As used in the Massage Therapy Practice Act:

1. "Board" means the State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering;

2. "Direct access" means the ability that the public has to seek out treatment by a massage therapist without the direct referral from a medical or health care professional;

3. "Massage therapist" means an individual who practices massage or massage therapy and is licensed under the Massage Therapy Practice Act. A massage therapist uses visual, kinesthetic, and palpatory skills to assess the body and may evaluate a condition to the extent of determining whether massage is indicated or contraindicated;

4. "Massage therapy" means the skillful treatment of the soft tissues of the human body. Massage is designed to promote general relaxation, improve movement, relieve somatic and muscular pain or dysfunction, stress and muscle tension, provide for general health enhancement, personal growth, education and the organization, balance and integration of the human body and includes, but is not limited to:

a.the use of touch, pressure, friction, stroking, gliding, percussion, kneading, movement, positioning, holding, range of motion and nonspecific stretching within the normal anatomical range of movement, and vibration by manual or mechanical means with or without the use of massage devices that mimic or enhance manual measures, and

b.the external application of ice, heat and cold packs for thermal therapy, water, lubricants, abrasives and external application of herbal or topical preparations not classified as prescription drugs; and

5. "Massage therapy school" means a facility providing instruction in massage therapy.

Added by Laws 2016, c. 292, § 2, eff. Aug. 26, 2016.