Does massage therapy count as medical experience?

Asked by: Prof. Adalberto Walker DVM  |  Last update: January 4, 2026
Score: 4.4/5 (49 votes)

"Medical" massage kinda straddles the line in between medicine and esthetician-type work. Although you may have detailed notes about your clients (and were close enough to touch them), massage is not traditionally considered clinical experience. If you were a physical therapist it would be different.

Is massage therapy considered medical?

Definition. Clinical massage therapy is the manipulation of the soft tissues of the human body for therapeutic purposes. Based in ancient traditions, massage therapy is a professional health care discipline in the United States.

What counts as medical field experience?

There are many routes that a pre-med student can take to gain clinical experience:
  • Physician Shadowing. Shadowing simply means following a physician as he/she does his/her typical work activities in a clinic or hospital setting. ...
  • Hospice Volunteer. ...
  • Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) ...
  • Volunteer EMT. ...
  • Hospital Scribe.

What category does massage therapy fall under?

Massage therapy generally falls under the classification of "general health," which refers to a service or procedure that can provide a boost to a person's overall health and wellness but is not considered a vital treatment to alleviate a specific medical condition.

Do massages count as medical expenses?

For instance, if your doctor prescribes massages to help recover from an injury or manage a chronic condition, you may be able to include these costs in your medical expense deductions. Keep in mind that the IRS requires that these expenses exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income before you can claim them.

Do You Want to Be a Medical Massage Therapist?

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How to get massage covered by health insurance?

How to get medical insurance to cover massage therapy
  1. Call to verify your insurance coverage for massage therapy. ...
  2. Get a prescription by clearly communicating to your doctor that you'd like massage therapy. ...
  3. Ask your doctor to prescribe massage for the most general diagnosis possible.

Does therapy count as a medical expense?

(added March 17, 2023) A7: Yes, if the therapy is treatment for a disease. For example, an amount paid for therapy to treat a diagnosed mental illness is a medical expense, but an amount paid for marital counseling is not.

What field does massage therapy fall under?

Massage therapists play an important role in the field of allied health. They use touch and pressure to manipulate the soft tissues of the body to promote relaxation, relieve pain, reduce stress and promote the overall wellness of their clients.

How to get a letter of medical necessity for massage therapy?

How do I get a medical necessity letter for massage therapy? Talk to your primary care provider. In many HMOs and other health plans, this doctor is the one who must authorize the referral. Discuss medical necessity with the doctor.

What is the classification of massage?

1.2: Classification of massage techniques on the basis of character of techniques. Stroking manipulations: Superficial stroking, effleurage. Pressure manipulations: Kneading, petrissage, friction. Tapotement/percussion manipulations. Vibratory manipulations.

What is medical practice experience?

Professional practice experience is an internship or clinical practicum that students participate in within the healthcare field. It provides an important part of the student's education, by proving them with the right amount of training to handle real-life health care situations.

Is 200 clinical hours enough for med school?

Although schools have different admissions requirements and recommendations for the number of clinical hours you should have under your belt, 100-150 hours of clinical experience is considered the minimum amount. 200 hours of clinical experience can be great for applying to medical school.

What counts as medical writing experience?

Medical writing involves writing scientific documents of different types which include regulatory and research-related documents, disease or drug-related educational and promotional literature, publication articles like journal manuscripts and abstracts, content for healthcare websites, health-related magazines or news ...

Does massage therapy fall under physical therapy?

Unlike massage therapists, physical therapists must have a deep understanding of the body's biomechanics, pathology, and medical conditions to provide effective treatment. Therefore, while there is some overlap in techniques, the intent and outcomes sought in physical therapy vs massage therapy are quite different.

What is the highest level of massage therapist?

Board certification can be obtained from the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) and indicates that a massage therapist has attained a higher level of achievement beyond entry level licensure. Board certification is the highest voluntary credential available to massage therapists.

What is the difference between massage and medical massage?

Although medical massage may use some of the same techniques as other types of massage, the main difference between medical massage and other massage types is that medical massage has a focused approach to specifically address a physician-diagnosed issue.

Can a chiropractor write a letter of medical necessity for massage therapy?

Yes, a physician or chiropractor can write a Letter of Medical Necessity for massage therapy if they determine it is essential for treating a specific condition. This letter is often required by insurers or for HSA/FSA eligibility to verify the medical need for therapy.

What makes massage medically necessary?

Research has shown that massage can reduce heart rate, lower blood pressure and increase blood circulation and lymph flow. It also relaxes muscles, improves range of motion and increases endorphins, which all can enhance medical treatment.

What qualifies as a letter of medical necessity?

A Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) is the written explanation from the treating physician describing the medical need for services, equipment, or supplies to assist the claimant in the treatment, care, or relief of their accepted work-related illness(es).

Is massage therapy a medical practice?

The soft tissues include muscle, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments and skin. The massage therapist varies the amount of pressure and movement. Massage is part of integrative medicine. Medical centers often offer it with standard treatment.

Why did I quit massage therapy?

I was not prepared for the awful experience of working as a massage therapist. My clients were demanding and often creepy, thinking it was okay to cross my boundaries. The last client I saw was so awful that I gave up massage therapy completely.

What is massage therapy considered?

In the United States, massage therapy is often considered part of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), although it does have some conventional uses. This fact sheet provides a general overview of massage therapy and suggests sources for additional information.

What cannot be claimed as a medical expense?

Medical care expenses must be primarily to alleviate or prevent a physical or mental disability or illness. They don't include expenses that are merely beneficial to general health, such as vitamins or a vacation.

Is massage therapy tax deductible?

Can I Deduct Massage Therapy on My Taxes? If your massage is medically necessary and part of a formal diagnosis, you may be able to deduct it as a medical expense. However, keep in mind that your total medical expenses need to exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI) for it to count.

Does therapy count as medical leave?

Is my leave for treatment related to this condition protected under the FMLA? Yes. Assuming that you work for a covered employer and are eligible for FMLA leave, you may take leave for treatment visits and therapy sessions for the condition.