What is the difference between recreational therapy from physical therapy?

Answer 1

Medical Massage Therapy uses advanced deep tissue massage techniques to break up scar tissue, release adhered tissues, and promote healthy tissue growth and repair.

Physical therapy usually involves more range of motion testing, joint mobilization, stretches, exercises, and some massage.

Both Physical therapy and Medical Massage therapy require a detailed knowledge of anatomy and physiology. Many Physical therapists do practice some form of massage and nearly all massage therapists are trained in range of motion, joint mobilization, and stretching movements.

Answer 2

Massage therapy is mainly used to relieve stress knots and tension in your body. Physical therapy is used as an aid after a physical trauma. Many athletes go to physical therapist if they have injured themselves. Some physical therapist might do a few massage techniques if they know any, but mainly they work on getting a specific part of the body that's injured fixed. Lets say an athlete severely injures their Achilles tendon. Most likely he'll have to have surgery on it, and after that he/she goes on a long period of physical therapy on it, stretching it and getting it to it's regular shape. Again, physical therapist might use massage on that area to loosen and relax the muscle, but they'd have to be careful because they wouldn't want to injure it further.

If you injured your arm, you'd go to a physical therapist. If you are just tense in your body and feel you have "knots" you'd go to a massage therapist.

Answer 3

PT - a doctorate degree
RT - bachelors