Medical Massage is an Essential Service in NY

And receiving massage therapy seems to be a low risk activity based on new data.

This month, Governor Cuomo’s updated guidance on essential services in New York now incudes “medically necessary massage therapy” on their list of essential health care operations. This means that if cases continue to rise and our locality of Park Slope becomes classified as an orange or even red zone we will still be able to offer massage therapy to those most in need as an essential health care operation. We feel particularly confident in doing so as new data indicates that massage therapy performed with proper precautions seems to be a low risk activity during this pandemic (more on that below).

So What Counts as Medically Necessary Massage Therapy?

First of all - to be clear - as of this writing we are still offering massage to anyone who meets our COVID screening requirements, however, should the Park Slope area become classified as an orange or red cluster zone at any point in the future, causing non-essential businesses to close, we will still be able to see clients who have a medical indication for massage therapy. [Note: we previously wrote that a doctor’s note was required as early information provided indicated this may be the case, but NYS does not specifically require a doctor’s note]. Some examples of medical conditions that clients commonly see us for:

• Anxiety / Depression / PTSD / Insomnia / other mood disorders

• Almost any type of pain (nerve pain/compression, muscle spasm, injuries, tendinitis, joint pain and arthritis, plantar fasciitis, slipped/herniated discs, and more)

• Headaches / Migraines / TMJ dysfunction

• Prenatal & Postnatal conditions: sciatica, pubic symphysis dysfunction, “mother’s thumb” tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, fetal malposition, edema (swelling of the extremities), perinatal anxiety or mood disorders

• Various types of chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia and Lyme disease

• Recovery from various types of surgery including cesarean as well as orthopedic surgeries

• Many others - just give us a call if you need clarification

We know some of you come to us in order to eliminate the need for painkillers, as access to therapeutic massage relieves your pain effectively. We know some of you are pregnant and in pain - you don’t want to expose your baby to the risks associated with medications and you know you can get relief with your massage therapy appointment. We know that for some of you access to our expert massage therapy has made the difference between needing some type of surgery or not, and that has been life changing for you. We know that some of you struggle with PTSD, severe anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions that are not fully managed with medications and/or therapy, and the addition of massage therapy to your treatment plan is making the difference in your ability to cope and make it through the day. We see you. We are here for you.

We also know that for some of you even a low risk activity like massage therapy is simply too much risk for you right now. We see you too. And we miss you. We are here for you virtually if you need a complimentary self-massage instruction session - just email our office. And we will be here for you in person when you are ready and it is safe enough for you to return.

So what do we know about the safety of receiving massage right now?

Data from a national massage therapy chain (Elements Massage) has now demonstrated that with over 750,000 appointments logged since May there was a .01% positive connection rate with their studios - none of these represented a transmission but simply an associated exposure. Here at Red Moon we have implemented even more extensive precautions than this national chain and have performed over 550 appointments since reopening in September and we have not had a single case in connection with any client or staff at our center.

Before we re-opened in September we implemented industry-leading COVID-safety precautions with our emphasis on fresh air ventilation, HEPA filtration, internal air quality monitoring, careful screening of clients and staff, and more. While massage therapy seems to be a low risk activity, there is no zero risk activity in this pandemic, and we fully support you in making the choices that are best for you based on your own risk tolerance and what is most appropriate for your particular circumstances. Our goal in sharing this information is to be fully transparent and help you make the most informed decision about coming in for massage during the pandemic.

With COVID cases on the rise in NY, we are continuing to closely monitor the latest updates and data as we are committed to providing safe and evidence-based therapeutic care at our center. If at any point we determine that the safest course of action is to suspend treatments for a period of time, we will do whatever is necessary to keep everyone safe. We’re proud to be an essential health care service in Brooklyn and we’re honored to serve this community through these challenging times.