Finding Value in Practice-context Research

This edition of the IJTMB consists completely of manuscripts based on practice-context research. The research covers diverse topics and methodolo-gies (scale development, quantitative, qualitative, and a case study). Each addresses well the issues of implementation and shows the value of research based on the reality of clinical practice. While practice-context research is not meant to address all forms of research needed in the field of therapeutic massage bodywork, the direct value for practice is clear from the work published. In his editorial of March 2011 (Volume 4, Issue 1, IJTMB) Dr. Moyer clearly and succinctly outlines how and why practitioner-led research is important (1). I have also been passionately interested in these issues , because I remain convinced that understanding how practice happens, and ensuring that research reflects the practice process and context, will more likely produce practice-relevant results. Creating such research seems daunting at times because the training, skills, and experience of therapeutic massage bodywork (TMB) practitioners can vary widely. Yet, properly designed, implemented, and recorded/ measured, research based on clinical practice can have outcomes that TMB practitioners can readily translate into their practices. This issue features research that focuses on the reality of practice. Boulanger et al. fill a much-needed gap in the outcome tools used to understand TMB research with their development of the Client Expectations of Massage Scale. As Boulanger and her team point out (in The development and validation of the client expectations of massage scale), it is known that client expectations have an effect generally on medical outcome. With the development of such a scale, TMB researchers will have a tool that can help them to understand how patient expectations are affecting the outcomes of their TMB research. R.C. Avery's case study (Massage therapy for cer-vical degenerative disc disease: alleviating a pain in the neck?) is a prime example of applied clinical reasoning and process. It is through such published case studies that we can learn where significant possibilities for treatment lie, and learn more about specific treatment approaches and their outcomes. Even if documenting such work does not result in further research, it is still valuable for increasing the shared body of knowledge that can be drawn upon for clinical treatment development. Finally, the work of Sefton et al. highlights how a single project can lead to two very specific areas of outcome interest. The first paper (Massage therapy produces short-term improvement in …