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Maryland Code, Health Occupations § 6-101

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b) “Board” means the State Board of Massage Therapy Examiners.

(c) “Health care setting” means:

(1) The office of a health care provider regulated under this article; or

(2) A health care facility as defined in § 19-114 of the Health--General Article.

(d) “License” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a license issued by the Board to practice massage therapy.

(e) “Licensed massage therapist” means an individual who is licensed by the Board to practice massage therapy.

(f)(1) “Practice massage therapy” means the professional use of manual techniques on soft tissues of the human body for compensation including stroking, kneading, tapping, stretching, compression, vibration, and friction, with or without the aid of heat limited to hot packs and heating pads, cold water, or nonlegend topical applications, for the purpose of improving circulation, enhancing muscle relaxation, relieving muscular pain, reducing stress, or promoting health and well-being.

(2) “Practice massage therapy” includes:

(i) Hands-on application, consisting of pressure or movement on an individual, to specifically affect the electromagnetic energy or energetic field of the human body if this practice includes use of the manual techniques set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection; and

(ii) Subject to additional education and training requirements as determined by the Board in regulations, instrument-assisted soft tissue manipulation techniques that enhance or imitate manual techniques, including:

1. Muscle scraping; and

2. Vibration therapy.

(3) “Practice massage therapy” does not include:

(i) The diagnosis of illness, disease, or injury;

(ii) The adjustment, manipulation, or mobilization of any of the articulations of the osseous structures of the human body or spine; or

(iii) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the laying on of hands, consisting of pressure or movement on an individual who is fully clothed, except for footwear, to specifically affect the electromagnetic energy or energetic field of the human body.

(4) The provisions of paragraph (3) of this subsection do not preclude the application of the modalities described in paragraph (1) of this subsection to an individual who has an injury.

(g) “Registered massage practitioner” means an individual who is registered by the Board to practice massage therapy in a setting that is not a health care setting.

(h) “Registration” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a registration issued by the Board to practice massage therapy in a setting that is not a health care setting.

(i) “Supervised hands-on techniques” means massage techniques that are performed under the direct, in-person supervision of a qualified licensed instructor who is on-site in:

(1) A classroom;

(2) A laboratory;

(3) A school clinic; or

(4) A health care setting.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Maryland Code, Health Occupations § 6-101 - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/md/health-occupations/md-code-health-occup-sect-6-101/

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