Research Review: Massage Therapy Case Reports
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Standard research practices often do not accurately reflect what massage therapists do in the treatment room. This is why it is important that massage therapists use case reports to document what we do on a daily basis in the treatment room.
By adding to the scholarly conversation researchers and other therapists are able to see on paper why massage is not just a massage. Instead massage therapy is a multi-modal individualized treatment approach that may consist of massage, joint mobilization, relaxation strategies, self care and patient education.
Case Report: Resources
• International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork- Author guidelines.
• The Massage Therapy Research Fund (Canada)
• Massage Therapy Foundation - Grants (United States)
• CARE - Case Report Guidelines
Baskwill, A. (2013). Facilitating Case Studies in Massage Therapy Clinical Education. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23730397
Munk, N. (2013). Case Reports: A Meaningful Way for Massage Practice to Inform Research and Education. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24000303
Munk, N., & Boulanger, K. (2014). Adaptation of the CARE Guidelines for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork Publications: Efforts To Improve the Impact of Case Reports. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25184013
Munk et al. (2016). Identifying Inconsistencies and Reporting Deficits in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (TMB) Case Reports Authored by TMB Practitioners: a TMB-Adapted CAse REport (CARE) Guidelines Audit Through 2014. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27648108
Porcino, A., & Moraska, A. (2015). Avoiding Common Writing Mistakes That Make Your Editors and Reviewers Cringe. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26668673
Porcino, A. (2016). Not Birds of a Feather: Case Reports, Case Studies, and Single-Subject Research. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27648107
Case Report: Examples
Allen, L. (2016). Case Study: The Use of Massage Therapy to Relieve Chronic Low-Back Pain. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27648110
Borda, J., & Selhorst, M. (2017) The use of compression tack and flossing along with lacrosse ball massage to treat chronic Achilles tendinopathy in an adolescent athlete: a case report. J Man Manip Ther.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28855793
Burns, S. (2015). Concussion Treatment Using Massage Techniques: A Case Study. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26082825
Casciaro, Y. (2016). Massage Therapy Treatment and Outcomes for a Patient with Parkinson’s Disease: A Case Report. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26977216
Chunco, R. (2011). The effects of massage on pain, stiffness, and fatigue levels associated with ankylosing spondylitis: a case study. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21589691/
Crane et al. (2018). Treatment of axillary web syndrome using instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization and thoracic manipulation for associated thoracic rotation dysfunction: A case report. Physiother Theory Pract.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28854081
Gliedt, J.A., & Daniels, C.J. (2014). Chiropractic treatment of lateral epicondylitis: a case report utilizing active release techniques. J Chiropr Med.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25685118
Hill, R., & Baskwill, A. (2013). Positive effects of massage therapy on a patient with narcolepsy. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23730398
Houle, S. (2012). Chiropractic management of chronic idiopathic meralgia paresthetica: a case study. J Chiropr Med.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22942840
Jayaseelan et al. (2017). Joint mobilization in the management of persistent insertional achilles tendinopathy. Int J Sports Phys Ther.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28217424
Keller, G. (2012). The effects of massage therapy after decompression and fusion surgery of the lumbar spine: a case study. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23429839
Lewis, P.A., & Cunningham, J.E. (2016). Dynamic Angular Petrissage as Treatment for Axillary Web Syndrome Occurring after Surgery for Breast Cancer: A Case Report. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27257446
Manella, C., & Backus, D. (2011). Gait characteristics, range of motion, and spasticity changes in response to massage in a person with incomplete spinal cord injury: case report. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21589693
Muir, B. (2009). Exercise related transient abdominal pain: a case report and review of the literature. J Can Chiropr Assoc.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20037690
Porr et al. (2013). Entrapment of the saphenous nerve at the adductor canal affecting the infrapatellar branch - a report on two cases. J Can Chiropr Assoc.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24302782
Resnick, P.B. (2016). Comparing the Effects of Rest and Massage on Return to Homeostasis Following Submaximal Aerobic Exercise: a Case Study. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26977215
Wakefield, M.L. (2014). Case report: the effects of massage therapy on a woman with thoracic outlet syndrome. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25452819
Wong et al. (2015). Soft Tissue Mobilization to Resolve Chronic Pain and Dysfunction Associated With Post-Operative Abdominal and Pelvic Adhesions: A Case Report. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26471853