If you are planning a career in massage therapy, you'll be glad
to know that research supporting the therapeutic and health
benefits of massage is growing. However, a special group of experts
believes that the most important research might be found outside of
the lab, in data collected directly from the day-to-day practice of
massage therapists and their clients.
Several research professionals from
National University of Health Sciences (NUHS) received a $30,000
grant from the Massage Therapy Foundation to create MassageNet a
new practice-based research network for the massage therapy and
bodywork professions. NUHS has a strong commitment to
"evidence-based" practice and research, and is one of the sources
for important new research in the field of massage therapy.
Recognizing the invaluable role
therapists play in the health and wellness field, MassageNet will
use data gathered from massage therapists and their clients in real
world settings. MassageNet's mission is to develop a channel for
communication between massage therapists, students, researchers,
educators, administrators, and health care policy makers.
The site's founder, Jerrilyn Cambron,
DC, MPH, PhD, is a professor in NUHS' Department of Research and
also a licensed massage therapist. She has served as a principal
investigator in research studies focused on massage and
chiropractic care for over 20 years. "We've received an
overwhelmingly positive response from the massage therapy
community," says Dr. Cambron, who hopes to apply for additional
funding from the National Institutes of Health so that MassageNet
can continue to build research efforts within the massage therapy
profession.
The website will collect survey
information directly from its members. Some survey studies will be
open to specific therapists based on practice parameters, and
therapists can choose to participate in those studies that are most
interesting or relevant to their practice. Participation is always
voluntary and MassageNet does not charge a fee to join or to be
part of its studies.
Jennifer Dexheimer, the site's
co-founder, is also a licensed massage therapist who has worked as
Clinical Research Coordinator at NUHS for over 10 years. She has
been involved in managing the day-to-day operations of NUHS
clinical research studies on chiropractic and massage. Jennifer
reports that MassageNet recently completed a demographic survey of
field therapists and their clients in Illinois. "The survey asked
therapists about the types of clients they see, the types of
techniques they use, their specialty areas, as well as personal
demographic questions. Each therapist who completed a survey
was asked to invite 20 clients to participate by filling out a
separate survey," says Ms. Dexheimer. "The client survey asked
demographic questions and questions about the effects of massage,
including how the client felt prior to their massage, how they felt
immediately after the massage, and how they felt 24 hours later."
The survey results are currently being assessed for a final
report.
In addition to surveys, MassageNet
will also conduct primary research and share latest research
findings in the field to expand the body of knowledge available to
the massage therapy profession and other health care
specialists.
Imagine how exciting it would be to not only launch a new career
as a massage therapist, but to also be part of a network
contributing to ongoing research in your profession. That's why
NUHS is proud of its faculty, students, alumni, and staff who are
working together in projects such as MassageNet.
