01/14/2026
Have you ever wondered how Massage Therapy works with WSIB after a workplace injury?
If you’ve ever been injured at work in Ontario, you may have been told that massage therapy is covered through WSIB. Technically it is but there are important limitations most people don’t realize.
Current WSIB Coverage for Massage Therapy:
• Coverage Amount: $66.11 per treatment
• Number of Visits: Only 6 treatments permitted
• Referral Required: Must be prescribed by a physician
On paper, this looks like reasonable access to care. However, here’s the part that affects both patients and therapists
Why Many Massage Therapists Do Not Work With WSIB
Most clinics and RMTs choose not to participate in WSIB for several key reasons:
1. Reimbursement Rates Are Below Professional Standards
$66.11 is significantly below the average market rate for a 60-minute treatment in Ontario. When overhead, taxes, liability, admin, and charting time are factored in, the reimbursement no longer covers operational costs.
2. High Administrative Burden
WSIB requires a substantial amount of extra paperwork, reporting, and communication with case managers and physicians uncompensated time that adds up quickly.
3. Delayed Payment Cycles
Unlike private treatment where the client pays at the time of service, WSIB often operates on delayed cycles. Many small clinics can’t absorb that cash-flow disruption.
4. Clinical Mismatch
Six treatments are rarely enough to address workplace-related injuries such as repetitive strain, back injuries, or chronic myofascial pain patterns. Patients often need ongoing care, strengthening, ergonomics coaching, and functional progression none of which WSIB funds adequately for massage therapy.
What This Means for Patients
Patients are often surprised when they cannot find an RMT willing to take WSIB claims not because therapists don’t want to help, but because the system does not realistically support therapeutic care delivery.
Many patients end up paying privately after the six visits to continue their recovery or to prevent chronic issues from developing.
Massage Therapy is not just a short-term fix. It plays a critical role in:
• Soft tissue healing
• Mobility restoration
• Pain reduction
• Return-to-work outcomes
• Long-term prevention
Most injuries do not happen in isolation they are tied to posture, repetition, biomechanics, stress, and a lack of proactive care.
When treatment ends too soon, problems often return.
Preventative maintenance, postural education, and ongoing musculoskeletal care are not luxuries — they are what keep workers functioning, productive, and pain-free long term.
If you are recovering from a workplace injury, ask yourself:
Am I merely treating the injury, or am I preventing it from becoming a chronic pattern?
