We are part of the West Penn Allegheny Health System

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is defined as manual manipulation of soft tissues of the body. Swedish massage is what most people think of when massage is mentioned. It uses such movements as long, superficial strokes, kneading, small friction movements, and occasionally movements of the joints to assist with stretching.

The first step to a massage is a brief interview that will help the practitioner and the client identify areas to focus on and also allows for any questions to be asked or answered.

The process of massage generally lasts one hour. The massage takes place on a specially designed table for comfort, in a room that provides privacy. During the massage the client is undressed, however draped in a warm sheet and covered with a bath sheet as well to provide privacy and comfort. The main goal of the massage is to relax. You will remain covered during the entire massage, except for the specific area of your body being worked on. A light oil is used during the massage to prevent undue friction to the skin.

The person performing the massage is referred to as a massage therapist. A massage therapist is a professionally trained person with at least 500 hours of instruction and a diploma from an accredited school or a license. Since there are no licensing laws in Pennsylvania, the therapist should have a diploma from an accredited school and /or be a member of a governing professional group such as the American Massage Therapy Association.