Spa Vs. Clinical Massage: What’s the Difference?

When I think of getting a massage at a “spa” I think of cucumber water, meditative background music, and aromatherapy. A number of the kids I work with love going to “the Spa” (I always cross my fingers that they are being seen by a therapist who specializes in pediatrics!) But when they have any medical issue that’s acute or chronic, they come see me. I do clinical massage, a medically recognized, highly beneficial integrative medicine at Primary Children’s Hospital.

I believe clinical massage (also known as rehabilitative massage or medical massage) differs from a spa massage in four important ways:

1) Continuing Education - All licensed massage therapists receive a similar level of initial massage education (it’s nationally regulated by The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, although education hours vary by state). It’s the courses, educational foundations, and hours studied AFTER that initial education that separates clinical massage from spa massage.

2) Medical Experience - As a parent, I wouldn’t send a child with traumatic brain injuries, cerebral palsy, or cancer to a spa for a massage where they probably rarely (if ever) see these medical issues. This is where medical experience comes in. As a clinical massage therapist, I regularly see kids with these issues and know when something is out of my scope of practice, which brings me to the next topic …

3) Professional Contacts - As a clinical massage therapist, I have a network of physicians and therapists I work with either directly or indirectly. I can refer to them, or refer you to them. I do not work alone, but am part of a team of pediatric experts.

4) Follow-up - As a massage therapist, I am bound by HIPAA privacy regulations, but because I am a clinical massage therapist (and work for Primary Children’s Hospital), I also have access to your child’s medical information—information that a spa therapist would never have—that allows me to follow your child’s medical progress and tailor my treatments.

The above are four important ways I think spa and clinical massage differ, but the most important way they differ is that clinical massage focuses on treating a specific chronic or acute health issue that can require frequent or multiple visits in order to improve overall health and recovery — similar to going to a physical therapist.

In summary, as a clinical massage therapist I have a strong knowledge in massage therapy and years of experience working with medical issues and medical professionals. I’ve been an internationally Certified Pediatric Massage Therapist since 2008 and Board Certified for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork since 2006. Spa massage and clinical massage can both have cucumber water, meditative background music, and aromatherapy, but the reason you are there is different (I don’t provide cucumber water in my clinic – sorry to disappoint! And I only include aromatherapy in my practice if it’s medical aromatherapy made specifically for a patient by our Medical Aromatherapist).

I would be happy to answer any questions you might have about the work I do and how I might be able to help your child. Please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. If you want to schedule a massage therapy session for your child, call our Integrative Medicine Clinic at 801-662-1602 to schedule an appointment.

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