Short answer: sometimes . Massage therapy can be paid for with HSA or FSA funds when it is medically necessary , but not when it is purely for general wellness or relaxation. That distinction is what causes most of the confusion. I’m a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) and Certified Rolfer ®, and this is one of the most common questions I hear from clients. Below is a clear, practical explanation of when HSA or FSA funds can be used for massage therapy, when they usually can’t

James Tremblay working slow and deep along the spinal groove People often ask whether Rolfing is a form of massage therapy, and it’s a reasonable question. Rolfing is hands-on, therapeutic, and often practiced by licensed massage therapists. From the outside, it can look similar to other forms of bodywork people are already familiar with. The short answer is that Rolfing isn’t massage therapy in the conventional sense, but it does belong to the same broader tradition of hands

The European Rolfing Association recently posted a short article about a new study on the benefits of Rolfing ( What is Rolfing? ). The data involved 563 subjects, all of whom had completed the Rolfing 10-session series with the same practitioner. The subjects were measured along 5 parameters: Passive hip flexion mobility Passive knee flexion mobility Chest circumference at normal breathing Chest circumference at full inspiration Trunk length symmetry The authors state, “All

Wikipedia Not “Tensor Lata Fascia”, nor “Fascia Tensor Lata” It’s easy to get the name mixed up. Many people search for “tensor lata fascia”  or “fascia tensor lata,” but the correct order is tensor fascia lata . Technically, it’s the “tensor fasciae latae”, but that is used less often in common practice and gets us too deep into difficult Latin grammar. The Latin roots tell us what it means: Tensor  = stretcher Fascia(e)  = of the fascia (connective tissue throughout the bo

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Therapeutic massage is a hands-on approach to engaging the nervous system in a meaningful way. It focuses on creating change by working with how the body organizes tension and protection — particularly along the pathways where nerves and arteries travel together through layers of fascia and surrounding support structures. This isn’t about chasing symptoms or applying pressure to the most painful spot. It’s about giving the body new, relevant input — the kind that helps resolv

Structures of the head, neck, and upper thorax. Image from "Anatomy, Descriptive and Surgical" by Henry Gray (1887), available via the...

It’s not unusual for women to come to me with a long story behind their pain — not just in the body, but in the process of trying to get...

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via Wikimedia Many people seek out massage for pain relief or relaxation—but fewer realize how much manual therapy can support internal...

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When it comes to bodywork, terms like Rolfing Structural Integration and myofascial release often come up. Both approaches focus on...

Caduceus via Dall-E When it comes to addressing pain and physical discomfort, many people turn to massage therapy. However, medical...

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Debunking myths about fascia, stretching, and mobility—clarifying science to support healthy movement and balanced wellness practices.

There's much more to Rolfing than pain relief. Learn about feeling comfortable in your body as you move through life.

Luigio Mangione suffered from chronic low back pain, and his frustrations ultimately led to his murder of a health care industry CEO.

A pain science primer for understanding the why and how of pain in order to alleviate your pain.