A Summary of Massage Therapy Research (January 2024)

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A Summary of Current Massage Therapy Research

​​The practice of massage therapy has been around for thousands of years. Throughout the centuries, massage has been used to promote healing and relaxation, with ancient cultures incorporating massage as a form of therapy in their medical practices. Today, massage therapy is an important part of modern healthcare, offering a range of health benefits to those who receive it. As the massage therapy profession has continued to evolve and grow, research has become increasingly important in helping to guide and inform practitioners in the development of their practice. 

Research helps practitioners stay up to date on the latest developments in the field, as well as the effectiveness of various massage techniques. It also provides evidence for the benefits of massage, helping to make the case for its inclusion in healthcare settings.

Research also has an important role to play in helping to ensure massage therapy is practiced safely and ethically. As practitioners become aware of the risks associated with massage therapy, they can take steps to minimize or eliminate them. Research can also help practitioners better understand the needs of their patients, allowing them to offer a more individualized and tailored treatment plan.

Evaluating research involves ranking studies based on their methods. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials sit at the top of the pyramid, followed by randomized control trials and observational studies. Fundamental studies and case reports ​are ranked at the bottom.

Improvement in Quality & Quantity of Massage Therapy Research

Twenty years ago, there was a limited number of researchers looking at massage therapy. Since 2005 there has been a steady improvement in the quality and quantity of massage therapy research. Here is a brief overview of some current research methods that researchers use to evaluate massage therapy.

Systematic review is a type of literature review that uses a systematic and transparent approach to identify, select, and critically appraise relevant research, and to collect and analyze data from the studies that are included in the review. It is a rigorous process that involves searching for and critically appraising all relevant studies, and then synthesizing the findings from these studies in order to draw conclusions about the topic in question. Systematic reviews are an important source of evidence for massage therapy. They can provide an overview of the research on a particular technique or condition, and help practitioners make informed decisions about which treatments are likely to be most effective. Systematic reviews can also help practitioners identify areas of massage therapy that need further research, and provide an overview of the current state of knowledge. By providing a comprehensive overview of the evidence, systematic reviews can help practitioners make evidence-based decisions and provide the best care possible for their clients.

Meta-analysis is a statistical method that is used to combine the results of multiple studies in order to identify overall trends and patterns. It involves the use of statistical techniques to calculate a combined effect size for the studies included in the analysis, which can provide a more precise estimate of the true effect of a particular intervention or exposure. Meta-analyses are often used in the context of systematic reviews, as they can provide a more robust estimate of the effect of a particular intervention or exposure based on the larger amount of data that is available from multiple studies.

Network meta-analysis is a type of meta-analysis that combines direct and indirect comparisons of interventions or treatments in order to provide a more comprehensive overview of the available evidence. This method allows researchers to compare multiple interventions that have not been directly compared in a randomized controlled trial, and can provide valuable information about the relative effectiveness of different treatments.

Clinical practice guidelines are evidence-based recommendations for the management of a specific condition or health problem, developed by experts in the field.

since 2005 there has been a steady increase in the number of massage therapy research papers.

A Summary of Current Massage Therapy Research

In general, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, network meta-analyses and clinical practice guidelines are important tools for evidence-based decision making, as they provide a systematic and transparent way of summarizing the available evidence on a particular research question. By using these methods, clinicians, researchers and policymakers can make more informed decisions about interventions based on the best available evidence. In terms of research there are many systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and clinical practice guidelines supporting massage therapy and its effectiveness in reducing pain and improving health-related quality of life in a variety of health conditions and rehabilitation, including but not limited to:

Depending on the person’s needs and goals massage therapists are able to incorporate a number of rehabilitation strategies based on patient-specific assessment findings.

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