CMTO directly supports high-quality and rigorous Massage Therapy research through the Massage Therapy Research Fund (MTRF). Since its inception in 2004, the MTRF has supported 26 research projects led by researchers from nine different provinces and 21 research institutions. Funded projects have their final reports and, where applicable, related published papers available on the MTRF Funded Projects webpage. Recent research projects include:

• Massage Therapy effects on gut bacteria as a treatment for stroke
• Myofascial release for shoulder and upper limb reaching strategies and performance
• Clients’ experience of ending Massage Therapy care
• Canadian Massage Therapy education environmental scan
• Massage Therapy for trunk muscular fatigue
• Massage Therapy for locomotion recovery following spinal transection (animal model)
• Development of taxonomy for adverse events in Massage Therapy

Last year’s grant recipients, Dr. Gaudreault and Dr. Bureau, from the Université de Sherbrooke and Université de Montréal, are conducting a study on the use of ultrasound measurement to detect potential changes in deep fascia after Massage Therapy treatment. The results of this study are expected in 2022.

To learn more about the MTRF, current and past research projects and related research, visit the Massage Therapy Research Fund webpage.