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Standards and Best Practices

Obligations and Standards for Massage Therapists

Massage therapists have a Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice that they must abide by to fulfill their professional obligations. These standards and ethics are nationally agreed upon. Members of MTAM follow the By-Laws of the Association and practice recommendations created by the Board on behalf of its members.

Click to download PDF:
Massage Therapy Association of Manitoba By-Laws
 Massage Therapy Association of Manitoba Standards of Practice
 Massage Therapy Association of Manitoba Code of Ethics

National Standards

These competencies and performance indicators are used as a base across Canada by Regulators, Associations, and Massage Therapy Educators to ensure the profession is moving toward one minimum standard of practice expectations.

Click to download PDF:
Inter‐Jurisdictional Practice Competencies and Performance Indicators for Massage Therapists at Entry‐to‐Practice
Canadian Massage Therapist Association – National Standards of Practice
Canadian Massage Therapist Association – Position Statement on Students Working Outside of a Supervised Practicum

RMT Guidance, Advisories and Best Practice Documents

MTAM Members can access an extensive array of advisories, best practice recommendations, professional conduct documents, and more in the Member Portal.

Infectious Disease Control

Ensuring the health and safety of clients, and themselves, is a priority for RMTs. This includes preventing the transmission of infectious diseases. RMTs are trained in the signs and symptoms and prevention of infectious diseases to help reduce the risk of transmission.

All MTAM RMTs are obligated to follow the Public Health Standards of Practice that ensure a safe environment.

Clean & Sanitize

  • Everything used in the treatment room by the therapist, or the client is cleaned and sanitized.
  • High touch surfaces are regularly cleaned and sanitized.
  • Linens, towels and pillows are changed and laundered between clients.

Hand Hygiene

  • RMTs wash their hands and forearms with soap and water before and after every treatment.
  • Clients have access to hand sanitizer and/or hand washing facilities while at their appointment.

PPE

  • Therapists and clients can wear masks as needed.
  • Therapists will wear gloves as needed.

Health Screening

  • Clients who are unwell are encouraged to contact their RMT before their appointment to see if they are able to attend, or if they need to be rescheduled. There are certain health conditions where receiving massage therapy treatment is not advised.

 

ROUTINE PRACTICES

The primary goal of Infection Prevention and Control is to reduce the risk of acquiring an infection to a minimum level; zero risk is not possible in every circumstance but should nevertheless be the ultimate goal.

Routine Practices are the foundation for preventing the transmission of microorganisms (germs) during a massage treatment. There is a comprehensive set of Infection Prevention and Control measures developed for use in the routine care of all people at all times in all treatment settings. Routine Practices aim to minimize or prevent infections in therapists and clients. Following Routine Practices reduces the transmission of microorganisms in all settings.

Consistent use of Routine Practices is expected for the care of clients. Germs can be transmitted from symptomatic and asymptomatic people. This is why it is so important to follow Routine Practices during and after a massage treatment.

Routine Practices include: hand washing and sanitizing, sanitizing high touch surfaces, laundering linens between clients, using masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment when necessary, and screening clients prior to, or at their appointment.

https://sharedhealthmb.ca/files/routine-practices-protocol.pdf

MTAM Standards of Practice

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