International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (IJTMB)
Not a member yet
344 research outputs found
Sort by
The Effectiveness of Thai Massage and Joint Mobilization
Get PDFBackground: Non-specific low back pain (LBP) is a common health problem resulting from many risk factors and human behaviors. Some of thesemay interact synergistically and have been implicated in the cause of low back pain. Massage both traditional Thai massage and joint mobilization as a common practice has been shown to be effective for some subgroup of nonspecific LBP patients.Purpose and Setting: The trial compared the effectiveness between traditional Thai massage and joint mobilization for treating nonspecificLBP. Some associated factors were included. The study was conducted at the orthopedic outpatient department, Lerdsin General Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.Methods: Prospective, randomized study was developed without control group. The required sample size was estimated based on previouscomparative studies for effectiveness between techniques. Two primary outcome measures were a 0 to 10 visual analog scale (VAS) of pain andOswestry Disability Index (ODI). Secondary outcome measures were satisfaction of patients and adverse effects of the treatment. The ‘‘intention to treat’’ (ITT) and per protocol approach were used to compare the significance of the difference between treatment groups.Participants: One hundred and twenty hospital outpatients, 20 (16.7%) male and 100 (83.3%) female, were randomized into traditional Thai massage and joint mobilization therapy. The average age of traditional Thai massage and joint mobilization was 50.7 years and 48.3 years, respectively. Both groups received each treatment for approximately 30 minutes twice per week over a four-week period. Total course did not exceed eight sessions.Result: With ITT, the mean VAS of traditional Thai massage group before treatment was 5.3 (SD = 1.7) and ODI was 24.9 (SD = 14.7), while in jointmobilization groups, the mean VAS was 5.0 (SD = 1.6) and ODI was 24.6 (SD = 15). After treatment, the mean VAS and ODI were significantlyreduced (VAS = 0.51 (SD = 0.89) and ODI = 8.1 (SD = 10.7) for traditional Thai massage, VAS = 0.86 (SD = 1.49) and ODI = 8.26 (SD = 12.97) for joint mobilization). Constipation was found in 34 patients (28.3%).Conclusion: The traditional Thai massage and joint mobilization used in this study were equally effective for short-term reduction of pain and disability in patients with chronic nonspecific LBP. Both techniques were safe with short term effect in a chosen group of patients
Experienced Practitioners’ Beliefs Utilized to Create a Successful Massage Therapist Conceptual Model: a Qualitative Investigation
Get PDFBackground: The massage therapy profession in the United States has grown exponentially, with 35% of the profession’s practitioners in practice for three years or less. Investigating personal and social factors with regard to the massage therapy profession could help to identify constructs needed to be successful in the field.Purpose: This data-gathering exercise explores massage therapists’ perceptions on what makes a successful massage therapist that will provide guidance for future research. Success is defined as supporting oneself and practice solely through massage therapy and related, revenue-generating field activity.Participants and Setting: Ten successful massage therapy practitioners from around the United States who have a minimum of five years of experience.Research Design: Semistructured qualitative interviews were used in an analytic induction framework; index cards with preidentified concepts printed on them were utilized to enhance conversation. An iterative process of interview coding and analysis was used to determine themes and subthemes.Results: Based on the participants input, the categories in which therapists needed to be successful were organized into four main themes: effectively establish therapeutic relationships, develop massage therapy business acumen, seek valuable learning environments and opportunities, and cultivate strong social ties and networks. The four themes operate within specific contexts (e.g., regulation and licensing requirements in the therapists’ state), which may also influence the success of the massage therapist.Conclusions: The model needs to be tested to explore which constructs explain variability in success and attrition rate. Limitations and future research implications are discussed
Abstracts from the Poster Session of the 2017 American Massage Therapy Association National Convention
Get PDFFasciatherapy and Reflexology compared to Hypnosis and Music Therapy in Daily Stress Management
Get PDFBackground: Patients suffering from stress symptoms due to every-day life who are looking for a nonpharmacological response to their relief expectation are many. Furthermore, early reckoning of the day-to-day stress which may lead to clinical diagnosis is the best way of preventing the stress-related diseases. Among the many alternative medicinal options, there is little evidence that fasciatherapy (Fs) and reflexology (Rf) are effective in this field.Purpose: assess incidence of fasciatherapy Danis Bois Method (DBM) and of reflexology on patients’ stress level in everyday-life, and provide a more informed choice among the numerous mind and body techniques by comparing them with hypnosis (Hp) and music therapy (Mt).Settings: Specialized Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) centres for outpatients. Participants: 308 individuals (average age =50.53 SD 14.37, 93 males, 215 females) going to the centres for health care, but free from serious diseases and not heavily medicated respecting the inclusion criteria and providing valid forms.Research Design: Four armed, non-randomized observational pragmatic trial with pretest–posttest repeated measures, on separate samples ofnatural groups.Intervention: According to the centre participants where they used to be treated, they were exposed to a single semi-standardized session of a technique of their choice: Fs, Rf, Hp, Mt. Volunteers had a controlled non-intervention resting (Rt) session.Main Outcome Measures: Mean STAI-Y assessing anxiety as reflecting the stress level: MANCOVA and ANCOVA performed with Tukey’s HSD.Results: MANCOVA indicates a significant reduction of anxiety (p < .01) in each condition, resting included. ANCOVA performance adjusting on stress level in T0 (41.73) and on the mean sumscore of the trait (44.89), Fs (-13.92), Rf (-15.92), and Hp (-15.88) were equally effective on the stress level decrease. Mt (-10.0) and Rt (-6.38) showed the same level of effectiveness.Conclusions: The results suggest fasciatherapy DBM, hypnosis, and reflexology could be used as non-pharmacological and safe interventions in stress management. Though showing a lesser efficiency, music therapy could be useful in different circumstances
What Did I Do? Practitioner Awareness of Ethical Issues in Scientific Publishing
Get PDFMassage therapy practice as well as research in massage therapy is guided by ethical principles and boundaries of professional behavior. Scientific publishing is also guided by a set of ethical standards, about which all aspiring scientific authors should be aware. Honesty, integrity, and conflicts of interest are issues in science and these issues can also impact scientific publishing. Historical ethical issues and current events are discussed
Journal Aspirations: Improving Scientific Writing and Publication Through a Writing Mentorship Program
Get PDFLooking to help novice scientific writers improve their skills and enhance the likelihood of scientific publication, the IJTMB launched a writing mentorship program. Research indicates that when novice writers have a mentor and work on writing as a team, the authors can gain self-efficacy, manuscripts are improved, thoughts and writing are clarified, and differing perspectives are added. This editorial identifies the process for being recommended to use a writing mentor, discusses recommendations in the forming of a mentor/mentee relationship, describes the qualities of good mentors and mentees, and offers suggestions for improving writing for scientific publication. As our database of writing mentors grows, we encourage those who join this program both as mentors and as mentees to consider what it means to be in these roles and that the suggestions herein help in developing the relationships
Getting to Phase 3: an Interview with Virginia S. Cowen, PhD, LMT
Get PDFI feel that it is important to know the stories behind those who are working hard in the field to bring forward massage therapy research. Interviews with massage therapy researchers will now occasionally be included in the Journal as a new editorial feature. The first interview is with Virginia S. Cowen, PhD, LMT a New York State-licensed and NCB board-certified massage therapist with a PhD from Arizona State. She first became interested in massage therapy research while in massage therapy school, and her most recent work is investigating the integration of massage therapy into medical settings. Dr. Cowen states that massage therapy needs to move to Phase 3 research, and aligning with massage therapy practice and research on massage therapy education are areas ripe for research development. She urges the massage therapy profession to work together to develop clinical practice guidelines which could help move the profession forward
Incentivizing Peer Review
Get PDFSince the 1700s, peer review has been a part of scientific publication. Quality peer reviews take extensive time and effort yet reviewers are not often compensated. This editorial announces the new offering of the National Certification Board for Thereputic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB)-approved continuing education hours for our peer reviewers who complete timely reviews. Instructions to register as a peer reviewer and how to conduct a review are offered. Thank you to our 2016 and 2017 peer reviewers
Not Birds of a Feather: Case Reports, Case Studies, and Single-Subject Research
Get PDFIf the practice of therapeutic massage and bodywork (TMB) is to become evidence-informed, practitioners, educators, and presenters must better develop their research literacy and critical appraisal skills. Given that the IJTMB supports the publication of case reports as one fundamental form of knowledge development within the fields of TMB, it is imperative that researchers, educators, and practitioners know the difference between case reports and similar, but unrelated, forms of research. There are legal and ethical implications that must be carefully considered for each form of research or reporting