Jocelyn Buitenhuis, RMT

11/25/2025

Last week, my post-revision knee patient came in almost hesitant to share that his surgeon had officially cleared him to return to work at 7 weeks post-op. My immediate response was, “That’s amazing news — how are you feeling about it?”

He thanked me repeatedly for being part of his recovery, but underneath it, he was sad that this was going to be our last session — as if he owed me something for helping him get to this point.

I held space for that. And I reminded him that this was always the plan. Return to work, return to activity, discharge. That’s the whole goal.

With physiotherapy, massage therapy, and his own commitment, he reached the milestones we set. This is success.

Discharging patients is not only okay — it’s the point. These emotions are normal, but no one owes us lifelong treatment to keep the lights on. Hit your goals, celebrate the progress, and if you want to support your therapist… tell your friends, family, and your surgeon about the great care you received.

That’s how we keep helping more people.

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11/25/2025

Finally we are seeing some movement in the House. This has been a long time coming and many, many years of advocacy from the CMTA, RMTAO, and many other bodies.

RMTs are healthcare professionals, who are able to help many Canadians manage pain and keep moving. Make massage therapy more accessible.

Let's exempt us from HST, like every other HCP. Let's keep pushing!!

Thank you Jonathan Rowe - Terra Nova-The Peninsulas we appreciate you!

11/14/2025

Seven weeks after a revision knee reconstruction, this client is walking tall — literally.

He began therapeutic massage, alongside his physiotherapy, with me at week 4 post-op, and by week 5, he had already put the cane aside.

At week 7, we’re seeing major improvements: smoother scar tissue with less puckering, better knee mobility, and most of the bruising on the hamstring has cleared. He came into the clinic this week with a bit of a strut — and a whole lot of optimism.

Revision surgeries are no small thing. They often come with more complexity, scar tissue, and longer healing. So to see this kind of progress — walking unassisted, improving week to week, and heading for a surgical re-check today in hopes of being cleared for vacation — is something to celebrate. He’s aiming to return to work in the new year, and his momentum is building in all the right ways.

Massage therapy in the post-op stage has helped support his healing, not just physically but also in reclaiming confidence and comfort in his body. We’ve been working on gentle scar tissue mobilization, reducing stiffness, improving circulation, and managing surrounding muscle tension — all of which play a role in his gains in function and quality of life.

Every recovery looks different, but this one is a reminder of how a collaborative, biopsychosocial approach can make a meaningful difference. Especially when the road isn’t the first — or the easiest — one walked.

Are you having surgery soon or currently recovering?

Don't forget to include your RMT in your post healing care.

11/13/2025

I’m not one to get overly excited about flashy new massage “tools”… but my Mini Scraper arrived today and I’m honestly impressed.

This little device heats up (40°, 45°, 50°) and offers optional vibration to support a comfortable, stimulatory tissue response. It warms up fast, creates an immediate circulatory effect, and it was gentle enough for me to use on my forearms, neck, and even external TMJ/facial tissues safely.

As someone who’s hypermobility-tuned, my hands and thumbs were always strong—locking my joints gave me stability (not ideal, but functional). After taking time off and heading into the busiest season of the year, I’m noticing some arthritic changes and reduced hand strength. Not surprising, but definitely something I need to respect.

This little scraper is going to support me not only in providing treatment, but also in caring for my own body, pacing myself, and staying healthy for the long run. A win for all of us.

11/11/2025

Remembrance Day

Today, we pause to honour the courage, sacrifice, and service of those who have fought—and continue to serve—for our freedom and peace.

May we all take a moment of silence to remember and reflect.

Lest we forget.

11/04/2025

It’s National Pain Awareness Week (Nov 2-8) — a time to shine a light on chronic pain and honor the millions of Canadians navigating it every day.

If you’ve ever experienced persistent pain, what’s helped you feel more in control or understood?

Keep reading more.. ⬇️

As a massage therapist and someone living with chronic pain, I bring both lived experience and clinical insight into how pain works — and how we can work with it.

Here are a few of the concepts that shape how I practice and how I understand my own journey:

Nociception – the nervous system’s detection of threat or potential tissue damage. Importantly: nociception doesn’t always mean there’s ongoing damage.

Central sensitization / centralization – when the central nervous system becomes more responsive over time, so that pain can persist or amplify even when tissue is healing (or healed).

Neuroplasticity – our nervous system’s capacity to learn, adapt, and remodel. This means there is hope: change is possible, safety can be re-learned, and function can improve.

The biopsychosocial model – pain is rarely just “hardware” (tissue, structure). It’s influenced by biology, yes — but also by thoughts, emotions, beliefs, environment, and social context.

Because I live with pain myself, I know how isolating it can feel when your body says one thing and others see “normal.” I know how frustrating it is to be told “everything looks fine” despite your reality. That lived perspective makes me more curious, more collaborative, and more intentional — not just to “treat tissue,” but to create a safe space, bring education, pacing, movement, self-management and hope.

In this clinic and beyond, living with pain has become an asset — it means I can empathize, help you unpack what’s happening in your nervous system, and support you to rebuild confidence in your body (and mind).

If you’re living with persistent pain: I see you. Your experience matters. Your nervous system is trying to protect you — and together, we can help it feel safe again.

11/02/2025

Watching the Jay's game with my bro Jay. Let's go

#21

10/28/2025

🎃 “Things That Scare RMTs” 👻

1️⃣ Holding your breath during treatment or exercise 😮‍💨
2️⃣ Saying you did your exercises… when you clearly didn’t. No judgement here. Just say you didn't 😏
3️⃣ Guessing whose joints are cracking during treatment — yours or mine - no one knows 😬😂
4️⃣ “What’s your fee?” messages → ghosted 💸
5️⃣ STRiVE login/submission errors… (our continuous education platform) 💻
6️⃣ STRiVE reflections due on Halloween 🎃😱
7️⃣ No-call, no-show, no-message 👻
8️⃣ The doom pile of laundry 🧺💀
9️⃣ Charting… at midnight 🕛
🔟 Bookkeeping through the year and tax season prep 📊😵‍💫
1️⃣1️⃣ “I forgot to mention my car collision/work injury…” three appointments in 🚗😳
1️⃣2️⃣ CMTO email: “We’ve received a complaint” Frivolous or not, your heart still drops ☠️

~Don’t spook your RMT — schedule your next massage before the year disappears 💀~

10/23/2025

Dang it, Stacey totally got me... I definitely whispered, with hesitation, for the new garbage to "open", and once again a bit louder, in case it didn't hear me, before I realized that someone was just messin' with us.

I also knew who exactly to go to... it's always Stacey 🤣🤣🤣
physio

10/23/2025

10/23/2025

Happy to be a part of this today! Massage therapy advocacy

10/23/2025

~ Advocating for Massage Therapy at Queen’s Park ~

Today I had the privilege of attending the RMTAO Queen’s Park Day at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, joining fellow RMTs from across the province to advocate for a stronger, more integrated future for massage therapy in Ontario.

Our discussions focused on key priorities:
• Integrating RMTs into primary and community health care teams — building on the successful 2023 pilot project to strengthen collaborative care models. By incorporating RMTs into interdisciplinary teams, we can help reduce the burden on emergency rooms and family physicians, support earlier intervention, and decrease reliance on prescription pain medications.
• Supporting an HST exemption for massage therapy services, making care more affordable and accessible for patients who need it most.
• Updating OCF-18 signature requirements to reduce unnecessary administrative barriers and allow RMTs to work effectively within our scope of practice.

These initiatives aren’t just about professional recognition — they’re about ensuring patients have timely access to safe, evidence-informed, hands-on care. By reducing red tape and fostering collaboration, RMTs can play a vital role in easing the strain on Ontario’s healthcare system while improving outcomes for individuals living with pain, injury, and chronic conditions.

Advocacy is how our profession continues to move forward — one conversation at a time — shaping a healthcare system that values preventive, person-centered, and integrative approaches to well-being.

Plus, there were donuts!