List of Open Access Research Articles for Massage Therapists

Setting the Groundwork for Evidence-Based Massage

If you are a massage therapist who is interested in reading research papers, PubMed is a great resource but most massage therapists do not have academic access to journals. 

This is not the only barriers to entry, sorting through the data is like drinking from a fire-hose, if you search Massage therapy on PubMed you will get nearly 15,000 returns. So, if you don't feel like sorting through all those listings I have put together a curated selection of open access article to make your life easier.


Bishop, M. D., Torres-Cueco, R., Gay, C. W., Lluch-Girbés, E., Beneciuk, J. M., & Bialosky, J. E. (2015). What effect can manual therapy have on a patient's pain experience?. Pain management5(6), 455–464.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26401979/

Bussières, A., Cancelliere, C., Ammendolia, C., Comer, C. M., Zoubi, F. A., Châtillon, C. E., Chernish, G., Cox, J. M., Gliedt, J. A., Haskett, D., Jensen, R. K., Marchand, A. A., Tomkins-Lane, C., O’Shaughnessy, J., Passmore, S., Schneider, M. J., Shipka, P., Stewart, G., Stuber, K., Yee, A., … Ornelas, J. (2021). Non-Surgical Interventions for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Leading To Neurogenic Claudication: A Clinical Practice Guideline. The journal of pain, 22(9), 1015–1039.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33857615/

Courtney, C. A., Fernández-de-Las-Peñas, C., & Bond, S. (2017). Mechanisms of chronic pain - key considerations for appropriate physical therapy management. The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy25(3), 118–127.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28694674/

Finucane, L. M., Downie, A., Mercer, C., Greenhalgh, S. M., Boissonnault, W. G., Pool-Goudzwaard, A. L., Beneciuk, J. M., Leech, R. L., & Selfe, J. (2020). International Framework for Red Flags for Potential Serious Spinal Pathologies. The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy, 50(7), 350–372.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32438853/

George, S. Z., Fritz, J. M., Silfies, S. P., Schneider, M. J., Beneciuk, J. M., Lentz, T. A., Gilliam, J. R., Hendren, S., & Norman, K. S. (2021). Interventions for the Management of Acute and Chronic Low Back Pain: Revision 2021. The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy, 51(11), CPG1–CPG60.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34719942/

Hall, A. M., Aubrey-Bassler, K., Thorne, B., & Maher, C. G. (2021). Do not routinely offer imaging for uncomplicated low back pain. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 372, n291.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33579691/

Kennedy, A. B., & Munk, N. (2017). Experienced Practitioners' Beliefs Utilized to Create a Successful Massage Therapist Conceptual Model: a Qualitative Investigation. International journal of therapeutic massage & bodywork, 10(2), 9–19.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28690704

Kongsted, A., Ris, I., Kjaer, P., & Hartvigsen, J. (2021). Self-management at the core of back pain care: 10 key points for clinicians. Brazilian journal of physical therapy, S1413-3555(21)00053-8. Advance online publication.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34116904/

Lewis, J., & O’Sullivan, P. (2018). Is it time to reframe how we care for people with non-traumatic musculoskeletal pain?. British journal of sports medicine, 52(24), 1543–1544. 
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29941618/

Lewis, J. S., Cook, C. E., Hoffmann, T. C., & O'Sullivan, P. (2020). The Elephant in the Room: Too Much Medicine in Musculoskeletal Practice. The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy, 50(1), 1–4. 
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31892292/

Lin, I., Wiles, L., Waller, R., Goucke, R., Nagree, Y., Gibberd, M., … O'Sullivan, P. (2020). What does best practice care for musculoskeletal pain look like? Eleven consistent recommendations from high-quality clinical practice guidelines: systematic review. British journal of sports medicine, 54(2), 79–86.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30826805/

Manchikanti, L., Singh, V., Kaye, A. D., & Hirsch, J. A. (2020). Lessons for Better Pain Management in the Future: Learning from the Past. Pain and therapy, 9(2), 373–391.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32410070/

Porr, J., Chrobak, K., & Muir, B. (2013). Entrapment of the saphenous nerve at the adductor canal affecting the infrapatellar branch - a report on two cases. The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, 57(4), 341–349.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24302782

Reid, H., Ridout, A. J., Tomaz, S. A., Kelly, P., Jones, N., & Physical Activity Risk Consensus group (2021). Benefits outweigh the risks: a consensus statement on the risks of physical activity for people living with long-term conditions. British journal of sports medicine, bjsports-2021-104281.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34649919/

Skelly, A.C., Chou, R., Dettori, J.R., Turner, J.A., Friedly, J.L., Rundell, S.D., … Ferguson, A.J.R. (2020). Noninvasive Nonpharmacological Treatment for Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review Update. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US).
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32338846/

Traeger, A., Buchbinder, R., Harris, I., & Maher, C. (2017). Diagnosis and management of low-back pain in primary care. CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association journal , 189(45), E1386–E1395.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29133540

Wideman, T. H., Edwards, R. R., Walton, D. M., Martel, M. O., Hudon, A., & Seminowicz, D. A. (2019). The Multimodal Assessment Model of Pain: A Novel Framework for Further Integrating the Subjective Pain Experience Within Research and Practice. The Clinical journal of pain35(3), 212–221.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30444733/