8 Researchers Who Are Changing Massage Therapy
/The RMT Education Project - Evidence Based Tools & Resources
We simplify the complex - breaking down information dense research into manageable chunks. Here we break down a list of eight researchers who have made contributions to the world of massage therapy. My selection criteria was a minimal three influential pieces of original work indexed on Pubmed. From there I narrowed it down to eight researchers I feel is making an impact to the profession. If you like this list, check out our other research related content.
The Massage Therapy Literature Countdown
• 10 Articles All Massage Therapists Should Read
• 9 Open Access Articles for Massage Therapists
• 8 Researchers Who Are Changing Massage Therapy
• 7 Books For Massage Therapists
• 6 Blogs For Massage Therapists
• 5 Systematic Reviews of Massage Therapy
• 4 Articles About The Importance of Touch
• 3 Bones You May Not Have Heard About
• 2 Peer-reviewed Publications for Massage Therapists
• 1 Book That Will Change The Way You Think
Open Access Tools & Resources
• Curated Resources for Massage Therapists
• Open Access Research Papers
• Resources for Patients
Research Review
• A New Muscle: The Tensor Vastus Intermedius
• Pleasure Receptors Response to Massage
• Does Fascia Release
• Evidence Informed Massage
8 Influential Researchers
ONE
Christopher Moyer
Last week I had a pleasant exchange with Christopher over Facebook, he is hoping to get back to doing more research in the future. Moyer is a psychologist by trade but has contributed a lot to the world of massage and meditation, to stay up to date I recommend joining Professor Moyer's Massage Therapy and Meditation Laboratory Research Group.
Notable Work
• Moyer, C. A., Seefeldt, L., Mann, E. S., & Jackley, L. M. (2011). Does massage therapy reduce cortisol? A comprehensive quantitative review.Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 15(1), 3-14.
• Moyer, C. (2011). Practitioner-Generated Massage Therapy Research.IJTMB International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork: Research, Education, & Practice.
• Moyer, C., Rounds, J., & Hannum, J. (2004). A Meta-Analysis of Massage Therapy Research. Psychological Bulletin, 3-18.
TWO
Amanda Baskwill
Amanda Baskwill is a Registered Massage Therapist in Ontario who could very well be the youngest researcher on this list, but I think she brings a lot to the table in promoting the massage therapy profession.
Notable Work
• Baskwill, A. (2015). A guiding framework to understand relationships within the profession of massage therapy. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies
• Baskwill, A., & Sumpton, B. (2015). The Use of an Informational Video to Improve Patient Satisfaction, Preparedness, Mood, and Empowerment.IJTMB International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork: Research, Education, & Practice.
• Baskwill, A. (2011). Changing the Culture of Clinical Education in Massage Therapy. IJTMB International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork: Research, Education, & Practice.
THREE
Geoffrey Bove
Nervi nervorum, fibrosis and triggerpoints, Geoffrey Bove has contributed a lot of scientific research to the world of massage therapy. I have been following his work closely, I can't wait to see what works he comes out with in 2016.
Notable Work
• Bove, G., Harris, M., Zhao, H., & Barbe, M. (2016). Manual therapy as an effective treatment for fibrosis in a rat model of upper extremity overuse injury. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 168-180.
• Quintner, J.L., Bove, G.M., and Cohen, M.L. (2015) A critical evaluation of the trigger point phenomenon. Rheumatology, 54: 392–399
• Bove, G., & Chapelle, S. (2012). Visceral mobilization can lyse and prevent peritoneal adhesions in a rat model. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 76-82.
FOUR
Robert Schleip
Robert Schleip released groundbreaking fascial research in 2003 and he has continued to put out quality content over the last few years. I had a hard time narrowing down his list to only three papers.
Notable Work
• Klingler, W., Velders, M., Hoppe, K., Pedro, M., & Schleip, R. (2014). Clinical Relevance of Fascial Tissue and Dysfunctions. Curr Pain Headache Rep Current Pain and Headache Reports.
• Willard, F. H., Vleeming, A., Schuenke, M. D., Danneels, L., & Schleip, R. (2012). The thoracolumbar fascia: Anatomy, function and clinical considerations. J. Anat. Journal of Anatomy, 221(6), 507-536.
• Schleip, R. (2003). Fascial plasticity – a new neurobiological explanation: Part 1 & 2 Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies.
FIVE
Thomas Best
Thomas Best is a researcher at Ohio State University who has put out some quality research on mechanotransduction as it relates to massage therapy. To learn more about his work I recommend listening to his talk: Massage Therapies - From Lab Bench Top to the Patient
Notable Works
• Schroeder, A. N., & Best, T. M. (2015). Is Self Myofascial Release an Effective Pre-exercise and Recovery Strategy? A Literature Review.Current Sports Medicine Reports, 14(3), 200-208.
• Best, T. M., Crawford, S. K., Haas, C., Charles, L., & Zhao, Y. (2014). Transverse forces in skeletal muscle with massage-like loading in a rabbit model. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine BMC Complement Altern Med, 14(1), 393.
• Best, T. M., Gharaibeh, B., & Huard, J. (2012). Stem cells, angiogenesis and muscle healing: A potential role in massage therapies? British Journal of Sports Medicine, 47(9), 556-560.
SIX
Lorimer Moseley
It was a given that I was going to add Moseley to the list, he is a powerhouse in the world of pain science, his work with David Butler has had a big influence on my massage therapy practice. The hardest part was deciding which three articles to feature on this list.
Notable Works
• Wallwork, S., Bellan, V., Catley, M., & Moseley, G. (2015). Neural representations and the cortical body matrix: Implications for sports medicine and future directions. British Journal of Sports Medicine Br J Sports Med.
• Rio, E., Moseley, L., Purdam, C., Samiric, T., Kidgell, D., Pearce, A. J., . . . Cook, J. (2013). The Pain of Tendinopathy: Physiological or Pathophysiological? Sports Med Sports Medicine, 44(1), 9-23.
• Moseley, G. (2003). A pain neuromatrix approach to patients with chronic pain. Manual Therapy, 8(3), 130-140.
SEVEN
Carla Stecco
Carla Stecco is a powerhouse in the world of fascial research; I have been following her recent work on fascial densifications. Even you have no interest in her work as it related to fascial desnifications, she has done some a fantastic job documenting the continuity of soft tissue structures often overlooked, her book Functional Atlas of the Human Fascial System is a very summary of her best work to date. I have written about Carla Stecco in a number of blog posts: Does Fascia Release? & Is a fascial densification the same thing as fibrosis?
Notable Works
• Stecco, A., Stern, R., Fantoni, I., Caro, R., & Stecco, C. (2015). Fascial Disorders: Implications for Treatment. Pm&r.
• Pavan, P., Stecco, A., Stern, R., & Stecco, C. (2014). Painful Connections: Densification Versus Fibrosis of Fascia. Curr Pain Headache Rep Current Pain and Headache Reports.
• Stecco, A., Gesi, M., Stecco, C., & Stern, R. (2013). Fascial Components of the Myofascial Pain Syndrome. Curr Pain Headache Rep Current Pain and Headache Reports.
EIGHT
Jo Nijs
Jo Nijs has contributed to over 150 peer reviewed publications, he does a good job of explain central sensitization and how it relates to 'musculoskeletal pain'. These three papers are just a small section of his notable work, but it should give you a good starting point!
Notable Works
• Kregel, J., Meeus, M., Malfliet, A., Dolphens, M., Danneels, L., Nijs, J., & Cagnie, B. (2015). Structural and functional brain abnormalities in chronic low back pain: A systematic review. Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, 45(2), 229-237.
• Nijs, J., Wilgen, C. P., Oosterwijck, J. V., Ittersum, M. V., & Meeus, M. (2011). How to explain central sensitization to patients with ‘unexplained’ chronic musculoskeletal pain: Practice guidelines. Manual Therapy, 16(5), 413-418.
• Nijs, J., & Houdenhove, B. V. (2009). From acute musculoskeletal pain to chronic widespread pain and fibromyalgia: Application of pain neurophysiology in manual therapy practice. Manual Therapy, 14(1), 3-12.