Maryland Health Occupations Section 3-5A-01

      (a)      In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

      (b)      "Board" means the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners.

      (c)      "Certificate" means, unless the context requires otherwise, a certificate issued by the Board to practice massage therapy.

      (d)      "Certified massage therapist" means an individual who is certified by the Board to practice massage therapy.

      (e)      "Health care facility" has the meaning stated in § 19-114(d) of the Health - General Article.

      (f)      (1)      "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, with or without the aid of heat limited to hot packs and heating pads, cold water, or nonlegend topical applications, for the purpose of improving circulation, enhancing muscle relaxation, relieving muscular pain, reducing stress, or promoting health and well-being.

            (2)      "Massage therapy" does not include:

                  (i)      The diagnosis or treatment of illness, disease, or injury;

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

                  (iii)      The laying on of hands, consisting of pressure or movement on a fully clothed individual, to specifically affect the electromagnetic energy or energetic field of the human body.

            (3)      In paragraph (2)(iii) of this subsection, "fully clothed" does not require the wearing of footwear.

            (4)      The provisions of paragraph (2) of this subsection do not preclude the application of the modalities described in paragraph (1) of this subsection to an individual who has an injury.

      (g)      "Massage Therapy Advisory Committee" means the Committee established under § 3-5A-04 of this subtitle.

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

      (i)      "Practice non-therapeutic massage" means to engage professionally and for compensation in massage therapy in a setting that is not a health care facility.

      (j)      "Registered massage practitioner" means an individual who is registered by the Board to practice non-therapeutic massage.

      (k)      "Registration" means, unless the context requires otherwise, a registration issued by the Board to practice non-therapeutic massage.