Sec. 10.65.01.04. Definitions

A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

B. Terms Defined.

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

(2) “Health care setting” has the meaning stated in Health-Occupations Article,§6–101(c), Annotated Code of Maryland.

(3) "License" means the document issued by the Board to an individual qualified to practice massage therapy.

(4) "Licensed massage therapist" means an individual who is licensed by the Board to practice massage therapy.

(5) “State Board of Massage Therapy Examiners Jurisprudence Examination” means the test developed by the Board to assess an applicant’s knowledge of the statute and regulations governing massage therapy in the State.

(6) Massage Therapy.

(a) "Massage therapy" means the use of manual techniques on soft tissues of the human body including effleurage (stroking), petrissage (kneading), tapotement (tapping), stretching, compression, vibration, and friction.

(b) "Massage therapy" includes massage, myotherapy, and synonyms or derivatives of these terms, with or without the aid of:

(i) Cold packs;

(ii) Nonlegend topical applications; or

(iii) Heat limited to hot packs and heating pads.

(c) "Massage therapy" does not include the:

(i) Diagnosis or treatment of illness, disease, or injury;

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

(iii) Laying on of hands, consisting of pressure or movement, with the exception of such techniques described in §B(6)(a) of this regulation on a fully clothed individual to specifically affect the electromagnetic energy or energetic field of the human body.

(7) "Massage therapy education program" means a course of study that prepares individuals in subjects related to the knowledge, techniques, skills, and abilities used in the practice of massage therapy.

(8) "Practice massage therapy" means to engage professionally and for compensation in massage therapy.

(9) “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.

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