Frequently Asked Questions

Please verify your current Massage Therapy insurance benefits through the OSU Health Plan or the OSU Student Health Plan:

For OSU faculty and staff that have insurance coverage through the OSU Health Plan please contact Customer Service at (614) 292-4700, option 0 or (800) 678-6269, option 0.

For OSU students that have insurance through the OSU Student Health Plan please contact HealthSmart at 1-844-206-0374.

If you receive a massage at a spa or hotel, a 15% to 20% tip is standard if you were pleased with the services. There are no real ground rules or norms for gratuities for medical massage. In addition, you may show your appreciation by referring friends, family and co-workers to your TMC massage therapist.

Many people prefer to keep their underwear on during a massage, while others prefer to be completely nude. It’s up to you.

If your problem areas are your lower back, hips, buttocks, or groin, tight-fitting underwear can sometimes get in the way of massage work, but a thong for women or briefs for men should do the trick.

In North America, if you do remove your underwear, licensed massage therapists must ensure that you are always properly covered by a sheet or towel. Only the area being massaged will be uncovered. At TMC Medical Massage & Movement, you can be assured of proper draping.

In North America, the massage therapist will leave the room so that you can remove your clothing and lie on the massage table under the sheet and blanket as instructed by the therapist.
Don’t rush or worry that the massage therapist will walk in on you — the massage therapist always knocks and asks if you are ready before entering the massage room.

Although some people prefer to talk throughout the massage, don’t feel like you have to make conversation with the massage therapist. After all, you’re having a treatment, you’re not at a cocktail party! Feel free to close your eyes and relax, which is what most people do.

Deep tissue massage and sports massage are just some of the types of massage that require more feedback. The massage therapist often works on deeper layers of muscle and will want to ensure that the pressure is not uncomfortable.

Be sure to speak up if:

• the room is too hot or too cold
• you experience pain
• you have any questions related to the massage
• there’s anything you forgot to mention during the consultation

Although you might think massage parlors that offer sensual or erotic massage may look obviously seedy, it can be sometimes be difficult to spot these places.

If you’re trying a new clinic or spa, it’s a good idea to call first and ask these questions:

• Do you offer therapeutic massage?
• Is the massage therapist certified or licensed?
• Do you require a health questionnaire of your clients?

A licensed massage therapist will not come into contact with your private areas during the massage.

Communicate openly with the massage therapist. Keep in mind however that it’s a myth that massage therapy has to hurt to be effective.

Some of the most effective types of massage therapy are gentle and do not involve deep pressure or pain. In fact, too much pressure can cause muscles to seize up. The therapists at TMC Medical Massage & Movement want to give you what you want. After all, you are paying for the massage and we want you to come back! Please don’t be afraid to tell the therapist what you want. If you don’t know, the therapist will offer you options and customize a massage just for you.

Here is a good rule of thumb — on a scale of one to 10 where one is no pain and 10 is extremely painful, the pressure should always be less than seven.

People are self-conscious for various reasons. Some of the more common concerns are:

• I’m overweight.
• I have excessive hair growth on my body.
• I’ve got acne on my face or back.
• My feet are ugly.
• I have scars.

Being self-conscious should never keep you from seeking health care, whether it’s visiting your doctor or seeing a massage therapist. If you’re self-conscious about a certain part of your body, you can ask the massage therapist to avoid that area.

Just remember to provide complete and accurate information on your health history form, so that the massage therapist is aware of any precautions or contraindication

Daily, Evenings and weekends by appointment.

TMC Medical Massage & Movement
4662 Larwell Dr.
Columbus, OH 43220
Phone: 614-442-6754
Fax: 614-442-6737
Email: [email protected]

Massages are typically 60 minutes in length with 90 minute sessions available.

The therapist identifies hyper irritable spots in the skeletal muscle that are associated with palpable nodules or knots in taut bands of muscle fibers. Compression of a trigger point may elicit local tenderness, referred pain, or local twitch response. This therapy is for people who suffer with pain from stress or injury.

The therapist identifies hyper irritable spots in the skeletal muscle that are associated with palpable nodules or knots in taut bands of muscle fibers. Compression of a trigger point may elicit local tenderness, referred pain, or local twitch response. This therapy is for people who suffer with pain from stress or injury.

Systematic and specific massage which lengthens and strengthens tissue which breaks the cycle of muscle spasm and pain. Target tissues may include muscles, tendons, ligaments, skin, joints, or other connective tissue. Sports massage is effective in treating muscle soreness due to over exercise or sports or sports-like injuries.

Systematic and specific massage which lengthens and strengthens tissue which breaks the cycle of muscle spasm and pain. Target tissues may include muscles, tendons, ligaments, skin, joints, or other connective tissue.

Massage for this unique group is administered by therapists who have been specifically trained to provide massage for conditions such as fibromyalgia and cancer. A customized plan which usually works in unison with a physician, helps to improve the immune system and decreases muscle soreness. This special service provides great comfort for the patient working through a chronic or serious illness.

This massage requires a doctor’s prescription. The technique shares many of the same goals of Swedish Massage. It is tailored specifically to the needs of pregnant women and their changing bodies. The therapists are certified and have specific training in caring for the mother-in-waiting, or focuses on the mother’s healing from childbirth.

TMC’s Licensed Massage Therapists will do on-site chair massage at your place of business for your employees. Your employees stay fully dressed and a massage chair is used. You can use our services as a reward for reaching a goal or for an incentive. Each therapist needs a 6X6 space to set up their equipment. We will bring everything for a fun and healthy way to celebrate your employees’ accomplishments.

A craniosacral therapy session involves the therapist placing their hands on the patient, which allows them to “tune into the craniosacral rhythm”. The practitioner gently works with the spine and the skull and its cranial sutures, diaphragms and fascia. In this way, the restrictions of nerve passages are said to be eased, the movement of cerebrospinal fluid through the spinal cord is said to be optimized and misaligned bones are said to be restored to their proper position. Craniosacral therapists use the therapy to treat mental stress, neck and back pain, migraines, TMJ syndrome and for chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia.

Cupping is the application of suction cups to the body. Cupping therapies have been used by healers for thousands of years. Cupping created negative pressure, rather than tissue compression, for superior bodywork. Through cupping, you can achieve loosening and lifting connective tissue, myofascial release and deep tissue work, facilitating the removal of toxins from the body, as well as breaking up and draining stagnation, and increasing the circulation of blood and lymph, all at the same time! Cupping helps with many issues, including loosen tight muscles and connective tissue, decreasing recovery time from injuries, fibromyalgia, trigger points, diminishing scars, stretch marks and varicosities, plus TMJ syndrome. Cupping can also be used for facial rejuvenation and cellulite reduction as well.

MLD is a special type of bodywork using gentle, steady rhythmic touch to assist your lymphatic system in detoxification of accumulated metabolic waste and toxins. As your lymphatic system has no natural “pump”, the MLD massage assists in guiding the harmonious flow of lymphatic fluid.

The Manual Lymph Drainage massage is a relaxing, non-invasive method to enhance nearly every aspect of your path to overall wellness.

WE DO NOT TREAT POST-COSMETIC SURGERIES AND PROCEDURES

SI is a detailed therapy that reorganizes the soft tissue of the body to release chronic holding patterns and balances the body’s structure in gravity. This balancing is achieved through a combination of movement education as well as slow deep pressure that unbinds and creates glide between the soft tissue layers of the body called fascia. When the fascial layers glide and the body is balanced in gravity, it releases pressure on the joints, increases flexibility, helps the body move with ease, enabling the body to use less energy for day-to-day activities and allows for better physical performance.

Swedish massage uses long, flowing strokes, kneading, and circular movements to provide a relaxing experience. Swedish massage is the most commonly requested massage technique and is helpful in reducing pain, joint stiffness and improving function in patients with conditions that cause muscle stiffness due to stress, chronic illness, or injury. Swedish massage promotes relaxation, improves circulation and provides relief of muscle tension.

Myofascial Release is a manual therapy technique often used in massage. The technique focuses on pain believed to arise from myofascial tissues – the tough membranes that wrap, connect and support your muscles. During myofascial release therapy, the therapist locates myofascial areas that feel stiff and fixed instead of elastic and moveable under light manual pressure. These areas, though not always near what feels like the source of pain, are thought to restrict muscle and joint movements, which contributes to widespread muscle pain. The focused manual pressure and stretching used in myofascial release therapy loosen up restricted movement, leading indirectly to reduced pain and discomfort.