EVIDENCE INFORMED EDUCATION

How much pressure decreases SNS? by Jenn Stuart, Executive Director

CCMH is dedicated to evidence informed education by using current massage therapy research to update our curriculum every 5 years. One of the trusted sources of research studies was (and still is) the Touch Research Institute (TRI) which was established 20 years ago by Dr. Tiffany Field, to study the effects of touch on health. Up until 2018, TRI conducted over 100 studies on the positive effects of massage therapy on many functions and medical conditions in many different age groups. Their studies have shown that massage therapy: facilitates weight gain in preterm infants; alleviates depressive symptoms; enhances attentiveness; reduces pain; reduces stress hormones; and improves immune function. One study, published in the International Journal of Neuroscience (another trusted source), looked at the effects of LIGHT PRESSURE verses MODERATE PRESSURE on the...

In 2014, a group of international and domestic researchers, stakeholders, and policymakers met for a one-day summit to discuss the research needs of the growing profession of massage therapy in Canada.  

They discussed how research can inform the practice of massage therapy; how it can mitigate the concerns of the general public, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders; the changing landscape of the Canadian healthcare system; and what types of research would be of benefit. The following study types were deemed the greatest importance: 

Basic Science – physiology and psychology of Massage. 

Clinical – both subjective and objective findings to determine optimal frequency, safety, and effectiveness vs. other modalities. 

Health Services/Translational – Psychosomatic effects of massage in comparison with other treatments, primary prevention studies, and effects of access to massage therapy for under-served populations. 

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