You can search for published Massage Therapy research articles through several online research databases:

• PubMed
• Univadis
• BMC
• Medscape
• TRIP

Pre-appraised resources:

• DynaMed
• Cochrane Library

Research Journals

Most published research is found in scientific journals that can only be accessed through paid subscriptions. This means a reader can only access an abstract but not the full article. However, some journals provide anyone with free access to the published research (abstract and full article) through ‘open access.’

The following is a list of open access journals that have published Massage Therapy research articles:

• BMC CAM
  • Article example – BMC CAM (2015)
• Chiropractic and Manual Therapies (BioMedCentral)
  • Article example – Chiropractic and Manual Therapies (2013)
• Health
  • Article example – Health (2010)
• International Journal of General Medicine
  • Article example – International Journal of General Medicine (2013)
• International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork
• Journal of Sports Science and Medicine
  • Article example – Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2004)
• Trials (BioMedCentral)
  • Article example – Trials (BioMedCentral) (2012)

You can also conduct your own search of the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) for Massage Therapy research published in open access journals at the Directory of Open Access Journals.

Disclaimer: Through provision of this information, CMTO does not directly support or promote any of the individuals, organizations or sources listed. Rather, the goal is to provide registrants with access to credible research information and resources.

The following are links to research or research-informed resources that are relevant to a Massage Therapy practice:

• Case report resources:
  • Massage Therapy Foundation Case Report Hub
  • Adaptation of the CARE Guidelines for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork Publications: Efforts to Improve the Impact of Case Reports

• Evidence-Informed Massage Therapy Facebook page

• IN-CAM Health Outcomes Database [currently not available due to website update]
• MT research agenda:
  • Massage Therapy and Canadians’ Health Care Needs 2020: Proceedings of a National Research Priority Setting Summit
  • Massage Therapy Foundation

Books

• Massage Therapy: Integrating Research and Practice
  Editors: Christopher Moyer and Trish Dryden

• Outcomes-Based Massage: From Evidence to Practice
  By Carla-Krystin Andrade
• Making Sense of Research
  By Martha Brown Menard

Organizations

• IN-CAM Research Network
• International Society for Complementary Medicine Research (ISCMR)
• Massage Therapy Foundation

Funding for Massage Therapy Research

• Massage Therapy Research Fund
• Massage Therapy Foundation Grants

DISCLAIMER: Through provision of this information, CMTO does not directly support or promote any of the findings or individuals producing or providing work cited. Rather, the goal is to provide access to credible research information and resources for registrants.

Evidence-Informed Practice Education

STRiVE

• Introduction to Evidence Informed Practice e-learning module [requires login]

Online courses:

• Evidence Informed Practice: Applying Research in Complementary and Integrative Health – University of Minnesota

• AMTA Research e-learning modules [requires a free account]
  • Reading a Research Article
  • Research and Massage Therapy

Workshop

• McMaster University– Evidence Based Clinical Practice

Masters Level Education (for RHCP/RMTs)

• Western University – Advanced Health Care Practice – Pain Management
• McMaster University – Health Research Methodology

Disclaimer: Through provision of this information, CMTO does not directly support or promote any of the individuals, organizations or sources listed (with the exception for STRiVE). Rather, the goal is to provide registrants with access to credible research information and resources.