Massage Therapy School in Wilmington, DE
Wilmington may be small as far as cities go, but that doesn’t mean the area’s massage therapy practices are. A massage therapist can be a sole proprietor here, but there are also practices that are mid-to-large by massage therapy standards — at least when measured against others around the nation that are locally owned.
This is an area of the country where massage is widely recognized as healthcare. Some patients receive massage by provider prescription. There are also a lot of people who receive massage for general relaxation or self-select it for symptom relief.
In Delaware, unlike most states, one will find massage technicians as well as massage therapists. Wilmington-based A Magical Escape notes that only massage therapists work by physician or chiropractic referral or help people with medically diagnosed conditions. Still, one will find quite a few massage practices with both therapists and technicians onboard!
Wilmington Area Massage Therapy Schools
The Academy of Massage and Bodywork in Bear offers a 600-hour massage therapy program as well as a 300-hour technician program. The Academy is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges and is a school member of a number of massage therapy organizations.
The Institute for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, across the border in Pennsylvania, has designed their program to meet Delaware standards as well as those of Pennsylvania. Their massage program is also 600 hours.
Wilmington Area Massage Practices
Wilmington massage practices are varied in their focus and atmosphere, though they may offer many of the same modalities.
Integrative Restorative Massage Therapy offers many modalities, among them, deep tissue massage, myofascial release, Mu Xing Massage, tandem (four-handed) massage, oncology massage, ‘quick fix massage’ for areas of pain, Lomi Lomi, and Lypossage.
Massage and Reflexology of Delaware draws from a wide variety of traditions, encompassing ashiatsu, reflexology, deep tissue massage, Reiki, and lymphatic drainage, among others. 2019 found this organization with a career page, touting their 28-year history, positive and professional environment, and flexible scheduling options. They sought professionals who were adept with full-body massage and a range of deep tissue techniques; they noted that they also looked favorably on specialty techniques. This is in addition to general employability: professional, passionate, service-oriented.
Heaven and Health offers Swedish, deep tissue, prenatal, and medical massage and usually uses unscented gel unless a client requests or brings something different.
A Magical Escape Therapeutic Bodyworks put its own stamp on massage. The practice offers multiple specialty and custom massages including sticks and stones (heated bamboo and hot stone). A client can also opt to have just the sticks or just the stones. Other options include a combination deep tissue/ Swedish massage that is customized to meet individual needs, as well as reflexology and craniosacral therapy. Clients can opt for a relatively short (30 minute) “back rescue”. Some specialized massages are the domain of one particular team therapist. Relaxing music is typically a part of the background.
Limestone Therapeutic Massage specializes in injury-related medical massage. Their website lists seventeen massage therapists and technicians as of early 2019. Most of the boxes on the “our team members” page include names and links to bios; one proclaims “join our team”. The organization notes that their therapists are employees and that payment is “competitive” and tiered; no selling is involved. Services are not limited to medical massage. Staff members collectively have many massage competencies, including sports massage, Swedish relaxation massage, hot stone, lymphatic drainage, and reflexology. A number of them are able to provide customized therapeutic massage. The business accepts Personal Injury Protection, worker’s compensation, and flex spending health cards.
Oriental Massage Therapeutic Massage Place provides acupressure services (full body, foot, or back).
Massage therapy businesses promote themselves in myriad ways from specials to blog posts. Some have massage plans which allow people to receive a slightly lower fee for service in exchange for a bigger commitment.
Some local massage practices offer chair massage: short, clothed massage sessions that can be set up at a workplace.
Massage as Healthcare
The health benefits of massage have been publicized and touted in Delaware, though the state’s health proponents didn’t score quite the victory they sought in 2018; an insurance bill made it into law without the provision that would have created a demonstration project for massage therapy. Proponents see widespread massage therapy coverage as a part of the prescription for lowering prescription rates for high-risk pain medications; Delaware has struggled to bring opioid reliance down.
Services are often reimbursed if they are injury-related. Some massage therapists note that they accept worker’s compensation for medical massage.
Massage therapy has found its way into other healthcare settings. One will even find Licensed Massage Therapists providing services for children and families at Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children (https://www.nemours.org/services/support/naidhcsupport/massagetherapysupport.html). Inpatient children can receive the service at doctor’s order without additional fees. This is also the case with those receiving comprehensive outpatient or pain management services.
Fee-based pediatric massage therapy is available on an outpatient basis; it is also available to employees and family members of hospital patients. Nemours notes that while insurance generally won’t cover the service, some families may utilize employment-based flex spending accounts.
LMTs who work in this hospital setting have expertise in working with special needs children and positioning those who have mobility problems or are confined to bed or wheelchair. They have special training in soothing integrative massage techniques and nurturing touch.