BACKGROUND Although there is evidence that client expectations influence client outcomes, a valid and reliable scale for measuring the range of client expectations for both massage therapy and the behaviors of their massage therapists does not exist. Understanding how client expectations influence client outcomes would provide insight into how massage achieves its reported effects. PURPOSE To...

The present study assessed the effects of massage therapy on depression, functionality, upper body muscle strength and range of motion on spinal cord injury patients. Twenty C5 through C7 spinal cord injury individuals recruited from a University outpatient clinic were randomly assigned to a massage therapy group or an exercise group. Patients in the massage therapy group received two 40-min ma...

Preterm infants have been noted to benefit from massage therapy. Following massage therapy protocols using moderate pressure preterm infants have gained 31-49% more weight on average. Some studies have also shown length and head circumference growth and bone mineral density increases associated with massage therapy. These studies are reviewed in this paper along with discussion of potential und...

prematurity and poor weight gaining are important causes for neonatal hospitalization. the present study aimed to investigate the role of medium-chain triglyceride (mct) oil via massage therapy as a supplementary nutritional method on the weight gain of neonatal intensive care units (nicu)-hospitalized neonates. this randomized clinical trial performed among 121 stable premature neonates hospit...

The Massage Therapy Foundation presented the second Highlighting Massage Therapy in CIM Research conference, May 13 – 15, 2010. This three-day conference (supported in part by RI3AT005420 from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) brought together massage and manual therapy practitioners, educators, CIM researchers, allied health professionals, and others interested in...

Temperature was assessed in 72 preterm infants randomly assigned to a control or a massage therapy group. A greater increase in temperature was noted for preterm infants receiving massage therapy versus a control group, even though the incubator portholes remained open during the 15 min massage therapy session but not for the control group over an equivalent time period.

The Massage Therapy Foundation presented the second Highlighting Massage Therapy in CIM Research conference on May 13-15, 2010. This threeday conference (supported in part by RI3AT005420 from NCCAM) brought together massage and manual therapy practitioners, educators, CIM researchers, allied health professionals, and others interested in massage research. Current research related to massage and...

oVerView Research into body work based complementary and alternative therapies, such as osteopathy and chiropractic has highlighted barriers and benefits of professionalization for these professions. There has been no examination of the road massage therapy has taken towards legitimation and professionalization. This review article examines the drive by massage therapists for legitimation as he...

KEYWORDS: Massage therapy education, distance learning Greetings, esteemed reader. I have been graciously invited by Executive Editor Dr. Glenn M. Hymel to offer a guest editorial, and he has invited me to speak to one of my favorite topics: education in the massage therapy profession. The Massage Therapy Foundation, as most readers probably know, is dedicated to advancing our profession throug...

Seven male children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), aged 8-12 years, attending special education classrooms for ASD and disabled children, were assigned to receive touch therapy. Their mothers were instructed to provide gentle touch in the massage style of the International Liddle Kidz Association. The mothers gave massages to their child for 20 min every day over a period of 3 months, fol...