Informed Consent
Massage Defined Massage can be defined as structured, professional touch. Massage techniques manually manipulate the muscles, tendons, and fascia of the body to promote health and wellness. Benefits of massage include stress reduction, circulation enhancement, increased relaxation, and relief from muscular tension, soreness, and pain. People may find that meditation, as well as other body work systems like myofascial release and energetic body work, provides results similar to relaxation massage.
Limitations of Massage Massage therapists do not diagnose medical diseases or musculoskeletal conditions and massage is not a substitute for medical examination and treatment. Massage therapists do not prescribe drugs, including aspirin or ibuprofen, or medical treatments.They do not perform spinal adjustments and they cannot counsel clients about emotional or spiritual issues as would be provided by a mental health professional or spiritual leader. If you experience symptoms that lead you to believe you may have a medical condition, it is recommended that you visit a physician for diagnosis and treatment. For a detailed description of the massage scope of practice in this state, please visit the board of massage website at www.anyboard.com.
Adverse Reactions to Massage Massage may lead to adverse reactions in certain situations or when used with certain conditions or medications. The massage therapist will evaluate your health history intake and ask you questions to make sure it is safe for you to receive a massage . In the event the massage therapist is uncertain that massage will be a benefit to you, he or she may ask you to provide a note from your physician or from your chiropractor stating that it is safe for you to receive massage. Please provide complete details of medical conditions and medications to your massage therapist during the health-intake interview. Failure to inform the massage therapist of all medical conditions and medications may place you at increased risk for adverse reactions
Massage therapist and You
Massage Therapist Training and Experience Massage therapists practicing at Austin Lake Chiropractic have completed a minimum of 500 hours of massage training from a state approved school (Kalamazoo Center for the Healing Arts) and passed the state licensing requirements. Massage therapists at Austin Lake Chiropractic are knowledgeable in swedish massage, deep tissue massage, myofascial release, craniosacral therapy and spontaneous muscle release technique. Amanda specializes in different modalities to optimize your specific needs.
Business Policies and Practices
You may book a 30-minute ($40) 60-minute($70) or 90-minute($100) with Amanda Bajo.
Contact the Amanda directly to schedule your appointment at (269)760-9267
For safety purposes Amanda locks the entrance door(south door when facing the building) between sessions. Please feel free to enter through the chiropractor office door if you have a chiropractic appointment or are more than 5 minutes early for your massage appointment. Otherwise, when you arrive please send your therapist a text that you are waiting in your vehicle. When they are out of session they will unlock the door and text you to inform you that you can come in.
Insurance billing requirements We can bill insurance if your insurance policy covers massage. Our insurance billing policy requirements are as follows: 1) You will need to call our office staff to verify that you do have massage coverage on your policy and to be sure we are in network with your insurance carrier. 2) You must schedule an exam with Dr. Lynes at Austin Lake Chiropractic to receive a referral to obtain a massage that will be billed to your insurance company. 3) All insurance claims will be billed through the office of Austin Lake Chiropractic not through the massage therapist. 4) All deductibles and co-pays will be billed to you directly from Austin Lake Chiropractic. 5) Payments have to be paid to Austin Lake Chiropractic for balances not paid by your insurance company for your massage services. Payments can be paid at the office or mailed into the office (do not pay to your massage therapist) 6) Outstanding services for massage therapy should be paid in full within 30 days of bill date or a payment plan can be set up with our office staff. Failure to pay your massage therapy bill in a timely fashion can disrupt future appointments or result in termination of all pre-scheduled massage appointments. 7) For massage therapy to be billed through our office it is required that a yearly exam be scheduled with Dr. Lynes at the beginning of every new calendar year (example: if you start coming to our office for massage in December the previous year you will still be required to have a yearly office exam between January and June the following year. ) You are required to schedule between January first and June first. Clients not scheduled or seen by Dr. Lynes before this required date will not be permitted to schedule massages into June until they have fulfilled this obligation.
Non-insurance clients You are not required to have a yearly exam with the chiropractor for a referral to see a massage therapist .Seeing a chiropractor is at your discretion and highly recommended. Keep in mind that massage gift certificates are available at the front office and can be purchased directly from your massage therapist. Massage therapists prefer cash or personal checks as payment from clients without insurance coverage. Personal checks are to be made out to the therapist providing the service. Credit card payment is available at our front desk only during Austin Lake Chiropractic office hours. Plan to arrive 5 minutes early for your scheduled massage appointment. If you are a first time patient, arrive 15 minutes early to go over your health history form. For your convenience and to save time, health history forms are available on our website. Please fill out the health history form at your leisure, sign and date and bring it with you to your first visit. Clients arriving late will be charged the full session amount. Clients must cancel sessions with 24 hours notice or pay for the missed session in full. Returned checks will be charged a $30 processing fee. Business hours vary between massage therapists. Walk-in appointments are accepted in the event that a therapist has a cancelation or happens to be available at that time. Children and teens are welcome, but an adult guardian must be present with the minor in the treatment room for the entire session.
Expectations and Rights The client is expected to demonstrate good hygiene and not use illegal drugs or alcohol before the session (The use of drugs and alcohol make it unsafe for a client to receive massage). Clients and therapists are expected to refrain from any behavior of sexual nature, including sexual jokes, nicknames, or immodest conduct. Sexual behavior from the therapist towards a client is grounds for therapist termination and may lead to a formal complaint filed with the state board of massage. This may lead to the loss of the therapist's license. Sexual behavior from the client toward the therapist is inappropriate and will lead to the termination of the session and refusal of further service. The client has a right to prompt, professional service in an environment that is clean, private, and safe. Client information is not shared with any members of the public or health care providers outside of Austin Lake Chiropractic unless the client releases the information in writing or if a court of law may order the client's health care records released to the court as part of a legal proceeding. Therapists are obligated to report threats of self harm, or threats that the client plans to harm another person, to authorities. The client has the right to end the session at any time should they feel dissatisfied or uncomfortable with the session in any way. Clients who are dissatisfied with the therapist or techniques used by the therapist are encouraged to give feedback during the session. Please don't hesitate to give feedback to your massage therapist. They highly recommend you be involved during your session for optimal results.
Your Massage Session After you complete the health intake form, the therapist will take you to a private treatment Room, review the form with you, and discuss your goals for the session and answer any questions you may have. The therapist will customize the massage to meet your specific needs within the limits of his or her training and scope of practice. The therapist will then leave the room while you undress(to the level of your personal comfort) and position yourself under the drape on the massage table. The therapist will knock before entering the treatment room. Only the area being massaged will be undraped as the session proceeds. In a typical relaxation massage, the therapist will start the massage face up and begin with the head and neck then will proceed to the arms, legs, feet. When it is time to flip the therapist will hold the sheet securely while you roll over to your stomach. The therapist will continue the treatment by working on your legs and back. The breasts, genitals and anus are never undraped during the session and every effort is made to respect and protect both the clients and therapists modesty. The stomach and buttocks will only be massaged with the clients consent. This massage protocol is subject to change depending on the session goals that were discussed prior to the session. During your session the therapist will ask you questions. For instance: about the comfort of the stroke pressure, room temperature or your choice in music or music volume and you should let the therapist know immediately if you are uncomfortable. Keep in mind that we have additional blankets and pillows for added comfort if requested. Conversation during the massage is left up to the client and isn't expected. It is common to ask questions during the session if you are new to massage or if it's your first appointment with a new therapist. However, silence allows you to relax fully and enjoy the session. Contrary to popular belief no pain no gain during a massage just isn't accurate. If the pressure is so intense that you have to tense up then it's just counterproductive to what is trying to be accomplished. If this is the case for you during the session, then the pressure needs to be adjusted. Think of it this way, massage therapists need to earn the trust of the muscles being worked using finesse. The first strokes applied to the body are to apply the cream and warm the muscles up. As the therapist works through various massage strokes, the body will gradually and naturally allow for deeper pressure to be applied as the session progresses. With minimal to no pain at all. However, you don't want the therapist to be so gentile that you barely feel it. That is where good communication between therapist and client becomes highly relevant in finding the perfect balance for your individual body needs.
Following the Massage It is very important to drink lots of water after a massage. It is common to feel muscular soreness the next day if you are new to massage or haven't had one regularly. Just like exercise, the more you do it the less sore you are after. Same applies to massage. The soreness should only last a few days.
Therapists often get asked how often the client should receive massage. There are no limits on the amount of massage one should get. It depends on the goals you want to achieve. If you suffer from chronic pain then more frequently could be for you. It depends on how much time you have available to set aside for massage and of course, the pocket book. People get regular massages ranging from once a month to weekly. It also depends on the availability of your therapist.
Informed Consent
I,_____________________ have read and understand the disclosures, policies, and procedures of massage therapist Amanda Bajo L.M.T. and I would like to receive a massage session or request a session for my child or dependent. I understand the benefits and limits of massage therapy and understand massage may cause adverse reactions in certain situations. If I experience any discomfort during the session, I will immediately inform my therapist so she or he can modify the massage strokes. I understand that massage therapists do not diagnose diseases or conditions, prescribe medications or treatments, or perform spinal adjustments. I recognize massage is not a substitute for medical treatment and should I need medical treatment, I will seek out the appropriate health care professional (Physician, chiropractor, psychotherapist, etc.) I understand that it is my responsibility to keep the massage therapist informed of changes in my (or my child's or dependent's) health status, diagnosed medical conditions, and medication. I understand that failure to inform the therapist of these changes may place me (or my child or dependent) at greater risk of adverse reactions to massage. I release the massage therapist of any liability if I fail to disclose the appropriate health related information. It is also understood that any illicit or sexually suggestive remarks or advances made will result in immediate termination of the session, and I will be liable for payment in full for the scheduled appointment.
Client's signature:____________________________________________________________
Date:______________________________