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Reflexologists Win                                                                              May 2004
The Iowa Department of Public Health has recommended the exemption of reflexology from the state's massage-therapy law. This decision came after months of study that resulted from a petition by reflexologists in protest to a decision by the state massage board to include their modality under the law (See Iowa Reflexologists Granted One-Year Exemption).

The risk of harm from the practice of massage therapy and massage-therapy-related modalities is relatively low. In fact, the Iowa Board of Examiners for Massage Therapy has never had a complaint filed," stated the department's summary finding. "Many consumers feel they have the right to choose the type of health care they wish to pursue. Ultimately, the responsibility is on the consumers to make such decisions for themselves."

An act of exemption was submitted to the Iowa legislature in February. The bill also called for the exemption of Feldenkrais, Trager and mind-body centering practitioners, and other unspecified touch and movement therapists. It also recommended the exemption of energy therapists.

Iowa Reflexologists Granted One-Year Exemption                  November 2003
Hard work and support from their greatest fans - their clients - won Iowa reflexologists a one-year stay from an administrative ruling that would have required their compliance with the state's massage-therapy law. Now they have to prove that they are not practicing massage.

"We have jumped through a lot of hoops, and we still  have a few more hoops to go," said Patricia Barrance, vice president of the Reflexology Association of Iowa.

The group formed to fight a 2000 ruling by the Iowa Board of Massage Therapy Examiners that reflexology falls under the scope of practice of massage therapy, and that reflexologists need a massage license to continue to practice.

Barrance said that she learned of the ruling a year after it was passed, and just one year before it would become law. "Most of us are older women in a second career and don't want to spend $10,000 to get [massage training] that [we] aren't going to use," she said.

Reflexologists typically receive 200 hours of education in how to affect the nervous system through manipulation of the reflex zones on the hands and feet of clothed clients. The state's massage law requires 500 hours of education.

Barrance said she immediately contacted her state representative, who told her that legislation was the only means of getting the ruling reversed. She and 38 other reflexologists then formed the association, and began asking their clients to contact their representatives and tell them how reflexology helped them. Meanwhile, the group set out to educate legislators about reflexology and fair bodywork legislation. Barrance said they relied heavily upon the American Massage Therapy Association's new model law, which names reflexology among the modalities recommended for exemption.

In July reflexologists and other "unlicensed persons practicing modalities related to massage therapy" were granted a one-year exemption from the state massage law, during which a department-of-health study committee will investigate whether to recommend a permanent exemption.

"Reflexologists will be subject to oversight by the same board of massage as of July 2004, unless something happens in the next legislative session," explained Kevin Teal, communications director for the Iowa Department of Public Health. The department is expected to make its recommendation to the General Assembly in January 2004.

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