Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/135515
words of wisdom Putting Research to Work One of the great benefits of incorporating research into your practice is that it can increase clients' acceptance of your work. "If they can have that validation, they seem to take the treatment more seriously," says Gloria Coppola of North Carolina. "We might know it works, but others like to see the proof, too." Instilling faith in the treatment method you've proposed will help ensure the client is motivated and dedicated to seeing your treatment plan through to its fruition. As Rob Smore in Nevada suggests, "The goal is to have clients become engaged in the process toward optimal health, thinking about why they are experiencing what they are feeling during the days and weeks they are not on the table." How can you attain this level of client participation? Become knowledgeable about research on massage therapy. Check out www.massagetherapyfoundation.org, where you can take the online course "Basics of Research Literacy" and sign up for the free International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork. For clients with specific conditions, search online for relevant information between sessions and send it to them. Post interesting articles related to the science of massage therapy on your Facebook page or Twitter account, or start an enewsletter or blog that allows you to regularly share such information. Make yourself available for clients' questions, and if you don't know the answers, offer to do some research and follow up later. These actions not only inform clients of some benefits they might otherwise overlook, but also enhance your professional image and show that you care—a win-win for everybody! We may be disappointed to find out that some of our beliefs do not stand up to scrutiny, but I think that, for our personal and professional integrity, we should be more committed to truth than to any particular belief. Alice Sanvito, Missouri Even when the explanations fail, we don't have to abandon the methods. We just have to accept that our explanations need to change over time to reflect new knowledge. If we don't let our knowledge base evolve and update the way we practice and educate our clients, we will never achieve our potential. Jason Erickson, Minnesota Make sure you connect with us to get your voice heard in next issue's Tell Me … www.facebook.com/ABMPpage Google Scholar: "Provides a simple way to broadly search for scholarly literature." http://scholar.google.com @ABMPmassage The Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies : Includes the latest therapeutic techniques and professional debate. This journal is relevant to everyday clinical practice in private, community, and primary http://abmp.us/LinkedInMT health-care settings. www.bodyworkmovementtherapies.com POEM : "POEM stands for the Project for Open Education in Massage, and its purpose is to bring high-quality, validated, open educational materials to massage therapy stakeholders around the world." mp www.massageprofessionals.com www.poem-massage.org www.abmp.com. See what benefits await you. 23