Remedial Massage

What is Remedial Massage?

Remedial Massage is a Natural Therapy that aims to treat:

• muscles (knotted, damaged, tense or immobile)
• ligaments
• tendons. 

It is a key component of sports medicine and often used to treat injuries like bruising, sprains and strains. Remedial Massage is increasingly used by anyone suffering from pain or injury in the body.

A Remedial Massage Therapist uses deep massage to treat injuries and speed up recovery. Examples include helping with:

• anxiety or depression
• cancer-related problems like fluid build-up (lymphoedema)
• fatigue
• headaches
• neuropathy (nerve damage, especially to feet) associated with diabetes
• rehabilitating after an injury or surgery
• pain associated with arthritis.

Is Remedial Massage a regulated profession in Australia?

No. In Australia, Remedial Massage is a self-regulated profession.

Massage & Myotherapy Australia represents Remedial Massage Therapists and Myotherapists in Australia.

To become a member of Massage & Myotherapy Australia, a Massage Therapist needs to satisfy certain educational requirements.

Does private health insurance cover Remedial Massage?

If private health insurance covers Remedial Massage, it falls under Extras Cover.

Ask your insurer whether it covers Remedial Massage.

If so, check whether Remedial Massage is subject to:

• a waiting period before you can make a claim
• per claim limits 
• annual limits.

If I have Extras Cover that includes Remedial Massage, can I see any Remedial Massage Therapist? 

No. To be covered, your Remedial Massage Therapist must be a member of a national organisation which: 

• has membership requirements
• assesses Remedial Massage Therapist for their level of training and educational requirements
• runs a continuing professional development program
• maintains a code of conduct
• has a complaints resolution process
• manages a formal disciplinary procedure where members can be suspended or expelled. 

In addition, your health insurer can decide whether or not to cover treatments from a particular provider.

Some insurers may require you to see a Remedial Massage Therapist who is one of their recognised providers only.

Before seeking treatment, always check with your health insurer that you are covered.

Does Medicare cover Remedial Massage?

No. Medicare does not cover the cost of Remedial Massage. 

However, Medicare covers some treatments under Physiotherapy that could include massage.

Compare Extras Cover from every private health insurer in Australia

Use our healthslips.com.au Calculator to find the best Extras Cover for you.