Pennsylvania Code › Title 49 - PROFESSIONAL AND VOCATIONAL STANDARDS › Part I - DEPARTMENT OF STATE › Subpart A - PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 20 - STATE BOARD OF MASSAGE THERAPY › GENERAL PROVISIONS › Section 20.1 - Definitions

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
The following words and terms, when used in this chapter,
						have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates
						otherwise:
Act
-The Massage Therapy Law
						(63
						P. S. §§
												627.1-627.50).
Board
-The State Board of Massage
						Therapy.
Client
-Any individual, group of
						individuals, or organization to which an L.M.T. provides massage therapy
						services.
Contact hour
-A 50 to 60 minute period of
						instruction related to the practice of massage therapy in the physical presence
						of an instructor or supervisor.
Draping
-The use of linens to cover a
						massage therapy client to preserve client privacy and modesty, to maintain
						professional boundaries and for client warmth.
FSMTB
-The Federation of State Massage
						Therapy Boards.
Immediate supervision
-The supervisor or
						instructor is within visual or audible range of the individual being
						supervised.
In-class
-In the physical presence of an
						instructor or under the immediate supervision of a clinical supervisor.
Indirect supervision
-The supervision
						provided by a clinical supervisor or instructor who has given a student
						instructions on the performance of massage therapy activities, assigned for
						credit, that are to be practiced outside of class or clinic.
Informed consent
-A process wherein the
						massage therapist and a competent client or the client's guardian come to a
						mutual understanding of the massage therapy treatment, including objectives,
						benefits and any risks.
L.M.T.
-Licensed Massage
						Therapist.
MBLEx
-Massage and Bodywork Licensure
						Examination of the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards.
Massage therapy treatment plan
-Written
						documentation that addresses soft tissue manifestations, needs and concerns of
						the client, including identifying indications, contraindications and
						precautions of massage therapy within the scope of the act, how the needs and
						concerns will be addressed, massage therapy goals and how progress will be
						assessed.
NCBTMB
-National Certification Board for
						Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.
NCETM
-National Certification Examination
						for Therapeutic Massage.
NCETMB
-National Certification
						Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.
NESL
-National Examination for State
						Licensure, an option offered by the NCBTMB which allows individuals to take the
						NCETM or NCETMB without obtaining National certification.
Professional relationship
-The
						relationship between a massage therapist and a client which shall be deemed to
						exist from the first professional contact or consultation and continue
						thereafter until 6 months after the last date of a professional service.
Sexual abuse
-Conduct which constitutes a
						violation of any provision of 18 Pa.C.S. (relating to crimes and offenses)
						related to sexual offenses (See
						18 Pa.C.S. §§
												3121-3130 (relating to definition of
						offenses).)
Sexual harassment
-Deliberate or repeated
						comments, gestures or physical contacts of a sexual nature.
Sexual impropriety
-The term includes the
						following offenses during the professional relationship:
(i) Making sexually demeaning or sexually
					 suggestive comments about or to a client, including comments about a client's
					 body or clothing.
(ii)
					 Unnecessarily exposing a client's body or watching a client dress or undress,
					 unless the client specifically requests assistance due to disability.
(iii) Discussing or commenting on a client's
					 potential sexual performance or requesting details of a client's sexual history
					 or preferences.
(iv) Volunteering
					 information to a client about one's sexual problems, preferences or
					 fantasies.
(v) Behavior, gestures,
					 or expressions to a client that are seductive or of a sexual nature.
(vi) Using draping practices that reflect a
					 lack of respect for the client's privacy.
Sexual intimacies
-Romantic, sexually
						suggestive or erotic behavior or soliciting a date.
Sexual violation
-Sexual conduct, during
						the professional relationship, between a massage therapist and a client,
						including any of the following:
(i)
					 Indecent exposure.
(ii) Touching,
					 with the massage therapist's body or an object, the genitals or any sexualized
					 body part of the client for any purpose other than appropriate examination or
					 treatment or when the client has refused or withdrawn consent.
(iii) Encouraging a client to masturbate in
					 the presence of the massage therapist or masturbating while a client is
					 present.
(iv) Providing or offering
					 to provide treatment in exchange for sexual favors.
Supervisor
-A licensee or instructor who
						meets the qualifications under section 13(3) of the act (63 P. S. §
												627.13(3)).
Treatment
-The use of massage therapy
						where the primary intent is to enhance the health and well-being of the
						client.