Main description:

Massage Therapy: Integrating Research and Practice presents the latest research examining the evidence for the use of various massage therapy techniques in treating pathological conditions and special populations. In this resource readers will find a synthesis of information from the diverse fields of kinesiology, medicine, nursing, physical therapy, and psychology.

Authored by experts carefully selected for their specific knowledge, experience, and research acumen, Massage Therapy: Integrating Research and Practice will assist both students and practitioners in these areas:

* Learning the benefits of evidence-based massage therapy practice

* Understanding various research methods

* Developing research skills by learning guidelines for writing case reports and journal articles

* Understanding how to integrate massage therapy research into education and clinical practice

This text presents a seamless integration of research and practice in four parts, providing readers first with a background to the field of massage therapy followed by discussion of research methods. Next is an evidence-based presentation of the efficacy of massage therapy for conditions and populations often encountered in massage therapy practice. This clinicial section presents three patient populations (pediatric, athletic, and elderly); three pain-related types (headache, neck and shoulder pain, and low back pain); and six conditions that massage therapists may encounter: pregnancy and labor, scar treatment, cancer, fibromyalgia, anxiety and depression, and clients who have experienced sexual trauma. Recommendations and evidence-based treatment guidelines are clearly defined for each condition. Case reports developed from real-life cases are included in this section, offering readers a real-world context for the clinical content presented.

The final section illustrates specific ways to integrate research into the educational and professional development of current and future massage therapists. It provides readers with the fundamental tools for a research-based approach in clinical practice, especially as it relates to special populations. A running glossary, chapter summaries, and critical thinking questions assist students in learning the content and act as self-study tools for practitioners.

Massage Therapy: Integrating Research and Practice offers both students and practitioners of massage therapy the most current evidence-based information, guidelines, and recommendations for the treatment of conditions often seen in massage therapy practice. This essential reference will assist practitioners in understanding the scientific literature and its application in enhancing the practice of this safe and effective health intervention.

Contents:

Part I. Background

Chapter 1. Historical Overview

Patricia J. Benjamin, PhD

Empirics

Cycles of Boom and Bust

Early Champions of Massage

Early Massage Studies

Two Paths for Massage

Physiotherapy and Massage

Latest Cycle of Massage Research

Momentum for the Future

Summary

Critical Thinking Questions

Chapter 2. Evidence-Based and Outcome-Based Approaches in Massage

Carla-Krystin Andrade, PhD, PT, and Paul Clifford, BSc, RMT

Why We Need Evidence, Outcomes, and Clinical Decision Making

Evidence-Based Practice

Outcome-Based Massage

Integrating Clinical Decision Making, Outcome-Based Massage, and Evidence-Based Practice

Practical Issues in Adopting Evidence-Based and Outcome-Based Approaches in Massage

Directions for Future Research

Summary

Critical Thinking Questions

Part II. Research Methods

Chapter 3. Quantitative Research Methods

Christopher A. Moyer, PhD, and Kimberly Goral, BS, NCTMB

Why Use Quantitative Methods?

Common Forms of Quantification Encountered in MT Research

Common Quantitative Research Designs to Examine MT

Summary

Critical Thinking Questions

Chapter 4. Qualitative Research Methods

Carla-Krystin Andrade, PhD, PT, and Paul Clifford, BSc, RMT

Why Do We Need Qualitative Research?

Understanding Qualitative Research

Qualitative Research Methodologies

Qualitative Data Collection Methods

Evaluating the Trustworthiness of Qualitative Research

Reading Qualitative Research Articles

Using Qualitative Research Methods in Massage Therapy

Implications for Massage Therapy

Summary

Critical Thinking Questions

Chapter 5. Mixed Methods Research

Marja Verhoef, MSc, PhD

Reasons for Using a Mixed Methods Research Design

Mixed Methods Designs

Conducting Mixed Methods Research

Applications of Mixed Methods Research

Whole Systems Research

Summary

Critical Thinking Questions

Part III. Populations and Conditions

Chapter 6. Pediatrics

Stacey Shipwright, BA (Hons), RMT

Effects of Massage Therapy on Pediatric Populations

Explaining Massage Therapy Effects

Recommendations for Massage Therapy Practice

Directions of Future Research

Case Study

Summary

Chapter 7. Pregnancy and Labor

Amanda Baskwill, BEd, RMT

Effects of Massage Therapy on Pregnancy

Effects of Massage Therapy on Labor

Explaining Massage Therapy Effects

Recommendations for Massage Therapy Practice

Directions of Future Research

Case Study

Summary

Chapter 8. Athletes

Stuart Galloway, PhD, Angus Hunter, PhD, and Joan M. Watt

The Varied Nature of Sport Massage

Effects of Massage Therapy on Athletes

Explaining Massage Therapy Effects

Recommendations for Massage Therapy Practice

Directions for Future Research

Case Study

Summary

Chapter 9. Massage and Older Adults

Diana L. Thompson, LMP

Effects of Massage Therapy on Older Adult Populations

Explaining Massage Therapy Effects

Recommendations for Massage Therapy Practice

Directions for Future Research

Case Study

Summary

Chapter 10. Headaches

Albert Moraska, PhD

Headache Types

Secondary Issues for Headache Sufferers

Causes of Headache

Effects of Massage Therapy on Headache

Explaining Massage Therapy Effects

Recommendations for Massage Therapy Practice

Directions for Future Research

Case Study

Summary

Chapter 11. Neck and Shoulder Pain

Bodhi G. Haraldsson, RMT

Classification of Neck Pain

Epidemiology of Neck and Shoulder Pain

Effects of Massage Therapy on Neck and Shoulder Pain

Explaining Massage Therapy Effects

Recommendations for Massage Therapy Practice

Directions for Future Research

Case Study

Summary

Chapter 12. Low Back Pain

Trish Dryden, MEd, RMT, Andrea D. Furlan, MD, PhD, Marta Imamura, MD, PhD, and Emma L. Irvin, BA

Effects and Safety of Massage Therapy for Low Back Pain

Explaining Massage Therapy Effects

Recommendations for Massage Therapy Practice

Directions for Future Research

Case Study

Summary

Chapter 13. Anxiety and Depression

Christopher A. Moyer, PhD

Anxiety and Depression: Overview

Effects of Massage Therapy on Anxiety and Depression

Explaining Massage Therapy Effects

Recommendations for Massage Therapy Practice

Directions for Future Research Case Study

Summary

Chapter 14. Massage for Adults With a History of Sexual Trauma

Cynthia J. Price, PhD, MA, LMT

Overview of Sexual Trauma

Effects of Massage Therapy for Women with a History of Sexual Trauma

Explaining Massage Therapy Effects

Recommendations for Massage Therapy Practice

Directions for Future Research

Case Study

Summary

Chapter 15. Scars

Ania Kania, BSc, RMT

Overview of the Condition: Scar Tissue

Effects of Massage Therapy in the Treatment of Scar Tissue

Explaining Massage Therapy Effects

Recommendations for Massage Therapy Practice

Directions for Future Research Case Study

Summary

Chapter 16. Fibromyalgia

Douglas Nelson, LMT, NMT

Theorized Causes of FMS

Effects of Massage Therapy for Fibromyalgia

Explaining Massage Therapy Effects

Recommendations for Massage Therapy Practice

Directions for Future Research Case Study

Summary

Chapter 17. Cancer

Janice E. Post-White, PhD, RN, FAAN

Effects and Safety of Massage Therapy in Cancer Care

Explaining Massage Therapy Effects

Recommendations for Massage Therapy Practice

Directions for Future Research

Case Study

Summary

Part IV. Connecting Research and Practice

Chapter 18. Integrating Massage Therapy Research and Education

Trish Dryden, MEd, RMT

Ensuring Safety, Building Capacity

Teaching Research Literacy and Evidence-Based Practice

Interprofessional Education for an Integrated Health Care System

Conducting Research in MT Educational Institutions

Summary

Critical Thinking Questions

Chapter 19. Integrating Research in Clinical Practice

Janet R. Kahn, PhD, LMT

Evidence-Based Practice Versus Humanistic Client Care

What is Best Evidence?

Accessing and Using Research to Help Your Clients

Comparative Research

Recommendations for MTs

Summary

Critical Thinking Questions

Chapter 20. Clinical Case Reports

Michael D. Hamm, LMP CCST

The Value of CRs

What Is a Case Report?

Preparing a Case Report

Telling a Story: The Content of a Case Report

MT and Hypochondroplasia: An Example

Future Directions

Summary

Critical Thinking Questions

Chapter 21. Writing Journal Articles

Paul Finch, PhD, MSc, DPodM

Types of Journal Article

Choice of Journal

Writing the Paper

Writing Style

Summary

Critical Thinking Questions

Chapter 22. Attitudes, Beliefs, and Expectations in Massage Therapy

Karen T. Boulanger, MS, CMT, and Christopher A. Moyer, PhD

Attitudes, Belief, and Expectations Defined and Differentiated

Influential Models Not Yet Applied to MT

Existing Research

Directions for Future Research

Summary

Critical Thinking Questions

Chapter 23: Directions and Dilemmas in Massage Therapy Research: A Workshop Report from the 2009 North American Research Conference on Complementary and Integrative Medicine

Christopher A. Moyer, PhD, Trish Dryden, MEd, RMT, and Stacey Shipwright, BA (Hons), RMT

Method

Results

Appendix

Summary

Critical Thinking Questions