety.  However, these techniques must also be creatively applied using critical thinking skills and problem-solving strategies to match the unique needs of each patient.  The best treatment plan for a condition is based around effective clinical reasoning.  Therapists should create a treatment plan by choosing and adapting treatment techniques to address the unique situation of each individual patient.