Vancouver RMT services offered by Vancity Physio at their Fairview location.

Registered Massage Therapy in Vancouver

In-Person RMT In Vancouver

WHAT IS REGISTERED MASSAGE THERAPY?

Registered massage therapy (RMT) provides relief from soft tissue and joint conditions through manual manipulation. Your registered massage therapist will use techniques such as pressure, movement, and stretching to alleviate pain, reduce muscle tension, and improve overall physical mobility and function. Vancity Physio RMTs are experts in treating a wide range of conditions, including sports injuries, chronic pain, postural imbalances, and stress-related issues. 

Our RMTs work closely with our team of physiotherapists and kinesiologists to provide the best treatment plan for your needs and goals. Book your massage therapy session at our Vancouver Fairview location. 

BENEFITS OF REGISTERED MASSAGE THERAPY (RMT)

Massage therapy offers a range of physical and mental health benefits including relief from conditions like chronic pain, injuries, and muscle tension, while providing improved mobility, stress reduction, enhanced circulation, and headache management. Massage therapy provides a relaxing, stress relieving experience by improving blood flow and circulation while decreasing the response of the sympathetic nervous system.

Our Fairview clinic, where we offer registered massage therapy in Vancouver, is easily accessed by transit or car.


Your RMT will provide an ongoing treatment plan for future sessions and may recommend a physiotherapy plan to ensure you receive the full benefits of message therapy alongside physiotherapy.


We aim to provide the most comfortable experience possible for our clients. During your session, you will lie on a bed heated to your preference and your RMT will continually check in for your comfort throughout the treatment. 

CONDITIONS WE TREAT

Our expert massage therapists can support you with:

  • Arthritis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Migraine
  • Headaches
  • Osteoporosis
  • Sports injuries
  • Soft tissue sprains and strains
  • Tendonitis
  • Tension headaches
  • TMJ
  • General Stress Relief
  • PTSD

WHAT TO EXPECT

At the beginning of your initial session, you’ll meet your RMT to get acquainted and discuss how you’re feeling, along with any specific areas of concern you'd like to focus on.

Your RMT will recommend a treatment plan for future sessions and collaborate closely with other providers on our multidisciplinary team to address your unique needs and goals.

HOW TO PREPARE

Come dressed in appropriate attire so your RMT may have easy access to the area of concern. Whenever starting a new massage treatment program, bring a list of any medications to your first appointment, along with any relevant X-rays and MRIs. If you’re experiencing pain symptoms beforehand, make a note of them and be sure to tell your therapist ahead of time. If you are involved in an accident claim with ICBC, be sure to get treatment approval before your sessions begin.

POST-SESSION

After your appointment, you will receive a PDF document with your exercises and access to our exercise library with your specific program. Post-session recommendations will depend on treatments given. We may sometimes recommend rest, and other times recommend movement. Be sure to consult your RMT before resuming any regular activities.

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FEES

To maximize your session’s value, and take advantage of our diverse treatment options, fees are inclusive of all treatments used during your session. Your RMT will work with you to help assess which treatments will be most beneficial during your visit.

- Private 60 minute session $135
- ICBC 45 minute session, no user fee

VanCity Physio offers direct billing.

HOW MANY TIMES A WEEK SHOULD I GET MASSAGE THERAPY?

The frequency of massage therapy sessions varies based on your individual needs, goals, conditions, and injuries. Your RMT will recommend a treatment plan, but some general guidelines are:

Injury recovery or chronic pain: 1-2 times per week until symptoms improve.
Athletes: 1-2 times per week depending on training intensity.
Stress relief: Weekly or bi-weekly.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REGISTERED MASSAGE THERAPY AND GENERAL MASSAGE?

The primary difference between a RMT and massage lies in the role of the registered massage therapist. RMT is strictly regulated, and a therapist must complete formal education and pass licensing exams before earning their certification. General massage can be performed by non-registered practitioners without formal certification.

Additionally, general massage primarily aids in relaxation and temporary relief, while RMT focuses on addressing specific, and often complex, muscle and joint issue for long-term solutions.

Vancity Physio's vast knowledge brought me great results. When I began working with them I was on crutches, and today I am so much stronger and can function so much better. I feel that I have jumped leaps and bounds, and I am very excited to utilize my new knowledge.
My therapist put a great deal of time and effort into my rehabilitation, and gave me the tools I needed to move onward and forward.

— Deborah H.
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I attribute my personal physical success to Vancity Physio's knowledge, personality, and example. Not only did Vancity Physio help me to reach my personal physical goals, but they also empowered me with the knowledge of a healthier lifestyle which has allowed me to greatly surpass those goals.

— Matt S.
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Vancity Physio has played a pivotal role in my journey to healing my back after a car accident in 2017. Their positive attitude and ability to build instant rapport with each of his clients constantly amazes me.

Their dedication to solving the mystery behind my injury and constant support in advocating for my health has been a necessary component to the success I've had treating this injury.

I trust Vancity Physio fully with this injury and I will undoubtedly be visiting any time I need to see a physiotherapist in the future. Do yourself a favour and book in now!

— Gabrielle D.
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Andy Dobbs

Andy Dobbs graduated with a bachelor of science in Kinesiology at the University of Lethbridge in 2015 and then graduated from the Vancouver Career College massage therapy program in 2017. He employs a Swedish-based massage style featuring deep glides along tight and sore muscle fibers.

Andy's extended knowledge of anatomy and sports medicine is utilized as he analyzes his patient's biomechanics and treats muscles and joints. He believes in the importance in keeping up with recent research in manual therapy and pain modulation to provide the best possible care for his patients. Andy has extended education on Temporal-Mandibular Joint (TMJ) treatment to treat jaw pain. Additionally, he's taken the Ligamentous Articular Strain Technique (L.A.S.T.) and Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Massage (I.A.S.T.M.) courses.

In his free time, Andy enjoys playing fantasy football and baseball with his friends. Despite watching football and baseball religiously since he was 13 years old, he's inexplicably terrible at fantasy sports and wasn't won a championship in over 15 years. He's often listening to NaS and A Tribe Called Quest as he believes 90's New York-based hip-hop was the peak of the genre. After a long day at work and putting his two boys to bed, he crashes with his wife on the couch to enjoy a blend of petty drama and competition of "America's 5th major sport" found in MTV's "the Challenge"

Andy Dobbs