resources and legality

Chest & Breast Massage - The Legal Picture

Disclaimer & Request

The  original research for information on this page was done by Barbara Heard in  2016 and I update it when I become aware of changes. Each state is marked with the last date that I looked at their rules.   Please contact me if you see information on this page that needs to be updated.

~ Edward

Legality in the USA

Overview of Breast massage regulations in the USA

Therapeutic, full chest and breast massage to support wellness and/or as treatment for medical conditions is currently legal in about 75% of the states within the USA.  Breast massage used only to treat medical conditions is legal in several additional states.  The client must consent to this treatment.

23 states have no specific regulations for massaging or draping breast tissue*. Therapeutic massage of the full breast is therefore at least not illegal.  (Breast massage is, however, subject to all general massage rules such as those requiring appropriate training and avoiding sexual contact.)
AK, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MT, NE, NJ,NM, ND, OK, RI, SD, DC, WI


14 states have rules which specifically allow therapeutic massage of the full breasts, not restricted to medical issues:

  • 3 states allow breast massage with informed consent: NH, NY, NC

  • 5 states allow breast massage with written consent: AZ, MI, PA, TX, UT

  • 1 state allows breast massage with written consent when client and therapist are the same gender: TN

  • 4 states allow breast massage with written consent and education: IN, KY, OR, WA

  • 1 state allows breast massage with written consent and plan of care:  WV

1 state allows partial breast massage with written consent.  Touch of nipples and areola prohibited. NV

1 state allows full breast massage with prior written consent and/or physician referral, but requires physician referral for medical issues: SC

4 states restrict breast massage to medical issues and/or always require referral

  • 1 state allows breast massage for "appropriate health care service" and with consent: OH

  • 1 state allows breast massage with written consent and referral:   CA

  • 1 state allows breast massage for treatment of scar tissue, myofascial binding & lymphatic flow only, with written consent & 48 hours education: A

  • 1 state allows breast massage with physician referral or by documented clinical indication, advanced training required: MO

1 state restricts touch of nipples and areola to clients with medical condition  and referral: VA

3 states require the breasts to always be draped.  They do not have specific breast massage rules.   AL, DE, LA

4 states are not licensed – individual towns, cities or counties may have rules: KS, MN, VT, WY  

NOTES:
The list total 51 states because Washington DC is included on the list.

VIEW INFORMATION ON YOUR STATE

Chest & Breast Massage Resources

Online Articles & Websites

  • Breast Wellness:  article by Debra Curties, published in 2003 in ABMP magazine. ~  Debra Curties is a well respected author in the field of breast massage education.  She is the author of the book entitled Breast Massage.  Debra lives and works in Canada.

  • Breast Massage: article by Kellum Johnson ~ how to do breast massage, along with some insightful comments.  Kellum Johnson is a massage therapist licensed in Texas.

  • Breast Massage Therapy:   information on website of Tony Ruggeiro in Texas ~ summary of benefits of breast massage, and more.  Tony Ruggeiro is a massage therapist in Greensville, South Carolina

  • Breast Massage Good for Mothers Before and After Delivery:  article by Phyllis Hanlon,  published in 2013 in Massage Magazine.  Phyllis Hanlon is a professional author and frequent contributor of articles in Massage Magazine.

  • The Evolving practice of Breast Massage: article by Kate Jordan, first published in Massage Today in 2001.  Kate Jordan the developer and teacher of the Bodywork for the Childbearing Year® advanced certification training.

  • Breast Massage from a Massage Therapist: Have you considered it?: article by Pam Fitchner in WHOlife,
    Wholeness & Wellness Journal of Saskatchewan, Canada.  Pam Fitchner is a massage therapist in Saskatoon, Canada. She also facilitates workshops on breast and belly and complementary health.

  • A series of blogs articles on breast care and massage: article by Aristide M. LaVey in the Massagewallah blog.  Aristide M. LaVey is a massage therapist who practices in Los Angeles, CA.

  • Breast Massage: on the Brink of Understanding?  article by Karrie Mowen (Osborn) in the ABMP website, first published in 2001.  Karrie Mowen is/was a contributing editor of the ABMP Massage & Bodywork magazine.

  • Female Breast Massage for Better Health:  article by Nancy L. Ring on an ABMP supported website, published in 2009.  Nancy L. Ring is a massage therapist in Cornell, Michigan.

  • Desexualizing the Touch Experience – A Proactive Approach:  article by Cherie Sohnen-Moe, published in Massage Today.  Cherie Sohnen-Moe is a highly respected massage therapy educator.

  • Innate Traditions, postpartum care: an organization offering training on postpartum care for women, a holistic system of care which honors women's physiological design.  Rachelle Garcia Seliga’s work is dedicated to midwifing a cultural shift that honors innate wisdom, personal authority and the sanctity of Life. 

  • Breastnotes.com: BreastNotes.com was created to help people to understand the breast: its development and growth patterns, its function and purpose, its role in various societies, its care, and its problems. It has information about going without a bra, health practices, cancer and lots more.  One could spend days reading this fascinating website!

  • Post Surgical Therapy for Mastectomy and Implants  an article by Paul Lewis on the Massage Therapy Canada website.

  • Massage for Folks with Mesothelioma:  This website provides information, including discussion about massage, for folks living with mesothelioma, a cancer caused by inhaling asbestos fibers which lodge in the lining of the lungs, heart and abdomen.

  • Not all Women with Women with Dense Breasts Need Supplemental Imaging:  This article by Leah Lawrence, a contributing author on MedPage, discusses the relationship between breast density and cancer.

Books

Videos / DVDs

Workshops in which Breast & Chest Massage are Taught

  • Breast and Chest Massage:  Barbara Helynn Heard, LMT, who is working but no longer teaches breast massage - is in Washington State. 

  • Breast and Chest Massage:  Lynna Fuller, LMT, teaches Barbara’s original class plus others in Washington State.  Her 2 day class satisfies CE requirements for doing breast massage in WA state. (WAC 246-830-555)

  • The Mastectomy Guide:  Eryn Price,RMT, runs a vibrant website up in Canada. She has a variety of different workshops & seminars.

  • Breast Remedy: Aubrey Lesicki, LMT, massage therapist in Seattle, WA is a breast massage educator offers continuing education classes related to breast massage for massage therapists in Seattle, WA.  This class satisfies CE requirements for doing breast massage in WA state. (WAC 246-830-555)

  • Massage of the Anterior Trunk & Breasts: Eric Bartsch, LMT, CKTP® teaches this class to help make full chest and breast massage more widely available to the public. Classes teach how to integrate breast massage into massage sessions, with a strong focus on anatomy, technique, and ethics. He teaches in Washington State, and this class satisfies CE requirements for doing breast massage in WA state. (WAC 246-830-555)

  • Breast Massage – the Spurgeon Method™: Taught by breast cancer survivor Sally Spurgeon, LMT, these classes, taught in Las Vegas Nevada,  help participants to become comfortable with the idea of Breast Massage and to understand its benefits and how vitally important it is in this day and age. 

  • Vancouver School of Healing Arts, Breast Massage CE class: taught by Sheryl Watson.

  • Ayurveda Massage and Body Training: taught by California College of Ayurveda.  This program teaches a full body protocol which includes the full chest and breast.

  • Oncology Massage Education Associates classes offered by a group of massage educators who teach in various locations all over the United States.

  • Cheryl Chapman: Cheryl Chapman, RN, LMT.   Cheryl Chapman was a pioneer in massage for Cancer and Mastectomy. An RN since 1965, certified in massage in 1988, she combined her extensive nursing experience of 23 years as an Oncology nurse, Hospice, HIV/AIDS, Cardiac and PostPartum nurse with her wide-ranging knowledge of massage and she produced a comprehensive hands-on training program. Now retired.

  • Bodywork Wisdom:  Eeris Kallil, LMT is a breast cancer survivor who teaches breast massage for people with cancer in various states:  Eeris Kallil practices and teaches classes in Colorado and also travels to other states to teach.  

  • Chikly Heath Institute:  founded by Bruno Chikly, D.O. this organization teaches lymph drainage therapy for all parts of the body, including breasts.

  • Klose Training  breast cancer rehabilitation class: This class is offered nationally throughout the US by the Klose Training organization which specializes in teaching  ways to treat lymphedema. They also offer a full  lymphedema certification program.

  • Academy of Lymphatic Studies-ACOLS: Similar to Klose, ACOLS offers a variety of course in MLD including Post op. While this course discusses work on and around the breast, it generally does not involve work directly on breast tissue. The Healing Hands 3 Day Breast Cancer course was created to address this issue and combines elements of Post Op recovery MLD and basic Oncology considerations.