The scope of practice includes the assessment of the soft tissues of the body to help prevent and manage dysfunction, injury, pain or physical disorders. This is achieved by the physical, manual manipulation of the soft tissues with correct advice on exercise and training.
Diagnosis and treatment of injury and medical conditions
The diagnosis and treatment of injury and medical conditions is the responsibility of the medical practitioner and not the massage therapist. But in the private sector people can go to a massage therapist without seeking a medical opinion first. This is acceptable in the majority of cases because sport & remedial massage has wide ranging benefits for people who do not have specific injuries. But we cannot expect people to self-diagnose and decide if massage is the right and proper treatment for them, and they may seek treatment when it is not. The massage therapist therefore has to deal safely and appropriately with any clinical situation they may encounter and, most importantly, must refer clients to a medical practitioner whenever necessary, or when in doubt.
Scope of practice
