Chiropractic + Naturopathic Doctor

Canadian RMTs Eligible for Graston Certification

Maria DiDanieli   

News

Oct 7, Indianapolis, IN – After
significant research and due diligence, Graston Technique (GT), leaders in
instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization technology, has opted to make selected Canadian massage therapists
eligible to become GT clinicians.

GT has identified a criteria and educational
qualifications for RMTs to be eligible to train for Graston Technique certification. Massage therapists must meet the following requirements:
graduate of a Canadian Massage Therapy School with a minimum of 2200 hour education
program; in practice a minimum of three years; member in good standing in their
provincial governing body; carry a minimum of $2 million liability insurance;
provide proof of all of the above.

Advertisement

GT has identified schools in the
following provinces whose education program meets the above standard: Alberta, British Columbia; Manitoba; New
Brunswick; Newfoundland & Labrador; Nova Scotia; Ontario; Quebec;
Saskatchewan.

Since 2001, GT has received inquiry
from hundreds of massage therapists from the U.S.,
Canada
and other countries. On three occasions, GT investigated the possibility of
allowing massage therapists to be integrated into the GT program. The issues
are numerous; however, the primary one has been the lack of national standards
and certifications. While those standards do not exist in the U.S.—it varies from state to state, we are
satisfied that many Canadian Schools do qualify because of the extensiveness of
their programs and that Canada
recognizes them as health care providers.

“We are very aware there are massage
therapists with superior knowledge about the musculoskeletal system, and
possess the skill to treat soft tissue dysfunction,” said Michael I. Arnolt,
president of Graston Technique. “The issue has been in determining which massage
therapists have that specific background.

“Fortunately, the advanced
requirements of many Canadian massage therapy schools, has made it much easier
to identify the qualified candidates to be GT clinicians,” he added. He noted
there are 63 schools which meet or exceed the education requirements.”

Qualified therapists will be able to
participate in interdisciplinary trainings conducted in Canada and
sites near the U.S./Canada border. To ensure the proper mix of professions,
registrations spaces for massage therapists will be limited, unless the courses
are exclusively for massage therapists.

Graston Technique currently is part
of the advanced degree curriculum at nearly 50 colleges and universities,
including Canadian Memorial Chiropractic
College in Toronto,
Anglo European
Chiropractic College
in England, and Murdoch University
in Australia.
GT is used by more than 11,500 clinicians worldwide, including nearly 700
chiropractors, physiotherapists and certified athletic trainers in Canada. GT also
is used by 190 professional and amateur sports organizations, including the
Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Blue Jays. 

GT utilizes stainless steel
instruments to provide clinicians with a mechanical advantage in detecting and
treating soft tissue dysfunction. The technique allows clinicians to provide
deeper and treat more specifically chronic and acute injuries, including carpal
tunnel, shoulder and knee injuries, foot and ankle injuries and low back pain.
The efficient treatment also is beneficial to the clinicians, as it protects
their hands and upper extremities.

A list of the specific qualified
massage therapy schools can be obtained by emailing info@grastontechnique.comClick for a list of research and articles located on the GT
website. 


Print this page

Advertisement

Stories continue below