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What's Happening at the RMTAO
Happy Holidays from the RMTAO
The RMTAO would like to extend our best wishes for a happy holiday season and all the best in the new year!
The RMTAO office will be closed for the holidays from noon on December 18, 2020. We will reopen on January 4, 2020. There will be no access to email or voicemail during this time.
Congratulations to our Awards Winners
Last month, the RMTAO held a superhero-themed awards event to recognize some superheroic RMTs from across Ontario.
After a particularly difficult year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, attendees appreciated the opportunity to connect with their peers and have some fun!
We took the opportunity to recognize RMTs who have given their time and expertise for the betterment of the RMTAO and the massage therapy profession. We couldn't do all that we do without the support of our dedicated members.
Congratulations to our 2020 Awards winners:
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Karen Munro-Caple
2020 Professional Service Award
Presented in recognition of strong leadership that goes above and beyond in the areas of integrity, professionalism, innovation, advocacy, accountability, and communication. |
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Patricia Belli
2020 Educator of the Year
Presented in recognition of an academic or clinical educator that promotes professionalism, excellence in learning, provides innovative teaching techniques, goes above and beyond the normal requirements of an educator and celebrating in the successes of their students. |
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Dani Faucher
2020 RMT of the Year in Remembrance of Ken Rezsnyak
Presented in recognition of going above and beyond for the betterment of the profession and to embody the true meaning of the profession. |
Congratulations as well to the winners of our Student Case Report Contest:
In first place, Minh Amanda Chu and Alexia Emslie of Humber College.
In second place, Ashley Slaney and Madeline Hunt also of Humber College.
Congratulations of all our awards winners and thank you to all our volunteers!
Reminder - Annual General Meeting next Month
The Annual General Meeting of the Registered Massage Therapists' Association of Ontario will be held on Sunday, January 31, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. on a virtual platform.
We encourage all RMTs and massage therapy students to attend, but only current active and life members of the RMTAO are able to vote at the meeting.
If you are unable to attend the virtual AGM, a recording will be made available after the meeting. Those not watching the meeting live will not be able to vote, but are welcome to submit a Proxy Form.
You must register in advance if you wish to attend the live virtual meeting. We encourage all members to attend for an update on the RMTAO's activities over the past year, and you will have the opportunity to ask questions of the RMTAO Board and management team.
REGISTER NOW
Voting by Proxy
If you are unable to virtually attend the Annual General Meeting on January 31, 2021, please complete the AGM Proxy Form and return it to the RMTAO office by mail, fax or other electronic means prior to 12:00 p.m. on Friday, January 15th, 2021.
View the Notice of Annual General Meeting
Member Spotlight
 The RMTAO is pleased to announce our last member spotlight of 2020 - Patricia Belli!
Patricia Belli has been a practicing RMT and RMTAO member since 1996. In addition to her clinical practice, she is a professor in the Massage Therapy program at Humber College, and recently was awarded Educator of the Year by the RMTAO. She is also a CMTO peer mentor/tutor.
Why did you choose to become a Registered Massage Therapist?
Patricia: I was introduced to manual therapy in university when I volunteered some time with a student physiotherapist who was providing care for the men’s varsity soccer team. The fact that he could help manage injuries and pain while maintaining the players’ performance through manual work was so incredibly amazing to me. In a casual conversation, he mentioned massage therapy and how it was able to achieve similar goals. Curiosity got the best of me, so I booked in for a massage at the student clinic at Sutherland-Chan; it was then that I knew massage therapy was what I wanted to do!
What do you like best about your job?
Patricia: I like that I have been able to use massage therapy as a way to positively connect with so many people, whether they are patients or students. I have had the pleasure of being able to assist patients with managing their pain and injuries; it’s a great feeling to know you are a valued and respected part of their healthcare management team! I also really enjoy conveying knowledge to students, knowing that I am contributing to the evidence-based knowledge and skills which will carry the profession forward.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Patricia: I enjoy being physically active in whatever form that might take. I also enjoy cooking and attempting to create new recipes. Spending time with family and friends is high on my priority list as well. These days, that means a lot of spare time is spent on video calls!
What advice would you give new Registered Massage Therapists?
Patricia: I would say that always acting with integrity is critical as it defines you as a professional. I would also say to be sure to adopt an attitude that embraces lifelong learning; there is always something new to discover that will help expand your skills and your knowledge, ultimately improving outcomes for your patients and your success as a practitioner.
Why did you choose to join the RMTAO?
Patricia: It is so important to be a part of a professional community that supports its members. Having a collective voice that advocates for and strives to improve the profession ensures that Massage Therapists are well represented in our healthcare system.
CMTO Call for Non-Council Members
The College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO) is looking for RMTs to serve on CMTO Committees as non-Council members.
Non-Council members are not members of Council, they do not have to be elected to the position and are not required to attend Council meetings. Non-Council members serve on Committees to participate in decision making about RMTs’ practice and conduct, and review applications for registration where concerns are identified. Non-Council members may also participate in the development of policies, Standards of Practice and guidelines.
Non-Council members are paid a pro-rated per diem of $275.00 based on full-day meetings and some preparation time. Meetings are primarily conducted virtually. However, should the need arise, an in-person meeting may be required. Out-of-pocket expenses, such as accommodations, meals and travel, will be reimbursed in accordance with CMTO’s compensation policy.
You are required to submit all elements of your application by January 8, 2021.
Read more...
Adventures from Karen's Clinic
Member Question of the Week
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I can't attend the virtual AGM, is it mandatory to send in a proxy form?
If you can't attend the virtual Annual General Meeting (AGM), which is being held on January 31, 2021 at 10 a.m. you are welcome to submit a proxy form.
A proxy form allows Active or Life members to assign someone to vote on their behalf at the AGM. Active or Life members attending the AGM or their proxies will be able to vote on topics brought up by the Executive Director or Board Chair at the AGM, including the reports on board, operational and financial activities.
In order for the AGM to proceed, 1% of the members must be present in person/virtually or by proxy which means a large number of proxies will be required.
A recording of the AGM will be made available on the RMTAO website after the meeting.
Although sending a Proxy is not mandatory, it is a way to participate in the activities of your Association even if you can't attend the AGM live.
View the full notice of AGM
Submit a Proxy Form
Do you have a question? Email info@rmtao.com
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Business Tip of the Week
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Support Your Team Through the Weirdness of This Moment
Our personal and professional lives have collided during the Covid-19 pandemic, and nearly everyone is going through some sort of life disruption right now. It’s a new territory for many managers, who are trying to help team members navigate these transitions in a way that doesn’t upend their work lives. What role should you play at this time when employees may need you more than ever? First, provide a calm, empathetic perspective. Simply tell your people, "You will get through this," and remind them that big life changes always have a beginning, middle, and end. You might even encourage them to identify a ritual to mark the moment and signal that they're ready for what comes next. This might include taking a vacation, doing a digital detox, or embarking on a special creative project unrelated to work. Finally, encourage — but don’t pressure — team members to open up about their challenges. When people share difficult experiences, their blood pressure, heart rate, and other physiological functions rise in the short term, but then fall to below where they were before — and remain there for weeks. Solidarity and openness can be cathartic, so encourage this kind of closeness on your team.
Adapted from “Managing Someone Whose Life Has Been Upended,” by Bruce Feiler
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Research Article of the Week
Evaluation of the efficacy of an internet-based pain education and exercise program for chronic musculoskeletal pain in comparison with online self-management booklet: a protocol of a randomised controlled trial with assessor-blinded, 12-month follow-up, and economic evaluation
Background: Chronic musculoskeletal pain is one of the main causes of years lived with disability and generates the highest cost of health care among chronic pain conditions. Internet-based treatments have been shown to be an alternative for the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions, in addition to reducing barriers such as travel, high demands on the public health system, lack of time, lack of insurance coverage for private care, and high costs for long-term treatment. The aim of this clinical trial is to develop and test the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of, an internet-based self-management program based on pain education and exercise for people with chronic musculoskeletal pain.
Methods: This is a prospectively registered, assessor-blinded, two-arm randomised controlled trial with economic evaluation comparing the Internet-based pain education and exercise intervention with a control group that will receive an online booklet. One hundred and sixty patients will be recruited from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Follow-ups will be conducted in post-treatment, 6 and 12 months after randomisation. The conduct of the study, as well as the evaluations and follow-ups will be carried out entirely remotely, through online platforms and telephone calls. The primary outcome will be pain intensity at post-treatment (8 weeks) measured using the 11-item Pain Numerical Rating Scale. Secondary outcomes will be biopsychosocial factors presents in the chronic musculoskeletal pain condition. Costs due to chronic musculoskeletal pain will be also measured, and cost-effectiveness analysis from a societal perspective will performed.
Discussion: Our hypothesis is that internet-based pain education and exercise will be better than an online booklet in reducing pain and improving biopsychosocial outcomes in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. In addition, we believe that there will be good acceptance of patients for the internet-based intervention and that internet-based intervention will be more cost effective than the online booklet. <
Fioratti, I., Saragiotto, B. T., Reis, F., Miyamoto, G. C., Lee, H., Yamato, T. P., Fandim, J. V., Dear, B., Maher, C. G., & Costa, L. (2020). Evaluation of the efficacy of an internet-based pain education and exercise program for chronic musculoskeletal pain in comparison with online self-management booklet: a protocol of a randomised controlled trial with assessor-blinded, 12-month follow-up, and economic evaluation. BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 21(1), 404.
Read the full article...
The Learning Curve - The RMTAO Education Series
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The Learning Curve - The RMTAO Education Series
The Learning Curve provides education to massage therapists in a variety of hands-on workshops and lecture-based seminars across Ontario focused on three main areas-Competency, Business, and Modality. The Continuing Education Program is designed to help massage therapists increase their knowledge base to continuously improve for both their own personal success and that of the client.
Click here for more information about the courses that are offered by the RMTAO.
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Upcoming Community Networks and Related Activities
The RMTAO has created a feature on RMTAO.com for Community Networks. Members and non-members can access information about the latest upcoming network activities on our list of upcoming events! Don't see a Community Based Network near you? You can contact Christian Hall at christian@rmtao.com to learn more about starting one!
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As the first coronavirus shots got into arms across Canada, CBC News talked to the experts to answer questions about how the vaccines got to this stage, such as: What does "90 per cent efficacy" mean in a clinical trial? And what kinds of volunteers have been in clinical trials or excluded? Read more...
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