THERAPIES & TRADITIONS · GUIDE

What Is Massage? Definitions, Terms and How Hands-On Care Is Grouped

How regulators, researchers and professional bodies define massage, why the word means different things in different places, and how hands-on approaches are grouped.

Content last updated October 22, 2026. This page has not been medically reviewed.

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Quick answer

There is no single worldwide definition of massage. The sources we read define it in slightly different ways, and the legal meaning depends on where you are. A word on a menu, such as "bodywork" or "therapeutic massage", does not tell you what training the person has or what they are allowed to do. Check the rules for your own state, province or country.

Definitions From Health Sources and Research

NCCIH, the US government's center for complementary health, says massage therapy is used to help manage a health condition or enhance wellness, and involves manipulating the soft tissues of the body. [1] It adds that massage has been practiced in most cultures throughout human history. [1] We did not find a source we could read this session that traces specific texts, dates or regions, so this page does not tell a detailed history. We checked NCCIH, NHS, CMTO and CNHC pages for one.

Researchers set their own definitions. A Cochrane review of massage for low-back pain defined massage as soft-tissue manipulation using the hands or a mechanical device. [2] That is wider than many everyday meanings, because it includes devices.

How Hands-On Care Is Grouped

Term	How the sources use it	Where to read more
Massage	Manipulation of soft tissue by hand or device. [1] [2]	More about Massage →
Swedish (classical) massage	The most common form in Western countries and the core of most training programs. [1] CMTO also calls it the most commonly used technique in Ontario. [3]	More about Swedish (classical) massage →
Sports and clinical massage	Styles aimed at specific goals. [1]	More about Sports and clinical massage →
Traditions such as shiatsu and tuina	Listed by NCCIH as massage traditions from outside the Western mainstream. [1]	Tui Na, Thai massage and shiatsu
Bodywork	An everyday word; no formal definition in the sources we read. A US certifying body includes it in its name. [7]	More about Bodywork →
Manual therapy	The NHS describes it as a trained therapist massaging and moving the muscles, bones and joints. [9]	More about Manual therapy →
Spinal manipulation	A controlled thrust to a spinal joint, mostly done by chiropractors and some other licensed professionals. [10]	More about Spinal manipulation →

Spinal manipulation is not massage. NCCIH links a type that focuses on the neck to small tears in neck artery walls that are rare but can lead to a stroke. [10] We mention it only as a caution; this site gives no instructions for it.

Why the Word Matters

Because definitions and rules differ, ask what a term means in the place where you book. NCCIH notes that being licensed or certified is not always a guarantee of being qualified. [5] The supportive-care label also matters: complementary care is meant to sit alongside, not replace, usual medical care. [11] For step-by-step checking, see massage licensing by state and country and how to choose a qualified massage therapist. Unfamiliar terms are explained in the glossary.

Frequently asked questions

What is the simplest definition of massage?

Manipulating the soft tissues of the body, usually by hand, used for health conditions or general wellness. [1] Research reviews sometimes also count mechanical devices. [2]

Is "bodywork" a regulated term?

The sources we read do not define it or say it is regulated. [1] In Ontario, only registered people may use "Massage Therapist" titles, but that rule covers those titles, not the word bodywork. [3]

Does every place require a massage license?

No. In the US, NCCIH says state governments decide credentials, and most states that regulate massage require a license, certification or registration. [5] Ontario protects its titles through registration. [3] Rules elsewhere were not covered by the sources we read.

Is massage the same as physical therapy or chiropractic care?

No. The NHS describes manual therapy as massaging and moving muscles, bones and joints, while NCCIH says spinal manipulation, a thrust to a spinal joint, is mostly done by chiropractors. [9] [10] See our comparison pages for each.

Does the word "medical" or "therapeutic" mean a massage is proven for a condition?

No source we read says so. NCCIH describes the evidence for conditions such as back pain as weak. [1] Judge a claim by the evidence for that use, not by the label.

More details: evidence, limits and cautions

The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.

Definitions From Regulators

Ontario, Canada: the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO) says the Massage Therapy Act defines the practice as assessing soft tissue and joints and treating and preventing physical dysfunction and pain of those tissues, through manipulation to "develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment physical function, or relieve pain". [3] Only people registered with CMTO may use the protected titles "Registered Massage Therapist" or "Massage Therapist". [3] CMTO also says that taking massage courses does not allow someone to call themselves a massage therapist in Ontario. [4]

United States: NCCIH says there is no standardized national system for credentialing complementary health practitioners, and that state governments decide which credentials are required. [5] It reports that most states regulate massage therapists by requiring a license, certification or registration, and that most states that regulate them require at least 500 hours of training. [5] An older NCCIH page (May 2019) gave a count of 45 states plus the District of Columbia. [1] The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards says regulations vary by state. [6] Separately, a private nonprofit, the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, offers board certification. [7] Certification by a private body is not the same as a government license.

United Kingdom: the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) register search lists "Massage Therapy" and "Sports Massage" as separate disciplines next to shiatsu, acupuncture and others. [8] Whether registration there is required by law is not described in the sources we read.

Regulators also differ on what counts as massage. CMTO says acupuncture falls within the scope of massage therapy in Ontario. [3] The CNHC lists acupuncture as its own discipline. [8] Neither is wrong; each describes its own rules.

References

NCCIH, Massage Therapy: What You Need To Know (page last updated May 2019). Read 2026-10-22.
Furlan AD et al., Massage for low-back pain, Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2015 (PubMed abstract). Read 2026-10-22.
College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (Canada), About Massage Therapists. Read 2026-10-22.
College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (Canada), Illegal Practitioners. Read 2026-10-22.
NCCIH, Credentialing, Licensing, and Education. Read 2026-10-22.
Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (US), home page. Read 2026-10-22.
National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (US), home page. Read 2026-10-22.
Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (UK), Who we register. Read 2026-10-22.
NHS, Back pain (page last reviewed 5 March 2026). Read 2026-10-22.
NCCIH, Spinal Manipulation: What You Need To Know. Read 2026-10-22.
Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (UK), What is complementary healthcare?. Read 2026-10-22.

Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.